Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Core Ultra 7 255U
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Core Ultra 7 255U
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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 Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 255U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) | ✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-U (2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 9 7950X3D and Core Ultra 7 255U
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,323 points. Launch price was $699.
Core Ultra 7 255U
The Core Ultra 7 255U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,834 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D versus 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255U — a 9.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D (base: 4.2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255U uses Arrow Lake-U (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D scores 62,323 against the Core Ultra 7 255U's 17,834 — a 111% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs 12 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255U.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+33% | 12 / 14 |
| Boost Clock | 5.7 GHz+10% | 5.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz+11% | 3.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 128 MB (total)+967% | 12 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | — |
| Process | 5 nm, 6 nm | 5 nm |
| Architecture | Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) | Arrow Lake-U (2025) |
| PassMark | 62,323+249% | 17,834 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 38,581 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,926 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 19,643 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 255U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM5 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Ryzen 9 7950X3D) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 255U). The Ryzen 9 7950X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Core Ultra 7 255U requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7950X3D rivals Core i9-13900K.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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