Core Ultra 7 266V vs Ryzen 5 5500
Core Ultra 7 266V
Ryzen 5 5500
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. 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 266V
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 266V | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($520) | ✅ More affordable ($85) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cezanne (2021−2025) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 266V | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+513%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($520) | ✅ More affordable ($85) |
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 266V and Ryzen 5 5500
Core Ultra 7 266V
The Core Ultra 7 266V 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 19,274 points. Launch price was $299.
Ryzen 5 5500
The Ryzen 5 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,311 points. Launch price was $159.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 7 266V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 7 266V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 266V (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 19,274 against the Ryzen 5 5500's 19,311 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 266V vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 266V | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+19% | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+64% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 16 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core)+400% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Lunar Lake (2024) | Cezanne (2021−2025) |
| PassMark | 19,274 | 19,311 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 7 266V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 266V | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2833 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core Ultra 7 266V) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 266V | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core Ultra 7 266V launched at $520 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5500 debuted at $159. At current prices ($520 vs $85), the Ryzen 5 5500 is $435 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 7 266V delivers 37.1 pts/$ vs 227.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5500 — making the Ryzen 5 5500 the 143.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 266V | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $520 | $159-69% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $520 | $85-84% |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.1 | 227.2+512% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2022 |
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