Core Ultra 5 238V vs Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

Intel

Core Ultra 5 238V

8 Cores8 Thrd17 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2024
Core Ultra family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

6 Cores12 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2021
Similar parts
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Core Ultra 5 238V vs Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core Ultra 5 238V vs Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core Ultra 5 238V vs Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Why buy it

  • +564.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
  • Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 58.4 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $311 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

2021

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Costs $143 less on MSRP ($311 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
  • Delivers 45.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($311 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
  • 100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,504 vs 10,000).
  • 105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 238V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 238V better than Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is ahead with a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 238V pulls ahead with 564.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 238V is the stronger fit. You are getting 564.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core Ultra 5 238V is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core Ultra 5 238V comes in 46.0% more expensive on MSRP at $454 MSRP versus $311 MSRP, and it still gives you 564.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is also 45.5% better value on MSRP (58.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core Ultra 5 238V makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core Ultra 5 238V vs Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core Ultra 5 238V

The Core Ultra 5 238V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,219 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 18,155 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 238V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 238V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 18,219 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE's 18,155 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10,000 vs 1,504 (147.7% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,683 vs 1,900, a 34.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,130 vs 6,700 (40.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 238V vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 238VRyzen 5 PRO 5650GE
Cores / Threads
8 / 8+33%
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.7 GHz+7%
4.4 GHz
Base Clock
2.1 GHz
3.4 GHz+62%
L3 Cache
8 MB (total)
16 MB+100%
L2 Cache
2.5 MB (per core)
512K (per core)+20380%
Process
3 nm-57%
7 nm
Architecture
Lunar Lake (2024)
Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark
18,219
18,155
Cinebench R23 Multi
10,000+565%
1,504
Geekbench 6 Single
2,683+41%
1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi
10,130+51%
6,700
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8533 on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE — the Core Ultra 5 238V supports 166.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs 16 (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE) — the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 5 238V) and AM4 (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE).

FeatureCore Ultra 5 238VRyzen 5 PRO 5650GE
Socket
FCBGA2833
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
LPDDR5x-8533+167%
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
64 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
8
16+100%
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE). Both include integrated graphics Arc Graphics 130V (Core Ultra 5 238V) and Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity, Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U; Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 238VRyzen 5 PRO 5650GE
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Arc Graphics 130V
Radeon Graphics
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Productivity
Workstation
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core Ultra 5 238V was priced at $454, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE came in at $311. On launch pricing ($454 vs $311), Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE was $143 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 238V delivers 40.1 pts/$ vs 58.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE the 37% better value option.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 238VRyzen 5 PRO 5650GE
MSRP
$454
$311-31%
Performance per Dollar
40.1
58.4+46%
Release Date
2024
2021

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