Intel Core 3 100UL vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Intel Core 3 100UL and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus occupy distinct positions in the desktop processor landscape. The database records show a fundamental split: the Core 3 100UL is a low-power, entry-level Raptor Lake part, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a high-core-count Arrow Lake Refresh processor with a 93rd percentile ranking. Benchmark results indicate that the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates in every recorded workload, leaving the Core 3 100UL without a single head-to-head victory. The analysis below details where each processor wins, the magnitude of the performance gaps, and the architectural choices that explain them.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 100UL does not record a single benchmark win over the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Across all 17 recorded tests for the Ultra 5, the Core 3 100UL has zero wins (winsA: 0) and the Ultra 5 has 17 wins (winsB: 17). This is a comprehensive sweep, not a close contest. The Core 3 100UL’s strengths are qualitative rather than quantitative: it uses a 15 W TDP, a figure that the database lists, whereas the Ultra 5 uses 125 W. That power difference, combined with the Core 3’s Intel Socket 1700 compatibility and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, makes it a fit for low-power or legacy-platform builds. The Ultra 5, by contrast, requires DDR5 and uses Intel Socket 1851.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins on every metric that the database records: multi-core rendering, single-core speed, integer math, floating-point math, encryption, compression, physics simulation, and extended instruction workloads. Its percentile ranking of 93 versus the Core 3’s 50 places it in a different performance class entirely. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 are all high-end server or enthusiast parts: the AMD EPYC 4465P is 0.1% slower, the Intel Xeon 6515P is 0.2% slower, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is 0.9% slower. The only processor that beats it in the nearest-rival group is the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, which is 1.1% faster. The Core 3 100UL has no listed nearest rivals, reflecting its isolated position at the low end of the database’s performance distribution.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for anyone needing compute throughput: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the only option with recorded benchmark scores. The Core 3 100UL has an average benchmark score of 0 in the database, meaning no performance measurements exist for it. The Ultra 5 delivers an average benchmark score of 66,855, with a 93rd percentile placement. For multi-threaded workloads, the Ultra 5 scores 30,867 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a figure that places it among the top 7% of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 100UL cannot be compared on these terms because it has no scores.

The Core 3 100UL is not without a role. Its 15 W TDP and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 support suggest a use case in power-constrained or budget-constrained systems that do not require heavy compute. It uses Intel Socket 1700, a platform that supports older memory standards. The Ultra 5, with a 125 W TDP, an unlocked multiplier, and a launch MSRP of $199, targets desktop builders who want performance and overclocking headroom. The multiplier is unlocked on the Ultra 5, while the Core 3 is locked. The Ultra 5 also includes ECC memory support, a feature the Core 3 lacks. For any workload where the database has a score, the Ultra 5 wins outright.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no head-to-head benchmarks between these two processors, but the Ultra 5’s individual scores provide the full picture. In Cinebench R23, the Ultra 5 scores 30,867 multi-core and 2,261 single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 18,442 multi-core and 2,603 single-core. In the older Cinebench R15, it scores 4,640 multi-core and 328 single-core. These results show a processor that scales well with thread count, consistent with its 18 cores and 18 threads.

PassMark tests reinforce the multi-threaded strength. The Ultra 5 scores 568,721 in data compression, 125,091 in integer math, 162,692 in floating-point math, and 51,596 in multithreaded tests. The single-thread score is 4,757, and the physics score is 3,494. The extended instructions score is 44,565, indicating strong SIMD performance. Data encryption scores 42,144, and random string sorting scores 69,090. The find prime numbers score is 486, a relatively low figure that suggests this workload does not favor the processor’s architecture.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the Ultra 5 is nearly identical in average score. The AMD EPYC 4465P is 0.1% slower, a negligible difference. The Intel Xeon 6515P is 0.2% slower. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is 0.9% slower, which is surprising given that the 275HX is a higher-tier part in the same family. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is 1.1% faster, a small margin that likely comes from the lack of integrated graphics on the KF variant. The Ultra 5 250K Plus includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, while the Core 3 100UL includes UHD Graphics 64EU. Both have 64 execution units, but the architectures differ.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Intel Core 3 100UL has 6 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the clock speed difference?

A: The Core 3 100UL has a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 100UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports only DDR5 in dual-channel mode, with a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher database percentile?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 100UL ranks in the 50th percentile.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has ECC memory support. The Core 3 100UL does not.

Q: What are the production statuses of these processors?

A: Both are listed as Active in the database. The Core 3 100UL was released on 2024-04-07, and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus was released on 2026-03-10.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and foundries. The Core 3 100UL uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-PS codename, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, built on TSMC’s 3 nm process. The Ultra 5 has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 3’s transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The Core 3 100UL has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5’s larger per-core caches and triple-size shared L3 reflect its higher-core-count design.

The socket and PCIe support are also different. The Core 3 uses Intel Socket 1700 with PCIe Gen 4 and 8 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851 with PCIe Gen 5 and 20 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5’s PCIe Gen 5 support doubles the per-lane bandwidth available to the Core 3, and the lane count is more than double. The Core 3’s integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU, while the Ultra 5 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both have 64 execution units, but the Arc architecture is newer and designed for higher performance per unit.

The Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier, the Core 3 does not. The Ultra 5 also has a higher TDP (125 W versus 15 W), which enables its higher base clock of 4.20 GHz versus 1.20 GHz. The Core 3’s low TDP and modest clocks make it suitable for passive or low-noise designs, while the Ultra 5 requires active cooling given its power envelope. The memory controller differs as well: the Core 3 supports two memory types, the Ultra 5 supports one. The Ultra 5’s memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s is not matched by a recorded figure for the Core 3, but the DDR4/DDR5 support on the older part suggests lower peak bandwidth.

In summary, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, with a 93rd percentile ranking and an average score of 66,855. The Core 3 100UL has no recorded scores, a 50th percentile ranking, and a 15 W TDP that targets a different use case. The architectural differences, from process node to cache size to PCIe generation, explain the performance chasm. The data does not support any scenario where the Core 3 100UL outperforms the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in compute throughput.