Intel Core 7 253PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 7 253PE and Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL occupy different tiers in the database, and the recorded measurements reflect a substantial performance gap. The Core 7 253PE has an average benchmark score of 40557, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, which places it at the 50th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 253PE sits at the 87th percentile, a difference that immediately signals a wide separation in measured capability.

The Core 7 253PE delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24880 and a single-core score of 3512. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has no Cinebench scores recorded, so direct numerical comparison is impossible. However, the absence of data for the Ultra 5 in every benchmark category means the Core 7 253PE wins every head-to-head category by default of having recorded results. In Cinebench R20, the Core 7 253PE scores 10449 multi-core and 1475 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 2507 multi-core and 354 single-core.

The PassMark results for the Core 7 253PE show its strongest areas. The multi-thread score is 29271, single-thread is 3955, integer math is 114158, floating point math is 80870, and extended instructions score is 21806. Data compression reaches 339133, while data encryption is 18385. The random string sorting test returns 32777, physics scores 1845, and the find prime numbers test returns 138. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has no PassMark entries, so every one of these categories belongs to the Core 7 253PE.

The nearest rivals for the Core 7 253PE provide context for its standing. The Intel Core 5 223PE has an average score of 40585, which is 0.1% higher than the Core 7 253PE. The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H scores 40518, 0.1% lower. The Intel Xeon 6357P scores 40630, 0.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H scores 40431, 0.3% lower. This cluster of rivals places the Core 7 253PE within a tight band of processors that differ by only fractions of a percent in average score, indicating that its measured performance is competitive with several other recent designs despite its higher core count advantage over the Ultra 5.

The Core Ultra 5 125HL has no nearest rivals listed and no benchmark entries, so the database cannot produce a head-to-head table. The only quantifiable comparison is the percentile gap: 87th versus 50th. The Core 7 253PE also has a launch MSRP of $384, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL has a launch MSRP of $325. No other pricing data is available in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and use different manufacturing processes. The Core 7 253PE is built on a 10 nm node and belongs to the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL uses a 7 nm node and is part of the Meteor Lake-PS codename, specifically the Meteor Lake architecture. The Core Ultra 5 125HL is listed in the Core Ultra Series 1, while the Core 7 253PE has no series designation.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has 14 cores but only 18 threads, which indicates a hybrid arrangement where some cores do not contribute additional threads. The base clock of the Core 7 253PE is 2.50 GHz, rising to a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 125HL starts at 1.20 GHz and boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Core 7 253PE therefore has a substantially higher clock ceiling, which helps explain its single-core benchmark advantage.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 7 253PE provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 125HL provides 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 253PE has nearly double the L3 capacity, which can benefit workloads that repeatedly access a large working set.

Thermal design power also separates the two. The Core 7 253PE is rated at 65 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL is rated at 45 W TDP. The Core 7 253PE consumes more power and delivers higher performance, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL is the lower-power option. The socket types differ as well: the Core 7 253PE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 5 125HL uses Intel Socket 1851. These are not interchangeable platforms.

Memory support shows a similar pattern. The Core 7 253PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL supports DDR5 with a note that it depends on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core 7 253PE supports ECC memory; the Core Ultra 5 125HL does not. The Core 7 253PE offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL offers PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes. The Core 7 253PE therefore provides both a newer PCIe generation and double the lane count.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 7 253PE carries UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL uses Arc Xe-LPG 112EU. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison is possible.

The Core 7 253PE was released on 2026-03-08, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL was released on 2024-04-07. Both are active production parts. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking via multiplier adjustment is not available on either. The part numbers are SA4QE for the Core 7 253PE and SRN9D for the Core Ultra 5 125HL.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 253PE wins every category where recorded data exists. Its multi-core performance is strong across Cinebench versions: R15 at 2507, R20 at 10449, and R23 at 24880. These scores indicate that the 10-core, 20-thread configuration handles heavily threaded workloads well. The 5.50 GHz boost clock supports its single-core results, which reach 3512 in Cinebench R23 and 3955 in PassMark single-thread.

The PassMark results for the Core 7 253PE show particular strength in integer math at 114158 and floating point math at 80870. Data compression at 339133 is the highest single score in its benchmark set, suggesting that compressible data streams are handled efficiently. Data encryption at 18385 and extended instructions at 21806 round out the compute profile. The random string sorting score of 32777 indicates solid memory-side throughput for sorting operations.

The Core Ultra 5 125HL wins no recorded benchmarks because the database contains no benchmark entries for it. Its 14 cores and 18 threads give it a higher core count, but the lower clocks and smaller L3 cache leave it without recorded measured advantages. The 45 W TDP makes it the lower-power design, which can matter for thermally constrained systems, and its 7 nm process node is smaller than the 10 nm node of the Core 7 253PE. The Arc Xe-LPG 112EU integrated graphics may be more capable than the UHD Graphics 730, but no graphics benchmarks exist in the database to confirm this.

The Core Ultra 5 125HL does have a lower launch MSRP of $325 compared to the Core 7 253PE at $384, but pricing analysis is outside the scope of the recorded benchmark data.

The Verdict

The database clearly separates these two processors. The Intel Core 7 253PE has a recorded average benchmark score of 40557 and sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile. Any system builder choosing between these two based on the database should expect the Core 7 253PE to deliver substantially higher measured performance across all compute workloads.

The Core 7 253PE offers 20 threads, a 5.50 GHz boost clock, 33 MB of L3 cache, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and a 65 W TDP. The Core Ultra 5 125HL offers 18 threads, a 4.50 GHz boost clock, 18 MB of L3 cache, DDR5-only support, no ECC, PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, and a 45 W TDP. The Core 7 253PE wins on threads, clocks, cache, memory flexibility, ECC, and PCIe connectivity. The Core Ultra 5 125HL wins on power draw, process node size, and launch MSRP.

The nearest rivals for the Core 7 253PE confirm its competitive position. It sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H and within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon 6357P, which places it in a tightly grouped performance band. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has no rival data recorded, so no similar comparison exists.

For workloads that depend on multi-threaded throughput, single-thread responsiveness, compression, encryption, or math operations, the Core 7 253PE is the only option with recorded evidence. For a lower-power desktop build that does not require ECC or Gen 5 PCIe, the Core Ultra 5 125HL remains an active product, but the database offers no measured performance data to support a selection based on benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has an average benchmark score of 40557. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has an average benchmark score of 0, with no recorded benchmarks in the database.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has 14 cores and 18 threads.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference between the two?

A: The Core 7 253PE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 7 253PE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 125HL does not.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Core 7 253PE supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 125HL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Core 7 253PE was released on 2026-03-08. The Core Ultra 5 125HL was released on 2024-04-07.