Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, which wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 7 251TE manages only two wins, both in single-core Cinebench tests. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 7 255HX is 62,738, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 251TE averages 41,650, sitting in the 88th percentile.

The largest margin of victory for the Core Ultra 7 255HX appears in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 41,247 against 16,974 for the Core 7 251TE, a difference of 58.8 percent. This indicates a substantial advantage in workloads using advanced instruction sets, likely reflecting the newer microarchitecture's wider execution resources. Similarly, the Core Ultra 7 255HX leads by 65 percent in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 400 versus 140, and by 46.7 percent in floating point math, with 160,624 against 85,607.

Multi-core rendering workloads also favor the Core Ultra 7 255HX heavily. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 4,916 versus 2,572, a 47.7 percent lead. The Cinebench R20 multi-core result shows 17,187 against 10,717, a 37.6 percent margin, and Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers 32,612 versus 25,518, a 21.8 percent advantage. The Core Ultra 7 255HX also leads in PassMark multithread by 37.8 percent, scoring 48,234 against 30,022, and in PassMark physics by 33.8 percent, with 2,926 versus 1,938.

Data-centric workloads follow the same pattern. The Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 515,143 in PassMark data compression, which is 35.1 percent ahead of the Core 7 251TE's 334,399. Data encryption shows a 43.9 percent lead for the Core Ultra 7 255HX, with 39,499 against 22,176. Random string sorting results in 62,591 for the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 39,643, a 36.7 percent gap. Integer math is the closest contest, with the Core Ultra 7 255HX scoring 127,126 against 125,739, a mere 1.1 percent difference.

The single-threaded PassMark test also favors the Core Ultra 7 255HX, which scores 4,562 against 3,568, a 21.8 percent lead. However, the Core 7 251TE claims two notable wins in Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 362 versus 327, a 10.7 percent advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core result shows a much larger gap: the Core 7 251TE scores 3,602 against 2,163 for the Core Ultra 7 255HX, a 66.5 percent lead. Interestingly, the Core 7 251TE loses Cinebench R20 single-core, scoring 1,512 versus 2,426, a 37.7 percent deficit. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions suggests the 251TE's high boost clock benefits certain single-threaded workloads, while the 255HX's architecture handles others more efficiently.

The nearest rivals for each processor provide context. The Core 7 251TE sits within 0.6 percent of the Intel Core i7-14700T and within 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i7-12850HX, indicating its performance cluster. The Core Ultra 7 255HX is within 0.7 percent of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and within 0.5 percent of the Intel Core i7-13790F, placing it in a higher performance tier overall.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE wins this test decisively, scoring 3,602 against 2,163 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, a 66.5 percent advantage. This is the largest single-core margin in the head-to-head data.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX compare in multi-core rendering?

A: It leads in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. The margins are 47.7 percent in R15 (4,916 vs 2,572), 37.6 percent in R20 (17,187 vs 10,717), and 21.8 percent in R23 (32,612 vs 25,518).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX averages 62,738, while the Intel Core 7 251TE averages 41,650. The 255HX also holds a higher percentile ranking at 93 compared to 88 for the 251TE.

Q: Which processor performs better in PassMark integer math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX leads narrowly, scoring 127,126 against 125,739, a difference of only 1.1 percent. This is the closest result in the entire head-to-head comparison.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 251TE win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins two tests: Cinebench R15 single-core (362 vs 327, a 10.7 percent lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (3,602 vs 2,163, a 66.5 percent lead).

Q: How do the two processors compare in data encryption workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX is substantially faster, scoring 39,499 in PassMark data encryption versus 22,176 for the Intel Core 7 251TE, a 43.9 percent advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their underlying design. The Intel Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 7 generation. It is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, with a die size of 215 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-HX codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process node at TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and a transistor count of 17,800 million.

Core and thread configurations differ markedly. The Core 7 251TE provides 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX provides 20 cores and 20 threads. The 255HX has no hyperthreading, which explains its lower thread count despite having nearly as many cores. Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 7 251TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 255HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the 255HX likely contribute to its strong performance in extended instructions and floating point math.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 7 251TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 7 255HX supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported by the 251TE but not by the 255HX. PCIe connectivity also differs: the 251TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the 255HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ in branding and capability. The Core 7 251TE includes UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The 255HX also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 251TE does not. Market segments differ accordingly: the 251TE is classified as a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, while the 255HX is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2114.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge across several key specification fields. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads. Base clock speeds are 1.40 GHz for the 251TE and 2.40 GHz for the 255HX. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 5.20 GHz respectively. The 251TE has a TDP of 45, while the 255HX has a TDP of 55.

Sockets differ: the 251TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the 255HX uses Intel BGA 2114. The process node is 10 nm for the 251TE and 3 nm for the 255HX, with foundries of Intel and TSMC respectively. Die size is 215 mm² for the 251TE and 243 mm² for the 255HX. The 255HX lists a transistor count of 17,800 million; the 251TE does not list one.

Cache specifications differ in every level: L1 is 80 KB per core for the 251TE versus 192 KB per core for the 255HX; L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core; L3 is 36 MB shared versus 30 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for the 251TE, while the 255HX supports DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the 251TE but not on the 255HX. PCIe lanes are 16 for the 251TE and 20 for the 255HX. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The 251TE has a locked multiplier, while the 255HX has an unlocked multiplier. The 251TE has a launch MSRP of $384; the 255HX has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX is the dominant performer across nearly all recorded workloads. Its average benchmark score of 62,738 places it in the 93rd percentile, and it wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests. The data shows it excels in multi-threaded rendering, with substantial leads in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. It also wins all PassMark compute tests except one, with particularly large margins in extended instructions, prime number finding, and floating point math. For data compression, encryption, and random string sorting, the 255HX leads by margins between 35 and 44 percent. Its single-thread PassMark score of 4,562 is also 21.8 percent ahead of the 251TE's 3,568. The 255HX's higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and larger per-core caches likely underpin these wins. Its 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes also provide more connectivity headroom.

The Intel Core 7 251TE's wins are confined to two Cinebench single-core tests. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,602 is 66.5 percent higher than the 255HX's 2,163, and its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 362 beats 327 by 10.7 percent. These results indicate that the 251TE's 5.40 GHz boost clock can deliver strong performance in specific legacy single-threaded benchmarks. However, it loses Cinebench R20 single-core by 37.7 percent, which suggests the 255HX's architecture handles that workload more efficiently despite its lower boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The 251TE also supports DDR4 memory and ECC, which may matter for certain desktop deployments, and its 36 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than the 255HX's 30 MB.

For workloads that rely heavily on integer math, the two are nearly identical, with a 1.1 percent gap. That result indicates the 251TE can hold its own in that specific domain. Overall, the data positions the Core Ultra 7 255HX as the stronger processor for general compute, multi-threaded tasks, and data-heavy operations, while the Core 7 251TE offers a niche advantage in certain single-threaded Cinebench scenarios.