Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record is completely one-sided. Across all 17 head-to-head tests in the database, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H takes every single win. The Intel Core 5 315 does not record a single victory in any workload category, whether single-threaded, multi-threaded, or specialized instruction tests.

The closest margins appear in single-thread performance. In PassMark single-thread testing, the Core Ultra 5 225H scores 4258 against 4021 for the Core 5 315, a delta of 5.6%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a similar pattern, with the 225H at 1969 versus 1832, a 7% gap. These are meaningful but not overwhelming differences, indicating that the architectural gap narrows when only one core is active.

The largest gaps appear in multi-threaded integer work. PassMark integer math shows the 225H at 68520 versus 31690, a 53.8% advantage. Floating point math follows at 86540 versus 42441, a 51% lead. Data compression shows 283451 against 146143, a 48.4% delta. These three tests represent the widest separation between the two parts.

Cinebench multi-core results tell a more nuanced story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 225H leads 14629.5 to 12981, only 11.3% ahead. But in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the gap expands to 2397.5 versus 1308, a 45.4% difference. The R20 multi-core test shows 10041 against 5452, a 45.7% delta. The R23 result is the narrowest multi-threaded margin recorded, suggesting workload scaling characteristics differ across Cinebench versions.

The Core 5 315 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 18188. The Core Ultra 5 225H ranks at the 82nd percentile with an average score of 31508. That percentile gap of 10 points places the two processors in different performance tiers entirely. The 225H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13500 and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX, both within 0.1% of its average score. The 315's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9274F and Intel Core i7-9700, with the Intel Core i7-1365U and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U close behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel lineups and use different design philosophies. The Intel Core 5 315 is a Wildcat Lake part, built on Intel's 3 nm process and fabricated by Intel. It uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-H codename, and is also built on a 3 nm process but fabricated by TSMC. It uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without hyper-threading but with more than double the physical core count. This core disparity drives most of the multi-threaded performance gap.

Clock speeds favor the 225H in both base and boost operation. The 315 runs at a 1.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost. The 225H runs at 1.70 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The 225H also carries a higher TDP of 28 watts against 15 watts for the 315, reflecting its higher power envelope and larger core configuration.

Cache hierarchies differ in both size and organization. The 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The 225H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The L3 advantage for the 225H is threefold, which helps in workloads with large working sets.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The 315 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The 225H uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, nearly double the memory throughput. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, and neither supports ECC.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The 315 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The 225H provides PCIe Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the 225H uses Arc Graphics 130T.

Release timing places the 225H earlier, with a release date of January 2025. The 315 followed with an April 2026 release. The 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. The 225H has no launch MSRP recorded. Both are active production parts, both are mobile segment, and both have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 225H dominates every recorded benchmark, but the size of the win varies widely by workload type. The narrowest margin is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the 225H scores 4258 against 4021 for the 315, a 5.6% lead. The same single-thread result appears twice in the database under slightly different test names, confirming the consistency of that measurement.

Cinebench R23 single-core shows the 225H ahead by 7%, scoring 1969 versus 1832. That is a modest advantage in lightly threaded rendering tasks. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap further in percentage terms, with the 225H at 14629.5 against 12981, an 11.3% lead. This is the smallest multi-threaded delta in the entire comparison, despite the 225H having more than twice the core count.

Older Cinebench versions show much larger gaps. Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the 225H a 45.7% lead, 10041 versus 5452. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 45.4% advantage, 2397.5 versus 1308. Single-core results in these older versions also widen: R20 single-core has the 225H at 1417 against 769, a 45.7% gap, and R15 single-core shows 288.5 versus 184, a 36.2% lead.

PassMark integer math delivers the largest recorded margin. The 225H scores 68520 while the 315 scores 31690, a 53.8% delta. Floating point math follows at 86540 versus 42441, a 51% gap. Prime number finding shows the 225H at 220 against 112, a 49.1% lead. Data compression shows 283451 versus 146143, a 48.4% delta. Data encryption follows at 21428 versus 11119, a 48.1% gap. Random string sorting shows 33654 against 17551, a 47.8% lead. PassMark multi-thread shows 28119 versus 15272, a 45.7% delta. Physics simulation shows 1877 versus 1163, a 38% gap. Extended instruction testing shows 21915 versus 13143, a 40% lead.

The pattern is clear: the 225H wins every category, with margins ranging from 5.6% in single-thread PassMark to 53.8% in integer math. The 315's best relative performance comes in single-threaded and lightly threaded tests, while its worst relative performance comes in heavy integer and floating point workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither processor supports hyper-threading.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Core Ultra 5 225H?

A: The 225H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 315 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, making the 225H's L3 three times larger.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225H has a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 5 315 has a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225H boosts to 4.90 GHz. The Core 5 315 boosts to 4.40 GHz. The 225H also has a higher base clock at 1.70 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: Does the Core 5 315 win any benchmarks?

A: No. Across all 17 head-to-head tests in the database, the Core Ultra 5 225H wins every single one. The 315 records zero wins.

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

A: The 225H leads in all single-thread tests. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the 225H scores 4258 against 4021, a 5.6% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 7% lead for the 225H.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is the superior processor in every measured category. Its 14-core configuration, larger 18 MB L3 cache, dual-channel memory with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, and higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz combine to deliver an average benchmark score of 31508, placing it at the 82nd percentile. The Core 5 315, with 6 cores, 6 MB of L3, single-channel memory, and a 4.40 GHz boost, averages 18188 and sits at the 72nd percentile.

Buyers seeking maximum multi-threaded throughput should choose the 225H, as its integer math advantage of 53.8% and floating point advantage of 51% demonstrate clear dominance in compute-heavy tasks. The 225H also leads in memory-sensitive workloads like data compression by 48.4%, aided by its dual-channel bus.

The Core 5 315 does offer a lower TDP of 15 watts against 28 watts, which matters for power-constrained mobile designs. Its single-thread deficit is modest at 5.6% in PassMark, so lightly threaded applications will not feel dramatically different. However, the 315's launch MSRP of $340 and its later release date in April 2026 do not change the performance picture.

For any workload represented in the benchmark database, the Core Ultra 5 225H is the correct choice. The only scenario where the 315 makes sense is when the lower 15-watt power envelope is a strict requirement, since the 225H consumes nearly double the power. Otherwise, the 225H's 17-0 sweep across all recorded tests leaves no ambiguity.