Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

The Intel Core 5 315 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus occupy different tiers in the mobile processor landscape. The recorded data shows a consistent and substantial performance gap, with the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus winning all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. This analysis walks through the benchmark results, specification differences, and architectural distinctions between the two parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus outperforms the Intel Core 5 315 in every single test recorded, with the margin varying significantly depending on the workload. The largest single-core gap appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 596 compared to the Core 5 315's 184, a difference of 69.1 percent. This pattern repeats across all Cinebench versions.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus delivers a score of 41913, while the Core 5 315 manages 12981, a 69 percent deficit. The single-core version of the same test shows the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus at 5917 against 1832, also a 69 percent gap. These results indicate that the architectural advantages of the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus translate into both multi-threaded and single-threaded performance gains.

The PassMark suite reveals where the largest deltas occur. The `passmark_find_prime_numbers` test shows the biggest difference at 76.8 percent, with the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scoring 482 versus the Core 5 315's 112. Floating point math and integer math both show 74.1 percent gaps, with scores of 163567 against 42441 and 122449 against 31690 respectively. These mathematics-heavy workloads benefit most from the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus's larger core count and higher clock speeds.

Data compression and encryption follow closely. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 493179 in data compression, a 70.4 percent advantage over the Core 5 315's 146143. Data encryption shows a 70.6 percent gap, with 37813 versus 11119. Random string sorting is another strong point for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus, delivering 60020 against 17551, a 70.8 percent difference.

The smallest margin appears in the PassMark single-thread test. Here the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 4764 against 4021, a 15.6 percent advantage. While still a clear win, this narrower gap suggests that the Core 5 315's single-core architecture is relatively competitive, though the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus still holds the advantage due to its higher boost clock.

The average benchmark score places the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus at 61834, which puts it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900KF with an average score of 61841 and a delta of 0 percent, the Intel Core i9-13900K at 61766 with a 0.1 percent delta, and the Intel Xeon 636 at 61360 with a 0.8 percent delta. The Core 5 315, by contrast, has an average score of 18188 and sits in the 72nd percentile, with nearest rivals including the AMD EPYC 9274F at 18189, the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180, and the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 41913, while the Intel Core 5 315 scores 12981. This results in a 69 percent advantage for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread PassMark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 4764, compared to 4021 for the Intel Core 5 315, giving the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus a 15.6 percent lead.

Q: How do the two compare in the prime number finding test?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 482, while the Core 5 315 scores 112. This represents a 76.8 percent gap, the largest among all recorded benchmarks.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 61834, while the Intel Core 5 315 has an average of 18188.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 315 supports single-channel memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the stronger processor across every benchmark in the database. Its 93rd percentile ranking, combined with an average score of 61834, places it firmly in the high-performance mobile segment. The nearest rivals, which include the Intel Core i9-13900KF and the Intel Core i9-13900K, confirm its position near the top of the performance hierarchy.

The Intel Core 5 315, with its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 18188, is a more modest part. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 9274F and the Intel Core i7-9700, suggest it competes with older desktop processors and lower-tier mobile parts. The 69 percent gaps in Cinebench multi-core tests and the 74.1 percent gaps in floating point and integer math workloads indicate that the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is in a different performance class entirely.

For workloads that rely heavily on multi-threading, such as rendering, data compression, and encryption, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the clear choice based on the recorded data. The Core 5 315's 6 cores and 6 threads cannot match the 20 cores and 20 threads of the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus in these scenarios. Even in single-threaded tasks, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus maintains a lead, though the 15.6 percent margin in PassMark single-thread is the smallest recorded difference.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. The base clock of the Core 5 315 is 1.50 GHz, compared to 2.40 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. Boost clocks also differ, with the Core 5 315 reaching 4.40 GHz and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus reaching 5.30 GHz.

Thermal design power shows a significant separation: the Core 5 315 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a TDP of 55 watts. The sockets are different as well, with the Core 5 315 using Intel BGA 1516 and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus using Intel BGA 2114. Memory support differs, with the Core 5 315 supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus supports only DDR5 but in a dual-channel configuration. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s for the Core 5 315 and 102.4 GB/s for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

PCI Express support also differs: the Core 5 315 uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics are different as well, with the Core 5 315 featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe units and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus featuring Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU. The multiplier is locked on the Core 5 315 and unlocked on the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is substantial. The Intel Core 5 315 is built on the Wildcat Lake architecture and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 and the Ultra 7 generation. Both are fabricated on a 3 nm process, but the foundry differs: Intel produces the Core 5 315, while TSMC produces the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus.

The cache structures show a major difference. The Core 5 315 has a 192 KB L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus also reports 17,800 million transistors and a die size of 243 mm², while the Core 5 315 has no recorded transistor count or die size.

The memory controller architecture differs as well, with the Core 5 315 using a single-channel configuration and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus using dual-channel. This contributes to the memory bandwidth gap. The integrated graphics are from different generations, with the Core 5 315 using Xe3 Graphics and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 315 does not.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins in all 17 recorded comparisons. The largest margins appear in prime number finding, floating point math, and integer math, where the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus leads by 74.1 to 76.8 percent. These workloads benefit from the higher core count and the dual-channel memory configuration, which provides 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth.

The Core 5 315 shows relative strength in the PassMark single-thread test, where its deficit is only 15.6 percent. This suggests that for lightly threaded workloads, the Core 5 315 is closer in performance, though still behind. The 4.40 GHz boost clock on the Core 5 315 helps in this regard, but the 5.30 GHz boost clock of the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus still provides the edge.

For data compression, encryption, and random string sorting, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus leads by margins between 70.4 and 70.8 percent. The 20 cores and 20 threads are the primary factor here, as these workloads scale well with additional processing resources. The Core 5 315's 6 cores and 6 threads limit its throughput in these parallel tasks.

The Cinebench results, which span R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants, all show the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus ahead by approximately 69 percent. This consistency across benchmark versions reinforces the conclusion that the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the superior processor for both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads. The Core 5 315, while functional for basic tasks, does not match the performance tier of the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus in any recorded metric.