Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which claims 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head wins. The most lopsided result comes in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the Ultra 9 285HX scores 49,148 against the Core 7 251TE's 16,974, a 65.5% advantage. Similarly, the passmark_find_prime_numbers test shows the Ultra 9 at 460 versus 140 for the Core 7, a 69.6% gap that represents the largest single delta in the entire dataset.

Multi-core rendering workloads follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 9 285HX posts 5,656.5 against 2,572, a 54.5% lead. The R20 multicore result narrows slightly to a 47% gap, with the Ultra 9 scoring 20,236 versus 10,717. The R23 multicore run shows the smallest multi-core delta among the Cinebench suite, but the Ultra 9 still wins by 30%, scoring 36,429.5 against 25,518.

The Core 7 251TE secures its only two wins in single-core Cinebench tests, and one of those wins is substantial. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 7 scores 3,602 against the Ultra 9's 2,187.5, a 64.7% advantage. The R15 single-core result is closer, with the Core 7 winning 362 to 323.5, an 11.9% margin. Notably, the R20 single-core test breaks this pattern in favor of the Ultra 9, which scores 2,856 against 1,512, a 47.1% lead.

PassMark integer math shows the smallest overall performance gap between the two processors. The Ultra 9 scores 155,076 against 125,739, a delta of only 18.9%. The single-thread PassMark results also favor the Ultra 9 by 22.7%, with scores of 4,618 and 3,568 in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries.

The average benchmark score reinforces the hierarchy. The Ultra 9 285HX averages 76,155 across the recorded tests, while the Core 7 251TE averages 41,650. The Ultra 9 sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the Core 7's 88th percentile. The nearest rival data places the Ultra 9 within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, while the Core 7 sits within 0.6% of the Intel Core i7-14700T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and process nodes. The Intel Core 7 251TE uses Intel's 10 nm process and is built around the Bartlett Lake codename, with a die size of 215 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, with a substantially larger die at 243 mm² and a transistor count of 17,800 million. The Ultra 9 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family and uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename, while the Core 7 generation is listed simply as Core 7 (Bartlett Lake).

Both processors feature 24 cores and 36 MB of shared L3 cache, but the similarity ends there. The Core 7 251TE supports 32 threads, while the Ultra 9 285HX supports 24 threads. The L1 cache per core differs significantly: the Core 7 has 80 KB per core, while the Ultra 9 has 192 KB per core. L2 cache also diverges, with the Core 7 offering 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core on the Ultra 9.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 9 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth differs: the Core 7 reaches 89.6 GB/s, while the Ultra 9 reaches 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

The integrated graphics solutions are completely different. The Core 7 uses the UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The PCIe implementation also differs: the Core 7 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 9 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

The Core 7 251TE uses the Intel Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop part, while the Ultra 9 285HX uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket and is classified as mobile. The Ultra 9 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 7 does not. The Core 7 has a launch MSRP of $384; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 9.

Clock speeds and power targets also differ. The Core 7 has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a TDP of 45 W. The Ultra 9 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a TDP of 55 W. The part numbers are SRQAXQ5ZG for the Core 7 and SRVFJ for the Ultra 9. Both were released on the same date and are currently marked as active in production.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 251TE wins specifically in two Cinebench single-core scenarios. Its R23 single-core score of 3,602 against the Ultra 9's 2,187.5 represents a 64.7% advantage, and its R15 single-core score of 362 against 323.5 shows an 11.9% edge. These results suggest that the Core 7 holds a distinct advantage in certain lightly threaded Cinebench workloads, despite the Ultra 9 winning the R20 single-core test by a wide margin.

The Ultra 9 285HX dominates across essentially every other measurable workload. In multi-core rendering, it leads by between 30% and 54.5% depending on the Cinebench version. In data compression, the Ultra 9 scores 631,885 against 334,399, a 47.1% advantage. Data encryption shows a 54.3% lead, with scores of 48,567 and 22,176. Floating point math favors the Ultra 9 by 56.1%, with 194,998 against 85,607. Physics workloads show a 44.2% gap, with 3,476 versus 1,938.

The Ultra 9 also wins in general productivity metrics. Its PassMark multithread score of 56,902 against 30,022 represents a 47.2% lead. Random string sorting favors the Ultra 9 by 48.6%, with scores of 77,196 and 39,643. Extended instruction workloads show the largest practical gap outside of prime number finding, with the Ultra 9 at 49,148 against 16,974, a 65.5% difference. Even in integer math, the closest PassMark result, the Ultra 9 stays ahead by 18.9%.

The percentile data reinforces the Ultra 9's positioning. At the 95th percentile of all CPUs, it sits among top-tier desktop and mobile parts, while the Core 7 at the 88th percentile remains a strong but less elite performer. The nearest rival comparison for the Ultra 9 includes the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX, while the Core 7's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H and the Intel Core i7-14650HX.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show these differences between the two processors:

• Threads: 32 on the Core 7 251TE, 24 on the Ultra 9 285HX
• Base clock: 1.40 GHz on the Core 7, 2.80 GHz on the Ultra 9
• Boost clock: 5.40 GHz on the Core 7, 5.50 GHz on the Ultra 9
• TDP: 45 W on the Core 7, 55 W on the Ultra 9
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 on the Core 7, Intel BGA 2114 on the Ultra 9
• Codename: Bartlett Lake on the Core 7, Arrow Lake-HX on the Ultra 9
• Process node: 10 nm on the Core 7, 3 nm on the Ultra 9
• Foundry: Intel on the Core 7, TSMC on the Ultra 9
• Die size: 215 mm² on the Core 7, 243 mm² on the Ultra 9
• Transistors: not recorded for the Core 7, 17,800 million on the Ultra 9
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core on the Core 7, 192 KB per core on the Ultra 9
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core on the Core 7, 3 MB per core on the Ultra 9
• Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 on the Core 7, DDR5 only on the Ultra 9
• Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s on the Core 7, 102.4 GB/s on the Ultra 9
• PCIe: Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes on the Core 7, Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes on the Ultra 9
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 on the Core 7, Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU on the Ultra 9
• Market segment: Desktop on the Core 7, Mobile on the Ultra 9
• Multiplier unlock: No on the Core 7, Yes on the Ultra 9
• Launch MSRP: $384 on the Core 7, none recorded on the Ultra 9
• Part number: SRQAXQ5ZG on the Core 7, SRVFJ on the Ultra 9

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 threads, despite both having 24 cores.

Q: What is the single largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 9 285HX scores 460 against 140 for the Core 7 251TE, a 69.6% difference.

Q: Does the Core 7 251TE win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two Cinebench single-core tests: R23 single-core by 64.7% (3,602 versus 2,187.5) and R15 single-core by 11.9% (362 versus 323.5).

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 7 251TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 9 285HX supports DDR5 only. Both run dual-channel memory.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ultra 9 285HX has an average benchmark score of 76,155, which is 34,505 points higher than the Core 7 251TE's average of 41,650.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 9 285HX has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, slightly higher than the Core 7 251TE's boost clock of 5.40 GHz.