Core Ultra 7 164U vs Core i7-9700E
Core Ultra 7 164U
Core i7-9700E
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core Ultra 7 164U is positioned at rank #675 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 164U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 164U | Core i7-9700E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 164U | Core i7-9700E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 7 164U and Core i7-9700E
Core Ultra 7 164U
The Core Ultra 7 164U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2551. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,625 points. Launch price was $448.
Core i7-9700E
The Core i7-9700E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 12,575 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 7 164U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Core i7-9700E offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core Ultra 7 164U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i7-9700E — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U (base: 1.1 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 164U uses the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i7-9700E uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 164U scores 12,625 against the Core i7-9700E's 12,575 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 7 164U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,766 vs 6,800 (25.3% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,131 vs 1,172, a 58.1% lead for the Core Ultra 7 164U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,973 vs 6,802 (27.5% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U). Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Core i7-9700E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+50% | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+9% | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.1 GHz | 2.6 GHz+136% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-U (2023) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 12,625 | 12,575 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,766+29% | 6,800 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,131+82% | 1,172 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,973+32% | 6,802 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 7 164U uses the FCBGA2551 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-9700E uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700E — the Core Ultra 7 164U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-9700E supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core Ultra 7 164U) vs 16 (Core i7-9700E) — the Core i7-9700E offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Meteor Lake-U (Core Ultra 7 164U) and H310,B360,H370,Q370,Z370,Z390 (Core i7-9700E).
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Core i7-9700E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2551 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-6400+25% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 164U) vs Yes (Core i7-9700E). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc (Core Ultra 7 164U) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 164U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 164U rivals Ryzen 7 7840U.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Core i7-9700E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
| Target Use | Enthusiast | — |
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