Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between these two processors, with the Intel Core 7 251TE winning 12 of the 17 recorded tests and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H taking the remaining 5. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The largest advantage for the Core 7 251TE appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3602 against 1969 for the Ultra 5 225H, a delta of 82.9%. That is an enormous gap in a single-threaded workload. The multicore result in the same test is similarly lopsided: 25518 versus 14629.5, a 74.4% lead. These two results dominate the head-to-head comparison and suggest the Core 7 251TE has a substantial performance ceiling in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded rendering tasks.

Integer math also favors the Core 7 251TE heavily. The score of 125739 compared to 68520 for the Ultra 5 225H represents an 83.5% advantage. This is the largest percentage win in any PassMark test. Data compression follows a similar pattern, with the Core 7 251TE scoring 334399 against 283451, an 18% lead. Random string sorting shows a 17.8% advantage for the Core 7 251TE at 39643 versus 33654.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 results are closer but still favor the Core 7 251TE. In R15 multicore, the score is 2572 versus 2397.5, a 7.3% lead. Single-core in R15 shows a 25.5% advantage at 362 versus 288.5. In R20, multicore is 10717 versus 10041, a 6.7% lead, and single-core is 1512 versus 1417, also 6.7%. PassMark multithread shows a 6.8% lead for the Core 7 251TE at 30022 versus 28119, while physics results are close at 1938 versus 1877, a 3.2% edge. Data encryption is nearly even, 22176 versus 21428, a 3.5% lead.

The Ultra 5 225H wins the remaining tests, and its strongest result is in PassMark single-thread. The score of 4258 against 3568 is a 16.2% advantage. This is notable because the Cinebench single-core results point the other way, indicating the two suites measure different aspects of single-threaded performance. Extended instructions also favor the Ultra 5 225H by a wide margin: 21915 versus 16974, a 22.5% lead. Prime number finding shows a 36.4% advantage for the Ultra 5 225H at 220 versus 140, and floating point math is nearly tied at 86540 versus 85607, a 1.1% edge.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall positioning. The Core 7 251TE has an average benchmark score of 41650 and sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 5 225H has an average of 31508 and sits at the 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 7 251TE include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41621, which is 0.1% behind, and the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 41779, which is 0.3% ahead. The Ultra 5 225H sits near the Intel Core i5-13500 at 31510 and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX at 31495, both within 0.1%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has an average benchmark score of 41650, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 31508.

Q: How large is the Cinebench R23 multicore gap?

A: The Core 7 251TE scores 25518 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 74.4% ahead of the Ultra 5 225H at 14629.5.

Q: Does the Ultra 5 225H win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes. The Ultra 5 225H scores 4258 in PassMark single-thread, which is 16.2% ahead of the Core 7 251TE at 3568. However, the Core 7 251TE wins every Cinebench single-core test, including an 82.9% lead in R23 single-core.

Q: What is the difference in CPU core and thread counts?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: Which processor uses a more advanced manufacturing process?

A: The Ultra 5 225H uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Core 7 251TE uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark extended instructions?

A: The Ultra 5 225H leads with 21915, which is 22.5% ahead of the Core 7 251TE at 16974.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 251TE is the choice for heavily multithreaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multicore result of 25518 versus 14629.5 is the clearest indicator. The 74.4% lead in that test, combined with a 83.5% advantage in integer math and an 18% lead in data compression, points to a processor that sustains high throughput when all cores are active. The 24 cores and 32 threads provide a structural advantage that the 14 cores and 14 threads of the Ultra 5 225H cannot overcome in most parallel workloads.

The Core 7 251TE also dominates the Cinebench single-core tests. The 82.9% lead in R23 single-core and the 25.5% lead in R15 single-core indicate that its boost clock of 5.40 GHz delivers strong performance in latency-sensitive tasks. Rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads that rely on both single-thread responsiveness and multi-thread scaling will favor this processor.

The Ultra 5 225H wins in PassMark single-thread with a 16.2% lead, which suggests it has a different performance profile in certain lightweight, single-threaded tasks. Its extended instructions score of 21915 is 22.5% ahead, and its prime number finding score of 220 is 36.4% ahead. These results indicate strength in specialized instruction paths and certain algorithm types. The floating point math test is essentially tied at 86540 versus 85607, so the Ultra 5 225H does not have a broad numerical advantage, but it does hold specific wins.

For workloads that involve extended instruction sets, such as cryptographic or vectorized operations, the Ultra 5 225H has a measurable edge. The data also shows the Ultra 5 225H has a lower TDP of 28 watts compared to 45 watts for the Core 7 251TE, which makes it better suited for constrained thermal environments.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Core 7 251TE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Ultra 5 225H has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

The Core 7 251TE has a TDP of 45 watts and uses Intel Socket 1700. The Ultra 5 225H has a TDP of 28 watts and uses Intel BGA 2049. The market segments differ as well: the Core 7 251TE is a desktop processor, while the Ultra 5 225H is a mobile processor.

Cache configurations are also different. The Core 7 251TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 225H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is listed at 215 mm² for the Core 7 251TE, while no die size is recorded for the Ultra 5 225H.

Memory support differs. The Core 7 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Ultra 5 225H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 225H does not.

PCIe lanes also differ. The Core 7 251TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 5 225H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes. The integrated graphics are different: the Core 7 251TE uses UHD Graphics 770, and the Ultra 5 225H uses Arc Graphics 130T. The launch MSRP for the Core 7 251TE is $384. The Ultra 5 225H has no launch MSRP recorded. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The Core 7 251TE is built on the Bartlett Lake architecture and is part of the Core 7 generation. It uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Ultra 5 225H is built on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-H, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC.

The process node difference is significant. The 3 nm TSMC process used by the Ultra 5 225H is a newer manufacturing technology than the 10 nm Intel process used by the Core 7 251TE. This helps explain the lower TDP of 28 watts for the Ultra 5 225H despite its higher base clock of 1.70 GHz.

The core and thread counts reflect different design philosophies. The Core 7 251TE uses a high core count of 24 with 32 threads, which indicates hyperthreading is enabled. The Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The cache hierarchy also differs, with the Ultra 5 225H having larger per-core L1 and L2 caches at 192 KB and 3 MB per core, while the Core 7 251TE has a much larger shared L3 cache at 36 MB versus 18 MB.

The socket and form factor differences are tied to their market segments. The Core 7 251TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 225H is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2049. The PCIe lane count reflects this: 16 lanes for the desktop processor versus 8 for the mobile processor. The memory controller also differs, with the mobile chip supporting LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5, while the desktop chip also supports DDR4.

Both processors have active production status and were released on the same date. Both have locked multipliers. The integrated graphics solutions differ, with the Core 7 251TE using UHD Graphics 770 and the Ultra 5 225H using Arc Graphics 130T. The part numbers are SRQAXQ5ZG for the Core 7 251TE and SRQAM for the Ultra 5 225H.

The Verdict

The data points to the Core 7 251TE as the stronger overall processor. Its average benchmark score of 41650 sits at the 88th percentile, while the Ultra 5 225H sits at the 82nd percentile with an average of 31508. The Core 7 251TE wins the majority of tests, and its wins in Cinebench R23 multicore and single-core are by wide margins of 74.4% and 82.9% respectively.

The Ultra 5 225H has specific strengths. Its PassMark single-thread score is 16.2% higher, and it leads by 22.5% in extended instructions and 36.4% in prime number finding. Its 3 nm TSMC process and 28 watt TDP make it a more power-efficient design. For mobile use cases where power draw and thermals are primary constraints, the Ultra 5 225H is the appropriate choice.

The Core 7 251TE is the choice for desktop users who need maximum multithreaded throughput. The 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 36 MB shared L3 cache and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, deliver strong performance in rendering, compression, and integer-heavy workloads. Its 5.40 GHz boost clock also gives it an edge in many single-threaded scenarios, as shown by its dominance across the Cinebench single-core tests.

The Ultra 5 225H suits workloads that benefit from its newer architecture and specific instruction handling. The 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and support for LPDDR5X give it flexibility in memory configurations. Its 18 MB shared L3 cache is smaller, but the larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may help in certain access patterns.

For a desktop build where raw performance matters most, the Core 7 251TE delivers. For a mobile system where efficiency and a lower thermal envelope are priorities, the Ultra 5 225H is the better fit. The benchmark results do not show one processor as universally superior; they show two designs aimed at different markets with different strengths.