Intel Core 5 320 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear overall picture: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 320 takes only one. However, the single victory for the Core 5 320 is substantial and worth examining closely.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 5 320 scores 276 against 210 for the Core Ultra 5 235, a 31.4% advantage. This is the largest winning margin in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. The R15 single-core test appears to favor the Core 5 320's architecture in a way that none of the other single-threaded tests do, as the Core Ultra 5 235 leads in every other single-core measurement.

The Core Ultra 5 235 dominates the multi-threaded workloads with particularly large margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235 posts 14769 points versus 6197 for the Core 5 320, a 58% deficit for the smaller chip. The PassMark multi-thread test shows a similar pattern: 37816 for the Core Ultra 5 235 against 15450 for the Core 5 320, a 59.1% gap. Data compression in PassMark reveals the largest raw score difference, with the Core Ultra 5 235 scoring 390711 compared to 148779, a 61.9% delta.

The remaining PassMark tests all show the Core Ultra 5 235 ahead by margins between 52.5% and 70.4%. The physics test shows a 52.5% lead (2570 versus 1221), while the prime number search test shows the widest relative gap at 70.4% (371 versus 110). Floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting all fall in the 63% to 64% range in favor of the Core Ultra 5 235.

The Cinebench R20 results are closer than the R23 numbers. In R20 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 6202 against 5462 for the Core 5 320, an 11.9% lead. The R20 single-core test also shows an 11.9% margin, with 875 versus 771. The R23 single-core test narrows the gap to 7.6%, with 2085 versus 1926. PassMark single-thread results show a 10.4% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235 at 4516 versus 4045.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 320 wins exactly one recorded benchmark: Cinebench R15 single-core. This result indicates that in this specific legacy test, the Wildcat Lake architecture can outperform the Arrow Lake design on a per-thread basis. The 31.4% margin is substantial, suggesting that the Core 5 320's single-core performance in this particular workload is not merely competitive but decisively ahead.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins every other recorded benchmark. Its strengths are most pronounced in heavily multi-threaded workloads, where the combination of more cores and higher clock speeds produces leads of roughly 52% to 70%. The data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and math workloads all show the Core Ultra 5 235 operating in a different performance tier entirely.

For single-threaded workloads outside of R15, the Core Ultra 5 235 maintains a consistent but smaller advantage. The R20 single-core, R23 single-core, and PassMark single-thread results show leads of 7.6% to 11.9%. This suggests that for most modern single-threaded applications, the Core Ultra 5 235 remains the stronger choice, with the R15 result being an outlier rather than a general pattern.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this split. The Core Ultra 5 235 averages 46062 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 320 averages 18023, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm their respective tiers: the Core Ultra 5 235 sits within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, while the Core 5 320 trades places within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and the Intel Core i5-1334U.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R15 score?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 scores 276 in Cinebench R15 single-core, which is 31.4% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 235's score of 210.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 14769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core 5 320 scores 6197, a 58% difference in favor of the Core Ultra 5 235.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, while the Intel Core 5 320 has an average benchmark score of 18023.

Q: How do the two processors compare in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 4516 in PassMark single-thread, which is 10.4% higher than the Intel Core 5 320's score of 4045.

Q: Which processor ranks higher in the overall CPU percentile?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 320 ranks in the 72nd percentile.

Q: What is the largest relative performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 371 versus 110 for the Intel Core 5 320, a 70.4% difference.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core 5 320 uses 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts in both cases.

Base clock speeds differ substantially: the Core 5 320 runs at 1.50 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 235 runs at 3.40 GHz. Boost clocks show a smaller gap, with 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 320 and 5.00 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235. Thermal design power also differs significantly, with 15 watts for the Core 5 320 and 65 watts for the Core Ultra 5 235.

The memory subsystems are quite different. The Core 5 320 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity shows a generational gap. The Core 5 320 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 320 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units.

The socket and market positioning differ as well. The Core 5 320 uses Intel BGA 1516 and targets the mobile segment, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets the desktop segment. The Core 5 320 has a launch MSRP of $340, while the Core Ultra 5 235 has a launch MSRP of $257. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation.

Both processors are built on a 3 nm process node, but they use different foundries. The Core 5 320 is manufactured by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 235 is manufactured by TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a documented transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the database records no transistor count or die size for the Core 5 320.

Cache configurations differ considerably. The Core 5 320 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor includes 3D V-Cache.

The release timelines also differ. The Core Ultra 5 235 was released on January 6, 2025, while the Core 5 320 was released on April 15, 2026. Both processors remain in active production.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows two processors aimed at different segments with correspondingly different performance profiles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 delivers substantially higher performance across nearly every workload, with a 89th percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of 46062. Its closest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, placing it in the upper tier of the database.

The Intel Core 5 320, with its 72nd percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 18023, sits among the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and the Intel Core i5-1334U. Its single victory in Cinebench R15 single-core shows a meaningful advantage in that specific legacy workload, but the 31.4% margin does not carry over to other single-threaded tests, where the Core Ultra 5 235 leads by 7.6% to 11.9%.

The Core Ultra 5 235 wins all multi-threaded benchmarks by margins ranging from 11.9% to 70.4%. The Core 5 320's lower core count, lower clock speeds, single-channel memory, and smaller cache all contribute to this consistent deficit. The desktop-oriented design of the Core Ultra 5 235, with its 65 watt TDP and dual-channel memory, provides a fundamentally higher performance ceiling than the 15 watt mobile design of the Core 5 320.

For workloads that depend on multi-threaded throughput, data compression, encryption, or math-heavy calculations, the Core Ultra 5 235 is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. For the specific case of legacy Cinebench R15 single-core performance, the Core 5 320 holds an advantage, but this represents a narrow exception rather than a general pattern. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 235 is the higher-performing processor in the vast majority of scenarios, with the Core 5 320 offering a single notable strength in one particular benchmark.