Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL Comparison
Intel Core 5 315
Core Ultra 3 105UL
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Intel Core 5 315 records an average benchmark score of 18188, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL records 13061. The Core 5 315 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL sits at the 68th percentile.
Q: How many benchmark comparisons did each processor win?
A: The Intel Core 5 315 won 16 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL won a single comparison, in PassMark integer math.
Q: What are the core and thread counts of each processor?
A: The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has 8 cores and 10 threads.
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Core 5 315 boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL boosts to 4.20 GHz. Both have a base clock of 1.50 GHz.
Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL supports dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 315 supports single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.
Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different design generations and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core 5 315 is built on a 3 nm process node and belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL uses a 7 nm node and is part of the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS variant. Both are fabricated by Intel.
The core configurations differ substantially. The Core 5 315 uses 6 cores with 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core Ultra 3 105UL uses 8 cores with 10 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores. Despite having fewer cores, the Core 5 315 delivers higher benchmark scores across nearly every test, which points to a stronger per-core design or higher effective clock behavior.
Cache layouts also differ. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 3 105UL lists 112 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger aggregate L3 on the Ultra 3 does not translate into a benchmark advantage in the recorded data.
Memory support diverges as well. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 3 105UL supports DDR5 with the capacity depending on the motherboard, uses a dual-channel bus, and reaches 89.6 GB/s. The Ultra 3 has a clear theoretical memory bandwidth advantage, yet the benchmark results favor the Core 5 315 in nearly all workloads.
The integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core Ultra 3 105UL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 48 execution units. The socket types also differ: the Core 5 315 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core 5 315 is classified as a mobile part, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL is classified as a desktop part. PCIe support differs modestly, with the Core 5 315 offering Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes and the Core Ultra 3 105UL offering Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes.
The Verdict
The benchmark data points clearly to the Intel Core 5 315 as the stronger processor. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head comparisons and posts an average score of 18188 versus 13061 for the Core Ultra 3 105UL. The Core 5 315 also ranks higher in the overall percentile distribution, at 72 versus 68.
The Core Ultra 3 105UL is not without merit. It wins the PassMark integer math test with a score of 41171 against 31690, a 23% advantage. It also offers more cores, more threads, a larger L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and higher memory bandwidth. For workloads that depend heavily on integer throughput or memory bandwidth, the Ultra 3 has a structural edge.
However, the Core 5 315 dominates the Cinebench suite. In R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core results favor the Core 5 315 by approximately 48.5%. That consistency across rendering workloads indicates a substantial architectural advantage that outweighs the Ultra 3's extra cores and threads.
The data supports the Core 5 315 for general compute, rendering, single-threaded tasks, and most multi-threaded workloads. The Core Ultra 3 105UL is the choice when integer math performance or the available memory bandwidth of a dual-channel design is the priority. Both parts are active in production, but the Core 5 315 is the higher-performing option in the recorded measurements.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL has 8 cores and 10 threads. The Core 5 315 has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, the Core Ultra 3 105UL boosts to 4.20 GHz, and both share the same 1.50 GHz base clock.
The process nodes differ: 3 nm for the Core 5 315 versus 7 nm for the Core Ultra 3 105UL. The Core 5 315 belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL is part of the Core Ultra Series 1 with the Meteor Lake-PS codename. The Core 5 315 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the Core Ultra 3 105UL uses Intel Socket 1851.
Cache allocations differ. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache, with 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 3 105UL has 112 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 10 MB of shared L3.
Memory support diverges: the Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth; the Core Ultra 3 105UL supports DDR5 depending on the motherboard, with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe counts differ, with the Core 5 315 offering Gen 4 with 6 lanes and the Core Ultra 3 105UL offering Gen 4 with 8 lanes. The integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores on the Core 5 315 versus Arc Xe-LPG with 48 execution units on the Core Ultra 3 105UL.
The market segments differ: Mobile for the Core 5 315 and Desktop for the Core Ultra 3 105UL. The release dates also differ, with the Core Ultra 3 105UL launching earlier. The Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340, and the Core Ultra 3 105UL has a launch MSRP of $295. Both are active in production, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Cinebench results are the most lopsided part of the comparison. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 5 315 scores 1308 against 881, a 48.5% lead. The single-core R15 result is 184 versus 124, also a 48.4% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 5452 versus 3671, and the single-core test shows 769 versus 518, both with 48.5% deltas. The R23 multi-core test shows 12981 versus 8742, and the single-core test shows 1832 versus 1234, again with 48.5% deltas.
The PassMark suite shows a wider spread in some tests. Data compression favors the Core 5 315 with 146143 versus 93961, a 55.5% lead. Data encryption favors the Core 5 315 with 11119 versus 6354, a 75% lead. Extended instructions show 13143 versus 5634, a 133.3% lead. Prime number finding shows 112 versus 44, a 154.5% lead. Floating point math shows 42441 versus 30750, a 38% lead. Physics shows 1163 versus 718, a 62% lead. Random string sorting shows 17551 versus 11179, a 57% lead. The PassMark multi-thread score is 15272 versus 10285, a 48.5% lead.
The single exception is PassMark integer math. The Core Ultra 3 105UL scores 41171 against 31690, a 23% advantage. The PassMark single-thread scores show a smaller but still clear edge for the Core 5 315: 4021 versus 3382, an 18.9% lead.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 5 315 wins across rendering, compression, encryption, extended instruction workloads, prime number calculation, floating point math, physics simulation, random string sorting, and multi-threaded general performance. Its Cinebench dominance at roughly 48.5% across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core, makes it the stronger choice for any workload that relies on sustained CPU rendering or single-thread responsiveness.
The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL wins in one specific area: PassMark integer math. Its score of 41171 versus 31690 reflects a 23% advantage, and the Ultra 3 also brings 8 cores, 10 threads, 10 MB of shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. These characteristics make it more suitable for workloads that stress integer arithmetic or that can exploit higher memory bandwidth.
The overall picture from the database is straightforward. The Core 5 315 delivers higher scores in 16 of 17 measured tests and holds a higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking. The Core Ultra 3 105UL offers a specific integer math win and a more generous memory subsystem, but the recorded data favors the Core 5 315 in the vast majority of scenarios.