Core Ultra 7 164U vs Ryzen 5 7600X
Core Ultra 7 164U
Popular choices:
Ryzen 5 7600X
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 Ryzen 5 7600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 164U | Ryzen 5 7600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 164U | Ryzen 5 7600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) |
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 Ryzen 5 7600X
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.
Ryzen 5 7600X
The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 7 164U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 7 164U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 9.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 1.1 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 164U uses the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 164U scores 12,625 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 76.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,766 vs 15,300 (54.3% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,131 vs 2,900, a 30.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,973 vs 13,800 (42.4% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 164U vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Ryzen 5 7600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+100% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz | 5.3 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 1.1 GHz | 4.7 GHz+327% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 6 MB+200% |
| Process | 7 nm | 5 nm, 6 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-U (2023) | Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 12,625 | 28,325+124% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,766 | 15,300+75% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,131 | 2,900+36% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,973 | 13,800+54% |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 7 164U uses the FCBGA2551 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5x-6400 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 7600X 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 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Meteor Lake-U (Core Ultra 7 164U) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X).
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Ryzen 5 7600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2551 | AM5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-6400 | DDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 28+133% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 7600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 7600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 164U) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc (Core Ultra 7 164U) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600X) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 164U targets Enthusiast, Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 164U rivals Ryzen 7 7840U; Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Ryzen 5 7600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc | AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Enthusiast | Gaming |
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