Intel Core 7 253PQE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance advantage for the Intel Core 7 253PQE in the vast majority of tests. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Core 7 253PQE wins 16, with the Core Ultra 7 255H taking only a single win. The average benchmark score for the Core 7 253PQE is 55919, which places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 255H averages 33537 and sits in the 83rd percentile.

The largest margin of victory comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Core 7 253PQE scores 31390 against 9240 for the Core Ultra 7 255H, a delta of 239.7%. This is the most extreme gap in the comparison and highlights a fundamental difference in sustained multi-threaded throughput. The Core 7 253PQE also leads Cinebench R15 multicore by 108.8% (3163 vs 1515) and Cinebench R20 multicore by 106.6% (13183 vs 6381).

Single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story, though with smaller deltas. The Core 7 253PQE leads R15 singlecore by 77.7% (446 vs 251), R20 singlecore by 106.8% (1861 vs 900), and R23 singlecore by 140.4% (4431 vs 1843). The single-thread PassMark test is much closer, with the Core 7 253PQE scoring 4389 against 4317, a margin of only 1.7%. This suggests that in a narrow single-thread workload, the two processors are nearly equivalent, but in Cinebench's rendering workload, the Core 7 253PQE pulls far ahead.

The Core Ultra 7 255H's only victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 303 versus 206, a delta of -32% in favor of the mobile chip. This is an isolated result that does not carry over to other integer-focused tests. In PassMark integer math, the Core 7 253PQE scores 137795 against 77975, a lead of 76.7%. The data indicates that the prime number test favors the Core Ultra 7 255H's architecture, but the broader integer workload clearly belongs to the Core 7 253PQE.

Other notable wins for the Core 7 253PQE include data compression at 487335 vs 298850 (63.1% ahead), random string sorting at 54222 vs 36058 (50.4% ahead), and extended instructions at 32390 vs 23755 (36.4% ahead). The multithread PassMark score is 41656 vs 30703 (35.7% ahead), and physics simulation is 2970 vs 2254 (31.8% ahead). Floating point math shows a smaller gap: 105279 vs 98796, a delta of 6.6%. The smallest win for the Core 7 253PQE is data encryption, where it scores 25515 against 23395, only 9.1% ahead.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core 7 253PQE is the faster processor in nearly every measured workload, and in several rendering tests it more than doubles the Core Ultra 7 255H's output. The Cinebench R23 multicore result is particularly striking: a 239.7% lead indicates that the Core 7 253PQE delivers more than three times the multi-threaded rendering performance of the Core Ultra 7 255H.

However, the two chips occupy different market segments. The Core 7 253PQE is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700 with a 125 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 255H is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2049 with a 28 W TDP. The Core Ultra 7 255H's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 240 with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS at -0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX at -0.4%. The Core 7 253PQE's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-14900HX at -0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 at -0.6%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 at -0.7%. This means the Core 7 253PQE competes at a much higher performance tier, matching desktop HX-class parts, while the Core Ultra 7 255H aligns with mid-range mobile processors.

The Core 7 253PQE's launch MSRP is $409. The Core Ultra 7 255H has no recorded launch MSRP.

For workloads that demand maximum multi-threaded throughput, rendering speed, or integer math, the Core 7 253PQE is the clear choice. For a compact mobile system where the 28 W TDP and BGA 2049 socket are required, the Core Ultra 7 255H is the only option between the two, and its single PassMark find prime numbers win shows it has at least one specific strength.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Intel Core 7 253PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. It has 10 cores and 20 threads. The Core Ultra 7 255H uses the Arrow Lake-H codename with the Arrow Lake architecture and is manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process node. It has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning it lacks hyper-threading.

The Core 7 253PQE has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 255H has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The desktop part has higher clocks, which contributes to its single-thread advantage in Cinebench tests. The TDP difference is substantial: 125 W for the Core 7 253PQE versus 28 W for the Core Ultra 7 255H.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core 7 253PQE 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 7 255H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 255H has more L1 and L2 cache per core, but the Core 7 253PQE has more total L3 cache.

Memory support also differs. The Core 7 253PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel access and a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 7 255H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, also dual-channel, with a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity favors the Core Ultra 7 255H, which offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 7 253PQE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are different as well: the Core 7 253PQE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arc Graphics 140T.

The Core 7 253PQE is a desktop part that was released on 2026-03-08 and remains in active production. The Core Ultra 7 255H is a mobile part released on 2025-01-12 and is also in active production. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE has an average benchmark score of 55919, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has an average score of 33537.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Core 7 253PQE scores 31390 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Core Ultra 7 255H scores 9240, giving the Core 7 253PQE a 239.7% lead.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 255H win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 7 255H wins PassMark find prime numbers with a score of 303 against 206 for the Core 7 253PQE.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What process nodes are used for each chip?

A: The Core 7 253PQE uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses TSMC's 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 7 255H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, compared to 89.6 GB/s for the Core 7 253PQE.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins in rendering, multi-threaded productivity, integer math, data compression, and nearly every PassMark subtest. Its Cinebench R23 multicore lead of 239.7% makes it the appropriate choice for CPU-bound rendering and video encoding workloads. The 76.7% lead in integer math and the 63.1% lead in data compression reinforce its strength in general computation and archive handling. The multithread score of 41656 against 30703 indicates it also handles heavily threaded applications better, and the physics score of 2970 against 2254 supports simulation workloads.

The Core Ultra 7 255H wins only in PassMark find prime numbers, where its score of 303 exceeds the Core 7 253PQE's 206. This single result suggests its architecture handles prime number generation more efficiently, but the broader integer math test shows the Core 7 253PQE far ahead. The Core Ultra 7 255H also has advantages in platform characteristics: it offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 16, supports LPDDR5X memory, and has a 28 W TDP versus 125 W. Its 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is higher, and its 16-core, 16-thread configuration with 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core provides a different cache hierarchy.

The Core Ultra 7 255H also sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, which is respectable, but the Core 7 253PQE sits in the 91st percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm the tier separation: the Core 7 253PQE is within 1.1% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, while the Core Ultra 7 255H is within 0.5% of the Intel Core i5-12600HX. The data positions the Core 7 253PQE as a high-end desktop part and the Core Ultra 7 255H as a mid-range mobile processor.