Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a thoroughly one-sided comparison. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX takes the win, with the Intel Core 3 201E registering zero victories. The most striking pattern is the consistency of the margin in Cinebench workloads. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core scores show the Ultra 7 265HX ahead by exactly 69% in every instance. The R15 multicore result of 4096 against 1271, the R20 multicore result of 17069 against 5297, and the R23 multicore result of 40642 against 12613 all reflect that same gap. Single-core results follow suit: 578 versus 179 in R15, 2409 versus 747 in R20, and 5737 versus 1780 in R23.

The Passmark suite reveals a wider spread of deltas, indicating that the performance advantage is not uniform across all instruction types. The smallest margin appears in single-threaded work, where the Ultra 7 265HX scores 4500 against 3482, a 22.6% lead. That is the closest the Core 3 201E comes to its rival in any test. The largest gap appears in prime number finding, where the Ultra 7 265HX scores 406 versus 57, an 86% difference. Floating point math also shows a substantial divide: 161605 against 33260, a 79.4% gap. Data encryption shows a 77.4% difference (39472 versus 8931), extended instructions show 72.9% (40741 versus 11035), and random string sorting shows 71.5% (62458 versus 17783).

The multi-threaded Passmark score of 47985 versus 14839 represents a 69.1% difference, closely matching the Cinebench multicore margins. Data compression shows a 67.9% gap (511817 versus 164160), integer math shows 65.4% (126954 versus 43894), and physics shows the narrowest multicore-style gap at 61.7% (2978 versus 1141). The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy: the Ultra 7 265HX averages 63173, while the Core 3 201E averages 19056. The percentile rankings place the Ultra 7 265HX in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 73rd percentile for the Core 3 201E.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is the superior processor by every measurable benchmark in this comparison. The 20-core configuration delivers more than triple the multi-threaded performance of the 4-core Core 3 201E in Cinebench R23, and the single-core advantage of roughly 69% across all Cinebench versions shows that architectural efficiency also favors the Ultra 7. The 5.30 GHz boost clock against 4.80 GHz contributes to that single-thread lead, while the 30 MB shared L3 cache versus 12 MB helps explain the multi-threaded dominance.

The nearest rival data places the Ultra 7 265HX alongside much stronger competition. Its average score of 63173 sits nearly level with the Intel Core i7-13790F at 63080 (0.1% delta), slightly above the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G at 63331 (-0.2% delta), and above the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 at 62839 (0.5% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX at 62738 (0.7% delta). The Core 3 201E, by contrast, sits in a lower performance tier, with its 19056 average score nearly matching the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19047 (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-12400F at 19039 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982 (0.4% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7773X at 18979 (0.4% delta).

Given that the Ultra 7 265HX wins all 17 head-to-head tests, the choice between these two is unambiguous for any workload represented in the database. The only question is whether the Core 3 201E's lower core count and smaller cache might still serve a specific niche, which the benchmark data cannot directly answer for workloads outside these tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 265HX wins every recorded benchmark category, so the use-case split is defined by degree of advantage rather than by which processor wins. Single-threaded tasks see the smallest advantage at 22.6%, which still favors the Ultra 7 but indicates that the Core 3 201E's 4.80 GHz boost clock keeps it competitive in lightly threaded applications. For workloads like legacy software, basic office tasks, or older games that rely on one or two threads, the Core 3 201E narrows the gap considerably, though it does not close it.

Multi-threaded workloads show the largest chasm. The 69% Cinebench multicore margins and the 86% prime number gap suggest that rendering, scientific computing, encryption, and compression tasks heavily favor the Ultra 7 265HX. The 20 threads of the Ultra 7 against 8 threads of the Core 3 create a structural advantage that no clock speed can overcome. The physics score of 2978 versus 1141, a 61.7% difference, indicates simulation and physics-based workloads also strongly favor the Ultra 7.

The Core 3 201E does have a few distinguishing features that matter outside raw benchmark scores. It supports DDR4 memory alongside DDR5, while the Ultra 7 265HX supports only DDR5. The Core 3 201E also supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 7 265HX does not. These features do not appear in the benchmark results but could influence platform selection for specific reliability or memory compatibility requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has an average benchmark score of 63173, compared to 19056 for the Intel Core 3 201E.

Q: How large is the single-threaded performance gap?

A: In Passmark single-thread testing, the Ultra 7 265HX scores 4500 against 3482, a 22.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 7 scores 5737 against 1780, a 69% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Passmark's find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 7 265HX scores 406 versus 57, an 86% difference.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 201E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 265HX supports only DDR5. The Core 3 201E also supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 7 265HX does not.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Ultra 7 265HX has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 7 265HX boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the Core 3 201E boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different Intel designs. The Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Ultra 7 265HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, and is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The transistor count reflects this manufacturing difference: the Ultra 7 265HX contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 3 201E does not have a recorded transistor count but has a 163 mm² die.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads, indicating hyperthreading, while the Ultra 7 265HX has 20 cores and 20 threads, indicating no hyperthreading but a much larger physical core count. Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The Core 3 201E provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 265HX provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3.

Memory bandwidth scales with the architecture. The Core 3 201E records 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ultra 7 265HX records 102.4 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Core 3 201E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 7 265HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 3 201E using UHD Graphics 730 and the Ultra 7 265HX using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Specification Differences

The socket types separate these processors into different platform categories. The Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket, while the Ultra 7 265HX uses Intel BGA 2114, a mobile socket. This aligns with their market segments: the Core 3 201E is a Desktop processor, while the Ultra 7 265HX is a Mobile processor.

The base clocks differ, with the Core 3 201E at 3.60 GHz and the Ultra 7 265HX at 2.60 GHz. Boost clocks reverse the order, with the Ultra 7 265HX at 5.30 GHz and the Core 3 201E at 4.80 GHz. Thermal design power is close: 60 watts for the Core 3 201E and 55 watts for the Ultra 7 265HX.

The multiplier unlock status differs. The Core 3 201E has a locked multiplier, while the Ultra 7 265HX has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Core 3 201E has a recorded launch MSRP of $134, while the Ultra 7 265HX has no recorded launch MSRP. The part numbers also differ: SRVTR for the Core 3 201E and SRVFH for the Ultra 7 265HX. Both processors were released on the same date, 2025-01-12, and both have active production status.