Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Intel

Core Ultra 7 255H

16 Cores16 Thrd26 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2025
Core Ultra family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

8 Cores16 Thrd120 WWMax: 5 GHz2023
Ryzen family
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Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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 7 255H vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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 7 255H vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D: 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 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

  • +4.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
  • Draws 26W instead of 120W, a 94W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7800X3D across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 15,700).
  • Launch MSRP is still $449 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 361.5% higher power demand at 120W vs 26W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255H better than Ryzen 7 7800X3D?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is ahead with a 6.3% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255H pulls ahead with 4.7% better Geekbench multi-core. Ryzen 7 7800X3D also has the bigger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 24 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255H is the stronger fit. You are getting 4.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core Ultra 7 255H is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 7800X3D is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core Ultra 7 255H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $449 MSRP, and it still gives you 4.7% better Geekbench multi-core. The compromise is that Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.3% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (76.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 7 255H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core Ultra 7 255H

The Core Ultra 7 255H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 26 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 30,932 points. Launch price was $514.

AMD

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 34,293 points. Launch price was $449.

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 7 255H packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 7 255H has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255H versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — a 2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H (base: 4.4 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 255H uses the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 255H scores 30,932 against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D's 34,293 — a 10.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,800 vs 2,700, a 3.6% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,700 vs 15,000 (4.6% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H). L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255H vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

FeatureCore Ultra 7 255HRyzen 7 7800X3D
Cores / Threads
16 / 16+100%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz+2%
5 GHz
Base Clock
4.4 GHz
4.4 GHz
L3 Cache
24 MB
96 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
Process
5 nm
5 nm
Architecture
Arrow Lake-H (2025)
Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark
30,932
34,293+11%
Cinebench R23 Multi
18,500
Geekbench 6 Single
2,800+4%
2,700
Geekbench 6 Multi
15,700+5%
15,000
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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 7 255H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 255H versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — the Core Ultra 7 255H supports 23.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 28 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255H) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D).

FeatureCore Ultra 7 255HRyzen 7 7800X3D
Socket
FCBGA2049
AM5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-6400+23%
DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
28
28
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 255H) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 7800X3D). Both include integrated graphics Intel Arc Graphics 140T (Core Ultra 7 255H) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 7 7800X3D) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 255H targets High-End Laptop, Ryzen 7 7800X3D targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 7800X3D rivals Intel Core i7-14700K.

FeatureCore Ultra 7 255HRyzen 7 7800X3D
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel Arc Graphics 140T
AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
High-End Laptop
Gaming