Intel Core 5 220H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus records an average benchmark score of 66855, while the Intel Core 5 220H records 28574. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 80th percentile for the Core 5 220H.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 4757, which is 28.4% higher than the Core 5 220H's score of 3405. The same margin appears in the PassMark single-thread test listing.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 220H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the release dates for both processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H was released on 2024-12-17. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus was released on 2026-03-10.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 220H does not support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-H codename, and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. It is built on Intel's 10 nm process node and is fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, and is part of the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation. It is built on TSMC's 3 nm process node and has a transistor count of 17,800 million with a die size of 243 mm².

The Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. This indicates the Core 5 220H uses hyper-threading (16 threads on 12 cores), whereas the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus does not, with each core mapping to a single thread.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core 5 220H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger cache capacities in the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus align with its newer design.

The Core 5 220H is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1744 socket, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop processor on the Intel Socket 1851, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a TDP of 125 watts, while the Core 5 220H has a TDP of 45 watts.

Memory support diverges: the Core 5 220H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus explicitly lists a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The Core 5 220H has no listed memory bandwidth figure.

Integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 220H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also has an unlocked multiplier, is listed as a desktop part, supports ECC memory, and provides Gen 5 PCIe with 20 CPU lanes. The Core 5 220H provides Gen 5 PCIe with 8 CPU lanes. The Core 5 220H has a launch MSRP of $342, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a launch MSRP of $199.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 17. No benchmark favors the Intel Core 5 220H. The margins vary widely by workload.

Starting with multi-core Cinebench results, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 4640 versus 1835 for the Core 5 220H, a delta of 60.5% in favor of the newer part. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the scores are 18442 versus 7812, a 57.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30867 against 11198, the largest multi-core gap in the Cinebench suite at 63.7%.

Single-core Cinebench results show a smaller but still clear lead for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 328 versus 262, a 20.1% margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 2603 versus 1102, a 57.7% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2261 versus 1853, an 18% margin. The single-core delta is noticeably narrower than the multi-core delta in the R15 and R23 tests, while the R20 single-core test shows a much larger gap.

PassMark tests reinforce the pattern. In integer math, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 125091 versus 73555, a 41.2% lead. In floating point math, it scores 162692 versus 51671, a 68.2% lead. The extended instructions test shows a 67.1% advantage, with scores of 44565 versus 14642. Data encryption shows a 63.9% advantage, with scores of 42144 versus 15216. Data compression shows a 56.4% advantage, with scores of 568721 versus 247921.

The largest single margin in the entire comparison appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 486 against 82 for the Core 5 220H, a delta of 83.1%. This workload heavily rewards the newer architecture's core count and clock speed.

Random string sorting shows a 58.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, with scores of 69090 versus 28438. The PassMark multithread test shows a 57.6% advantage, with scores of 51596 versus 21884. The PassMark physics test shows a 57.7% advantage, with scores of 3494 versus 1478.

The single-thread PassMark result is consistent across both listed entries (single_thread and singlethread), with the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scoring 4757 and the Core 5 220H scoring 3405, a 28.4% advantage.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a one-sided comparison. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus outperforms the Intel Core 5 220H in every benchmark in the database, with win margins ranging from 18% in Cinebench R23 single-core to 83.1% in PassMark find prime numbers. The average benchmark score of 66855 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is more than double the 28574 average of the Core 5 220H. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also places in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, versus the 80th percentile for the Core 5 220H.

The Core 5 220H is a mobile part with a 45-watt TDP, designed for laptops and portable systems. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop part with a 125-watt TDP, an unlocked multiplier, and a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. The data indicates that for any workload captured by these benchmarks, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the stronger performer. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also carries a launch MSRP of $199, while the Core 5 220H has a launch MSRP of $342.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 12 (Core 5 220H) vs 18 (Core Ultra 5 250K Plus)
• Threads: 16 vs 18
• Base clock: 2.70 GHz vs 4.20 GHz
• Boost clock: 4.90 GHz vs 5.30 GHz
• TDP: 45 W vs 125 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1744 vs Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Raptor Lake vs not listed (Arrow Lake Refresh codename)
• Codename: Raptor Lake-H vs Arrow Lake Refresh
• Generation: Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) vs Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake)
• Process node: 10 nm vs 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel vs TSMC
• Transistors: not listed vs 17,800 million
• Die size: not listed vs 243 mm²
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core vs 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: 2 MB per core vs 3 MB per core
• L3 cache: 18 MB shared vs 30 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 vs DDR5 only
• Memory bandwidth: not listed vs 115.2 GB/s
• ECC memory: false vs true
• PCIe lanes: Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU vs Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU
• Market segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Release date: 2024-12-17 vs 2026-03-10
• Launch MSRP: $342 vs $199
• Multiplier unlocked: false vs true
• Part number: SRQ6SQ5MM vs SA4UZ

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins every recorded benchmark, so the "where each one wins" split is entirely one-sided in the database. The closest contest is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads by 18%. The largest contest is PassMark find prime numbers, where it leads by 83.1%.

For workloads dominated by single-thread performance, such as the Cinebench R15 single-core and R23 single-core tests, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus still holds a solid but smaller advantage. The R20 single-core test shows a much larger gap at 57.7%, indicating variability across different single-thread benchmarks. For memory-intensive tasks like data compression and random string sorting, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads by 56.4% and 58.8%, respectively.

For heavy multi-threaded workloads, such as Cinebench R23 multi-core and PassMark multithread, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads by 63.7% and 57.6%, respectively. The cryptographic workload in PassMark data encryption shows a 63.9% advantage, and the floating point math test shows a 68.2% advantage.

The Intel Core 5 220H, being a mobile processor with a 45-watt TDP, does not win any benchmark in the database. Its role is limited to portable systems where the lower power envelope and BGA socket are applicable. The data does not show any scenario where the Core 5 220H outperforms the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.