Ryzen 5 5500U vs Core Ultra 7 164U
Ryzen 5 5500U
Core Ultra 7 164U
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. The Ryzen 5 5500U is positioned at rank 73 and the Core Ultra 7 164U is on rank 675, so the Ryzen 5 5500U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5500U
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 164U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5500U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5500U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Ryzen 5 5500U and Core Ultra 7 164U
Ryzen 5 5500U
The Ryzen 5 5500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,736 points. Launch price was $149.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 5500U packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 164U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 164U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500U versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 164U — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5500U uses the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 164U uses Meteor Lake-U (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5500U scores 12,736 against the Core Ultra 7 164U's 12,625 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 6,900 vs 8,766 (23.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,100 vs 2,131, a 63.8% lead for the Core Ultra 7 164U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,200 vs 8,973 (53.2% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5500U vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 164U.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 14+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.8 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz+91% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) | Meteor Lake-U (2023) |
| PassMark | 12,736 | 12,625 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 6,900 | 8,766+27% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,100 | 2,131+94% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 5,200 | 8,973+73% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5500U uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 164U uses FCBGA2551 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4 3200 MHz on the Ryzen 5 5500U versus LPDDR5x-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 164U — the Ryzen 5 5500U supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: FP6 (Ryzen 5 5500U) and Meteor Lake-U (Core Ultra 7 164U).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | FCBGA2551 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4 3200 MHz | LPDDR5x-6400+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Ryzen 5 5500U) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 164U). Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) (Ryzen 5 5500U) and Intel Arc (Core Ultra 7 164U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500U targets Mobile, Core Ultra 7 164U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 164U rivals Ryzen 7 7840U.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) | Intel Arc |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mobile | Enthusiast |
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