Intel Core 7 253PTE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a heavily one-sided contest. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core 7 253PTE secures a single victory. The average benchmark scores reflect this divide: the Core Ultra 7 255HX posts an average of 62738, while the Core 7 253PTE trails at 34962.

The largest margin of victory belongs to the Core Ultra 7 255HX in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 400 against 82, a delta of 79.5%. This result indicates a massive advantage in integer-heavy prime calculation workloads. Similarly, data encryption shows the Core Ultra 7 255HX at 39499 versus 15500, a 60.8% lead. The Core 7 253PTE cannot close this gap in any cryptographic throughput scenario.

Multi-core rendering workloads reinforce the trend. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 4916 against 2144, a 56.4% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 17187 versus 8935, a 48% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap slightly to 34.8%, with the Core Ultra 7 255HX at 32612 and the Core 7 253PTE at 21276. PassMark multi-thread follows suit: 48234 versus 25031, a 48.1% lead. PassMark physics shows 2926 versus 1318, a 55% margin.

The single victory for the Core 7 253PTE comes in Cinebench R23 single-core. There, it scores 3003 against 2163, a 38.8% advantage. This is a notable outlier, as the other single-core tests favor the Core Ultra 7 255HX. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core Ultra 7 255HX leads 327 to 302, a narrow 7.6% margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the lead expands to 48% (2426 versus 1261). PassMark single-thread also favors the Core Ultra 7 255HX, 4562 to 3794, a 16.8% delta.

Other PassMark workloads show consistent dominance. Floating point math: 160624 versus 67209, a 58.2% lead. Extended instructions: 41247 versus 17099, a 58.5% lead. Random string sorting: 62591 versus 28227, a 54.9% lead. Data compression: 515143 versus 275828, a 46.5% lead. The smallest margin in favor of the Core Ultra 7 255HX is in integer math, where it scores 127126 against 119552, a 6% lead.

The percentile rankings place the Core Ultra 7 255HX in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 253PTE sits in the 84th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 7 255HX include the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185, which scores 62839 with a delta of 0.2% against the Core Ultra 7 255HX, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX at 63173, which is 0.7% higher. The Core 7 253PTE sits within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon 6349P and the AMD Ryzen 5 150, and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-13800H and Core i9-12900HX.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX delivers substantially higher multi-core throughput across every rendering and computational workload tested. Its 20 cores and 20 threads, combined with a 3 nm process node, provide a foundation that the 10-core, 20-thread Core 7 253PTE cannot match, despite the latter's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 5.20 GHz.

The single exception is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core 7 253PTE leads by 38.8%. This suggests that for lightly threaded workloads that depend on peak single-core speed and are sensitive to the R23 test's characteristics, the Core 7 253PTE has an edge. However, this advantage does not carry into PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 7 255HX leads by 16.8%.

For users whose workloads are primarily multi-threaded, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific simulation, or heavy data processing, the Core Ultra 7 255HX is the stronger choice. Its 93rd percentile ranking versus 84th percentile supports this. The Core 7 253PTE, with its lower average score and single win, is better suited to scenarios where the specific Cinebench R23 single-core pattern matters more than aggregate throughput.

The data also shows differences in memory bandwidth: the Core Ultra 7 255HX supports 102.4 GB/s, while the Core 7 253PTE supports 89.6 GB/s. This contributes to the Core Ultra 7 255HX's advantage in memory-intensive tasks like data compression and encryption.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX has an average benchmark score of 62738, while the Intel Core 7 253PTE has an average of 34962.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core 7 253PTE outperform the Core Ultra 7 255HX?

A: The Core 7 253PTE wins Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3003 against 2163, a 38.8% advantage.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 400 versus 82, a 79.5% lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 7 255HX supports 102.4 GB/s, while the Core 7 253PTE supports 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The Core Ultra 7 255HX is in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 253PTE is in the 84th percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Core Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. The Core Ultra 7 255HX uses 20 cores, while the Core 7 253PTE uses 10 cores. Both have 20 threads. The base clock of the Core 7 253PTE is 1.80 GHz, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz. The boost clock favors the Core 7 253PTE at 5.40 GHz, against 5.20 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Thermal design power differs: the Core 7 253PTE is rated at 45 W, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX is rated at 55 W. The sockets are incompatible: the Core 7 253PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Intel BGA 2114. The Core 7 253PTE targets the desktop market segment, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX targets mobile.

Memory support differs: the Core 7 253PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but memory bandwidth favors the Core Ultra 7 255HX at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported by the Core 7 253PTE, but not by the Core Ultra 7 255HX.

PCIe lanes differ: the Core 7 253PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 7 255HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: the Core 7 253PTE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The Core Ultra 7 255HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 7 253PTE does not. The release dates differ: the Core 7 253PTE was released on 2026-03-08, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX was released on 2025-01-12. The launch MSRP for the Core 7 253PTE is $384; the Core Ultra 7 255HX has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The Core Ultra 7 255HX is built on the Arrow Lake architecture, with the codename Arrow Lake-HX. The Core 7 253PTE is built on the Bartlett Lake architecture, with the codename Bartlett Lake. The process nodes differ significantly: the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, while the Core 7 253PTE uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

The Core Ultra 7 255HX has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The Core 7 253PTE has no recorded transistor count or die size in the data.

Cache hierarchies differ. The Core 7 253PTE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 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 Core 7 253PTE therefore offers a larger L3 pool, but the Core Ultra 7 255HX provides larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

The Core Ultra 7 255HX belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 7 253PTE has no series designation. The generation fields differ: the Core 7 253PTE is listed as "Core 7 (Bartlett Lake)", while the Core Ultra 7 255HX is listed as "Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake-HX)". The part numbers also differ: the Core 7 253PTE is SA4QK, and the Core Ultra 7 255HX is SRVFG.