Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Comparison

Intel Core 5 315 and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX occupy opposite ends of Intel's mobile lineup. The Core 5 315 is a 6-core Wildcat Lake part designed for efficiency, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core Arrow Lake-HX flagship aimed at maximum performance. Benchmark data from the database shows a complete sweep: the Core Ultra 9 275HX wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The analysis below breaks down where each processor wins, the architectural differences behind that gap, and what the recorded numbers mean for different workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark results show no workload categories where the Intel Core 5 315 takes the lead. Every single test, from Cinebench rendering to PassMark math and encryption workloads, goes to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX. The closest margin appears in single-threaded tests, where the Core Ultra 9 275HX leads by 14.7% in PassMark single-thread and 16.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core. For lighter, latency-sensitive tasks, the Core 5 315 is closer but still behind.

The Core Ultra 9 275HX dominates heavily in multi-threaded and parallel workloads. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 63.5% advantage, while Cinebench R20 multicore and PassMark multithread both show a 72.6% gap. The largest single delta is in PassMark integer math, where the Core Ultra 9 leads by 79.6%. Compression, encryption, extended instructions, and prime number finding all show deltas between 72% and 76.4%, indicating that the Core Ultra 9 275HX is the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks.

The Core 5 315 does not win a single benchmark, but its performance profile is not without context. It sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX sits at the 94th percentile. The Core 5 315's average benchmark score is 18188, which places it near the AMD EPYC 9274F (18189), Intel Core i7-9700 (18180), and Intel Core i7-1365U (18177). This suggests the Core 5 315 competes with older desktop and mobile mid-range parts, not with flagship HX-class silicon.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX uses Arrow Lake-HX. Both are fabricated on a 3 nm process node, but the foundries differ. Intel produces the Core 5 315 in-house, while TSMC fabricates the Core Ultra 9 275HX. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The Core 5 315 has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Core counts differ significantly. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores and 24 threads. Both parts lack additional threads beyond their core counts. Cache hierarchies reflect the core count difference. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 advantage for the Core Ultra 9 is substantial and directly supports its multi-threaded performance.

Memory support also differs. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 9 275HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity is another major split: the Core 5 315 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX uses Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 315 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.

Clock speeds favor the Core Ultra 9 275HX. Its base clock is 2.70 GHz and boost clock is 5.40 GHz, compared to 1.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost on the Core 5 315. Thermal design power is 55 W for the Core Ultra 9 and 15 W for the Core 5 315. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 5 315 does not. Sockets differ as well: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 315 and Intel BGA 2114 for the Core Ultra 9 275HX. The Core Ultra 9 275HX belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, while the Core 5 315 has no series designation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Core Ultra 9 275HX leads by 63.5% in Cinebench R23 multicore (35589 vs 12981) and by 72.6% in PassMark multithread (55759 vs 15272). The largest multi-threaded delta is 79.6% in PassMark integer math.

Q: What is the single-threaded performance difference?

A: The Core Ultra 9 275HX leads by 14.7% in PassMark single-thread (4713 vs 4021) and by 16.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2204 vs 1832). These are the closest margins in the head-to-head data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core 5 315 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX have ECC memory support set to false in the database.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 315 supports 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel memory bus. The Core Ultra 9 275HX supports 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has a higher production status?

A: Both are listed as Active in production status. The Core Ultra 9 275HX was released on 2025-01-12, while the Core 5 315 has a release date of 2026-04-15.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 315 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 24 |

| Threads | 6 | 24 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.40 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2114 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-HX |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die size | Not recorded | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 lanes | Gen 5, 20 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $340 | Not recorded |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 9 275HX scores 5619.5 against 1308 for the Core 5 315, a 76.7% delta. Single-core R15 shows 334 vs 184, a 44.9% delta. Cinebench R20 multicore has the Core Ultra 9 at 19899 vs 5452, a 72.6% delta. The same delta appears in R20 single-core (2809 vs 769). Cinebench R23 multicore narrows the gap slightly to 63.5% (35589 vs 12981), while R23 single-core shows the smallest Cinebench delta at 16.9% (2204 vs 1832).

PassMark results amplify the multi-threaded gap. Data compression shows 608381 vs 146143, a 76% delta. Data encryption shows 47112 vs 11119, a 76.4% delta. Extended instructions show 47016 vs 13143, a 72% delta. Prime number finding shows 448 vs 112, a 75% delta. Floating point math shows 191186 vs 42441, a 77.8% delta. Integer math shows 155218 vs 31690, a 79.6% delta, the largest margin in the entire head-to-head set. Multithread shows 55759 vs 15272, a 72.6% delta. Physics shows 3338 vs 1163, a 65.2% delta. Random string sorting shows 74320 vs 17551, a 76.4% delta. Single-thread shows 4713 vs 4021, a 14.7% delta.

The Core 5 315's average benchmark score is 18188, which places it in the 72nd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9274F at 18189, Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180, Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U at 18176. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has an average score of 67469, placing it in the 94th percentile. Its nearest rivals are Intel Xeon w5-3525 at 67673, AMD EPYC 4484PX at 67822, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX at 67868, and Intel Xeon 6515P at 67006. The percentile gap between the two parts, 72 vs 94, reflects the scale of the performance difference.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear separation of roles. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, with multi-threaded deltas frequently exceeding 70%. Its 24 cores, 36 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and Gen 5 PCIe lanes position it for demanding mobile workloads such as rendering, scientific computation, and heavy content creation. The 94th percentile ranking and average score of 67469 place it alongside workstation-class Xeon and Threadripper parts.

The Intel Core 5 315 is not competitive in raw performance, but its profile serves a different purpose. With 6 cores, a 15 W TDP, and single-channel memory, it is built for efficiency-focused mobile systems. Its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 18188 place it near the Intel Core i7-9700 and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, both established mid-range parts. The Core 5 315 does not win a single head-to-head test, so any selection between these two parts depends entirely on whether the workload requires the Core Ultra 9 275HX's compute capacity or the Core 5 315's lower power envelope. The data confirms the Core Ultra 9 275HX as the performance leader; the Core 5 315 is the efficiency-oriented alternative.