Intel Core 7 240H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data positions the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus as the dominant processor across every recorded test. The database shows the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core 7 240H failing to secure a single win. The average benchmark score of 66,855 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 240H averages 31,483, sitting in the 82nd percentile. The performance gap is substantial and consistent, with the smallest recorded advantage for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus being 20.5% in single-threaded PassMark tests, and the largest reaching 79% in the prime number finding workload.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, and targets the desktop segment. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 4465P at an average score of 66,925, which trails by 0.1%, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 66,159, which the 250K Plus leads by 1.1%. The Core 7 240H, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 at 31,473 and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX at 31,495, both with a delta of 0%, showing that the mobile processor is competitive only within its own performance tier.

The Core 7 240H is a mobile part, released on 2024-12-17, with a launch MSRP of $502. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop processor, released on 2026-03-10, with a launch MSRP of $199. The data indicates the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput, while the Core 7 240H remains relevant only for mobile systems where the desktop processor cannot be installed. The socket difference, Intel BGA 1744 for the mobile chip versus Intel Socket 1851 for the desktop chip, makes platform compatibility an absolute separator.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 240H has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, while the Intel Core 7 240H has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the process nodes used by each processor?

A: The Intel Core 7 240H uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 7 240H does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 7 240H has no recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 7 240H has Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 7 240H uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-H codename, belonging to the Core 7 generation (Raptor Lake Refresh). The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, belonging to the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation within the Core Ultra Series 2 family. The process nodes differ significantly: the Core 7 240H is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a 3 nm process fabricated by TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also has recorded transistor and die size data, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, whereas the Core 7 240H has no such figures in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ across all levels. The Core 7 240H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches and the higher total L3 capacity on the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus align with its higher core count and desktop positioning.

Memory support also diverges. The Core 7 240H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory support is present only on the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 7 240H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 64 execution units, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The multiplier is unlocked on the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, while the Core 7 240H has a locked multiplier.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 240H | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

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

| Cores | 10 | 18 |

| Threads | 16 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 64EU | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2024-12-17 | 2026-03-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $502 | $199 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a commanding lead for the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 4,640 against the Core 7 240H's 2,360, a 49.1% advantage. The single-core R15 result shows 328 versus 249, a 24.1% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore score of 18,442 versus 8,562 represents a 53.6% lead, and the single-core score of 2,603 versus 1,208 also shows a 53.6% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 30,867 against 15,764, a 48.9% difference, while the single-core score of 2,261 versus 1,719 gives a 24% margin.

PassMark workloads reinforce the pattern. The largest single gap appears in the find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 486 against 102, a 79% advantage. Floating point math shows 162,692 versus 58,905, a 63.8% lead. Extended instructions deliver 44,565 versus 16,897, a 62.1% gap. Data encryption shows 42,144 versus 15,155, a 64% difference. Random string sorting records 69,090 against 28,866, a 58.2% margin. Data compression reaches 568,721 versus 271,774, a 52.2% lead.

The multithreaded PassMark score for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is 51,596 versus 23,975, a 53.5% advantage, and the physics test shows 3,494 versus 1,723, a 50.7% gap. Integer math produces the narrowest multicore margin at 125,091 versus 80,396, a 35.7% difference. Single-threaded PassMark results show 4,757 versus 3,782, a 20.5% lead, which is the smallest relative advantage across all recorded tests.

The percentile ranking amplifies the separation. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 240H sits in the 82nd percentile. The average benchmark score difference is 35,372 points, more than double the mobile processor's total average. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also outperforms its own nearest rivals, leading the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus by 1.1%, while the Core 7 240H is effectively tied with the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX, both at a delta of 0%. The data leaves no ambiguity: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the faster processor in every measured workload, with the Core 7 240H trailing by margins that range from roughly one-fifth to four-fifths depending on the test.