Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H across every recorded test. Out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, the Core Ultra 5 235H wins all 17, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core 5 315. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 235H is 37522, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 315 averages 18188, sitting in the 72nd percentile.

The largest gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core Ultra 5 235H scores 74247 against 31690 for the Core 5 315, a delta of -57.3% when viewed from the Core 5 315's perspective. Floating point math shows a similar pattern, with the Core Ultra 5 235H reaching 93509 versus 42441, a -54.6% delta. Prime number finding delivers 239 versus 112, a -53.1% delta, and data encryption shows 23121 versus 11119, a -51.9% delta.

Cinebench results are consistent across all three versions. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core Ultra 5 235H records 25598 while the Core 5 315 records 12981, a -49.3% delta. The same -49.3% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (10751 versus 5452) and Cinebench R15 multicore (2580 versus 1308). Single-core Cinebench tests follow the same trend: R23 single-core shows 3613 versus 1832 (-49.3%), R20 single-core shows 1517 versus 769 (-49.3%), and R15 single-core shows 364 versus 184 (-49.5%).

The closest margin in the entire dataset is PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 5 235H scores 4359 and the Core 5 315 scores 4021, a -7.8% delta. This indicates that while the Core Ultra 5 235H still leads in single-threaded work, the gap is far narrower than in multi-threaded or math-intensive workloads. PassMark multithread shows a -49.2% delta (30091 versus 15272), while extended instructions show -43.7% (23354 versus 13143), physics shows -41.4% (1985 versus 1163), data compression shows -51.6% (301979 versus 146143), and random string sorting shows -51.5% (36208 versus 17551).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H is the stronger processor in every measured workload category. Its most pronounced advantages are in integer math (-57.3%), floating point math (-54.6%), and prime number finding (-53.1%). These results indicate a substantial lead in compute-heavy tasks such as scientific calculations, financial modeling, and any workload relying on arithmetic throughput.

The Core Ultra 5 235H also dominates compression and encryption workloads. Data compression shows a -51.6% delta, and data encryption shows -51.9%. These are meaningful differences for file archiving, database operations, and secure data handling. Random string sorting, often relevant to sorting algorithms and data processing pipelines, shows a -51.5% delta.

In multi-threaded rendering and CPU-bound creative workloads, the Cinebench results all cluster around -49.3%, demonstrating a consistent near-doubling of performance across R15, R20, and R23 versions. The Core 5 315 does not win a single benchmark, so there is no workload category in which the recorded data shows it ahead. Its closest relative performance is in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the -7.8% delta suggests that lightly threaded applications, such as basic office tasks or legacy software, would see a much smaller real-world difference.

The Core 5 315's average benchmark score of 18188 places it near the AMD EPYC 9274F (18189, 0% delta) and Intel Core i7-9700 (18180, 0% delta). It also sits close to the Intel Core i7-1365U (18177, 0.1% delta) and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (18176, 0.1% delta). These comparison points show that the Core 5 315 is competitive with older desktop and mobile processors from previous generations, despite its large gap to the Core Ultra 5 235H.

The Core Ultra 5 235H, with an average score of 37522, sits near the Intel Core i9-13900HK (37425, 0.3% delta) and Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (37313, 0.6% delta). It is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-13600K (37685, -0.4% delta) and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 (37762, -0.6% delta) when those rivals are scored higher. These deltas are all under 1%, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 235H delivers performance equivalent to a high-end desktop CPU from a recent generation.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architecture lineages. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-H codename, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. Both are built on a 3 nm process node, but the foundry differs: the Core 5 315 is fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 235H is fabricated by TSMC.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading or equivalent technology is present. The Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without additional threading per core. The difference of 8 physical cores is the primary driver behind the large multi-threaded performance gap.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently as well. The Core 5 315 lists L1 cache as 192 KB, L2 as 2.5 MB, and L3 as 6 MB shared. The Core Ultra 5 235H lists L1 as 192 KB per core, L2 as 3 MB per core, and L3 as 18 MB shared. The per-core L2 arrangement in the Core Ultra 5 235H provides substantially more on-die cache, which helps explain its advantage in repeated data access patterns and math-heavy workloads.

Memory architecture also differs. The Core 5 315 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235H uses a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This near-doubling of memory bandwidth is likely a contributing factor to the Core Ultra 5 235H's lead in data compression and encryption, both of which are sensitive to memory throughput.

PCIe support differs as well. The Core 5 315 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 235H supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). This gives the Core Ultra 5 235H a more recent I/O standard and additional lanes for connected devices.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Core 5 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core Ultra 5 235H uses Arc Graphics 140T. Both processors are marked as mobile market segment parts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. Core count: 6 for the Core 5 315 versus 14 for the Core Ultra 5 235H. Thread count: 6 versus 14. Base clock: 1.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz. Boost clock: 4.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP: 15 W versus 28 W. Socket: Intel BGA 1516 versus Intel BGA 2049.

The Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. The Core Ultra 5 235H has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Memory bus width differs: single-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. PCIe generation and lane count: Gen 4 with 6 lanes versus Gen 5 with 8 lanes. L1 cache: 192 KB versus 192 KB per core. L2 cache: 2.5 MB versus 3 MB per core. L3 cache: 6 MB shared versus 18 MB shared.

Release dates differ. The Core 5 315 has a release date of 2026-04-15, while the Core Ultra 5 235H has a release date of 2025-01-12. Production status for both is listed as active. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Part numbers differ: SAEFC for the Core 5 315 and SRQAP for the Core Ultra 5 235H. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory types, and neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has an average benchmark score of 37522, compared to 18188 for the Intel Core 5 315.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235H scores 25598 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Core 5 315 scores 12981, a -49.3% delta.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Core 5 315 wins?

A: No. The Core Ultra 5 235H wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, and the Core 5 315 records zero wins.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: PassMark single-thread shows the smallest gap, with the Core Ultra 5 235H scoring 4359 and the Core 5 315 scoring 4021, a -7.8% delta.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Core 5 315 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s.