Intel Core 5 130UL vs Intel Core Ultra 3 205 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 delivers substantially higher performance across every recorded benchmark in the database. The Intel Core 5 130UL has no recorded benchmark scores, while the Core Ultra 3 205 has a complete set of Cinebench and PassMark results. This makes the comparison one-sided, but the magnitude of the Ultra 3 205's advantage is striking.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 3 205 scores 19856 points. Its single-core result in the same test is 2803 points. The Core Ultra 3 205 reaches 8339 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 1177 in single-core. In the older Cinebench R15 test, it records 2001 multi-core and 282 single-core. These scores place the chip at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The Core Ultra 3 205's PassMark results reinforce the same pattern. The multi-thread score is 26167, and the single-thread score is 4575. The chip handles integer math at 54755 and floating-point math at 75136. Data compression reaches 260651, while data encryption records 18772. Extended instruction throughput is 22578, prime number finding is 268, random string sorting is 31083, and physics simulation is 2016.

The Core 5 130UL has a 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs, but with an average benchmark score of zero and no test results, the database cannot substantiate its real-world standing. The Core Ultra 3 205's average benchmark score is 31473, a figure that places it within a fraction of a percent of several well-known desktop and mobile processors. The nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 240H, averages 31483, a 0 percent delta. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX averages 31495, a negative 0.1 percent delta. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H averages 31508, also negative 0.1 percent. The Intel Core i5-13500 averages 31510, again negative 0.1 percent. In practical terms, the Core Ultra 3 205 sits statistically level with those four processors.

The Core 5 130UL cannot enter any head-to-head benchmark comparison because it lacks scores. The data shows that the Core Ultra 3 205 is the only one of the two with measurable performance, and it is strong enough to compete with chips in a higher performance class.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 130UL boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 support the same memory types as the Intel Core 5 130UL?

A: No. The Core Ultra 3 205 supports only DDR5 memory, while the Core 5 130UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 3 205 also records a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure absent from the Core 5 130UL's data.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 130UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite fewer cores and threads, the Ultra 3 205's recorded benchmark scores are far higher.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core 5 130UL is built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Ultra 3 205 also lists 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die size, while the Core 5 130UL has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Q: Which processor uses a newer socket?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 uses Intel Socket 1851, while the Intel Core 5 130UL uses Intel Socket 1700. The two are not socket-compatible.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core Ultra 3 205?

A: The launch MSRP is $140. The Core 5 130UL has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 wins every category where data exists. Its 8-core, 8-thread configuration outperforms the 10-core, 12-thread Core 5 130UL in all recorded tests. The single-core advantage comes from the higher 4.90 GHz boost clock and the newer architecture. The multi-core advantage, despite fewer cores, stems from the same architectural improvements and the 3 nm process node.

The Core 5 130UL holds no recorded wins in any benchmark. Its only advantages are structural: support for DDR4 memory in addition to DDR5, and a 15 W TDP compared to the Core Ultra 3 205's 57 W TDP. For workloads that rely on DDR4 compatibility or lower power draw, the Core 5 130UL has a role. For raw throughput in Cinebench rendering, PassMark math, compression, encryption, or single-threaded tasks, the Core Ultra 3 205 is the clear choice.

The Core Ultra 3 205 also wins on platform capabilities. It supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Core 5 130UL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 3 205's integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG with 16 execution units, whereas the Core 5 130UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The lower EU count on the Ultra 3 205 suggests a different graphics focus, but the database records no graphics benchmarks for either chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 5 130UL has 10 cores and 12 threads; the Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 1.60 GHz for the Core 5 130UL versus 3.80 GHz for the Core Ultra 3 205. Boost clocks are closer, at 4.70 GHz versus 4.90 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The Core 5 130UL is rated at 15 W, while the Core Ultra 3 205 is rated at 57 W. Sockets are incompatible, with the Core 5 130UL on Intel Socket 1700 and the Core Ultra 3 205 on Intel Socket 1851.

Cache organization differs across all levels. The Core 5 130UL has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 3 205 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3.

Memory support diverges. The Core 5 130UL supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 3 205 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but only the Core Ultra 3 205 lists a memory bandwidth figure, 102.4 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity differs sharply. The Core 5 130UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 3 205 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ in brand and execution unit count. The Core 5 130UL uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The Core Ultra 3 205 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

The Core Ultra 3 205 has a listed part number (SRVFC) and a launch MSRP of $140. The Core 5 130UL has no part number and no launch MSRP recorded. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 130UL is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-PS codename, and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It uses Intel's 10 nm process node and is fabricated by Intel. The Core Ultra 3 205 is built on Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. It uses a 3 nm process node and is fabricated by TSMC.

The transistor count provides a clear scale difference. The Core Ultra 3 205 integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 5 130UL has no recorded transistor or die size data, but the process and architecture generation gap is evident from the node difference alone.

The cache hierarchy reflects the architectural shift. The Core Ultra 3 205's per-core L1 is 192 KB versus 80 KB for the Core 5 130UL. Its per-core L2 is 3 MB versus 1.25 MB. Its shared L3 is 15 MB versus 12 MB. These larger caches align with the newer Arrow Lake design.

The integrated graphics also mark an architectural change. The Core 5 130UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, a Raptor Lake era design. The Core Ultra 3 205 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, a newer graphics architecture even though the EU count is lower.

Release timing differs by over a year. The Core 5 130UL was released on 2024-04-07. The Core Ultra 3 205 was released on 2025-07-31. Both are listed as active production parts and target the desktop market segment. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the choice straightforward for performance-oriented buyers. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 delivers a complete set of strong results, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19856 and a PassMark multi-thread score of 26167. Its 82nd percentile ranking among all CPUs and average benchmark score of 31473 place it alongside processors like the Intel Core 7 240H, AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX, Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, and Intel Core i5-13500, all within 0.1 percent of its score.

The Intel Core 5 130UL has no recorded benchmark scores and an average score of zero. Its 50th percentile ranking is not supported by any test data in the database. The Core 5 130UL's only documented advantages are its lower 15 W TDP, its support for DDR4 memory, and its higher execution unit count in the integrated GPU. For systems constrained by power limits or requiring DDR4 compatibility, the Core 5 130UL has a specific use case.

For every measured workload, the Core Ultra 3 205 is the superior processor. It offers a higher boost clock, a larger cache hierarchy, a more advanced 3 nm process, PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, and a newer architecture. The 57 W TDP is a trade-off, but the performance data justifies it. The Core Ultra 3 205 is the only one of the two with verified performance, and that performance is competitive with a much wider field.