Intel Core 7 253PE vs Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusually lopsided comparison. The Intel Core 7 253PE wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL does not secure a single victory. This is not a case of one chip edging out another in specific workloads; the Core 7 253PE dominates across every measurable category.

The Core 7 253PE delivers its most decisive advantages in throughput-oriented tasks. PassMark extended instructions shows a 287% advantage, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression follows at 260.9%, with random string sorting at 193.2%. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and cache capacity, all areas where the Core 7 253PE holds a structural advantage.

The Core Ultra 3 105UL is not without its strengths, but those strengths are relative to its own market position rather than against this specific rival. Its average benchmark score of 13061 places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i5-9400F (0.2% ahead), Intel Core i7-10750H (0.3% ahead), Intel Core i5-8500 (0.6% behind), and Intel Core i7-7700K (1.7% behind). That places it in the company of older mainstream desktop processors, a reasonable performance tier for a 15 W part.

The Core 7 253PE, by contrast, sits in the 87th percentile with an average score of 40557. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core 5 223PE (0.1% behind), Intel Core Ultra X7 368H (0.1% ahead), Intel Xeon 6357P (0.2% behind), and AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (0.3% ahead). That grouping places it alongside high-end mobile and server-class silicon, a completely different performance class.

The clear split is workload agnostic. The Core 7 253PE wins single-threaded tests, multi-threaded tests, encryption, physics, prime number finding, and floating-point math. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Core Ultra 3 105UL closes the gap to a competitive margin. The smallest delta is 16.9% in PassMark single-thread, still a decisive victory for the Core 7 253PE.

The Verdict

The data indicates two processors aimed at fundamentally different deployment scenarios. The Intel Core 7 253PE is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, 10 cores, 20 threads, and a 5.50 GHz boost clock. It produces an average benchmark score of 40557, placing it in the 87th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL is also a desktop part, but with a 15 W TDP, 8 cores, 10 threads, and a 4.20 GHz boost clock. Its average score of 13061 lands in the 68th percentile.

For workloads that demand maximum compute throughput, the Core 7 253PE is the only defensible choice from this data. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24880 versus 8742 represents a 184.6% advantage. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 29271 versus 10285 shows the same 184.6% margin. These are not incremental gains; they are generational leaps in raw capability.

The Core Ultra 3 105UL makes sense only in power-constrained environments. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the Core 7 253PE's 65 W TDP. The recorded data shows it competing with processors like the Intel Core i5-9400F and Intel Core i7-7700K, both older designs, which suggests it targets compact or thermally limited systems where efficiency matters more than peak performance.

Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, and both are actively in production. The Core 7 253PE launched with an MSRP of $384, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL launched with an MSRP of $295. The Core 7 253PE also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Core Ultra 3 105UL, which may matter for specific reliability-focused builds.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows consistent 184.6% to 185.5% advantages for the Core 7 253PE across all versions and both single-core and multi-core tests. Cinebench R23 multi-core records 24880 versus 8742, a 184.6% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core records 3512 versus 1234, also 184.6%. The R20 and R15 variants follow the same pattern, with single-core margins of 184.7% and 185.5% respectively.

PassMark integer math shows the Core 7 253PE at 114158 against 41171, a 177.3% advantage. Floating-point math shows 80870 versus 30750, a 163% margin. Physics simulation records 1845 versus 718, a 157% delta, the smallest multi-threaded margin in the data. Prime number finding shows 138 versus 44, a 213.6% advantage.

The encryption results are particularly one-sided. PassMark data encryption records 18385 for the Core 7 253PE versus 6354 for the Core Ultra 3 105UL, a 189.3% delta. Data compression shows 339133 versus 93961, a 260.9% margin. Extended instructions, which often reflects AVX and similar workload acceleration, shows 21806 versus 5634, the largest delta at 287%.

Random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive workload, records 32777 versus 11179, a 193.2% advantage. The closest contest is PassMark single-thread, where the Core 7 253PE scores 3955 against 3382, a 16.9% margin. Even in this most favorable test for the Core Ultra 3 105UL, the Core 7 253PE remains clearly ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has an average benchmark score of 40557, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has an average score of 13061.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has 8 cores and 10 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE scores 24880, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL scores 8742. That is a 184.6% advantage for the Core 7 253PE.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL does not.

Q: How do their TDP ratings differ?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has a 15 W TDP.

Q: What are their respective percentile rankings?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE is in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL is in the 68th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and use different process nodes. The Intel Core 7 253PE is built on the Bartlett Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL uses the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS variant, on a 7 nm process node. Both are fabricated by Intel.

The socket situation is entirely different. The Core 7 253PE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL uses Intel Socket 1851. These sockets are not interchangeable, so platform choice determines which processor can be installed.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Core 7 253PE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 3 105UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 253PE's larger L3 pool, combined with its 10-core, 20-thread configuration, helps explain its consistent multi-threaded lead.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The Core 7 253PE has a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 5.50 GHz boost clock. The Core Ultra 3 105UL has a 1.50 GHz base clock and a 4.20 GHz boost clock. The Core 7 253PE's higher boost clock contributes to its 16.9% single-thread advantage.

Memory support shows both similarities and differences. Both processors use dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Core 7 253PE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL supports DDR5 with support depending on the motherboard. ECC support is exclusive to the Core 7 253PE.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The Core 7 253PE offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 7 253PE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 3 105UL uses Arc Xe-LPG 48EU.

The Core Ultra 3 105UL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1 and launched in April 2024. The Core 7 253PE launched in March 2026. Both are currently active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.