Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of performance disparity between these two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F dominates the majority of the recorded tests, claiming 15 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 7 350 manages only two victories, both in single-core Cinebench tests.

Looking at the multi-core workloads, the Ultra 5 225F delivers massive margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 5 225F scores 2660 against 1220 for the Core 7 350, a 54.1% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a similar story: 11059 versus 5373, a 51.4% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore follows the pattern with 16467 against 8030, a 51.2% difference. The PassMark multithread test shows 31004 versus 15170, a 51.1% spread.

The single-core results are more nuanced. The Core 7 350 wins Cinebench R15 singlecore by a narrow 1.7% margin (292 versus 287) and Cinebench R23 singlecore by a more substantial 8.1% (2046 versus 1893). However, the Ultra 5 225F counters in the PassMark single_thread test with 4397 against 4100, a 6.8% advantage. Interestingly, the Cinebench R20 singlecore test breaks the pattern, with the Ultra 5 225F scoring 1561 against 758, a 51.4% lead.

Specialized workloads reinforce the Ultra 5 225F's dominance. In PassMark extended instructions, it scores 28027 versus 12045, a 57% gap. The find_prime_numbers test shows the largest relative difference at 69.6% (352 versus 107). Floating point math favors the Ultra 5 225F by 53.7% (92554 versus 42809), and integer math by 49.2% (66417 versus 33734). Data compression shows a 54% difference (310843 versus 143123), while data encryption trails by 51.7% (22648 versus 10933). Physics testing yields 2430 versus 1173, a 51.7% gap, and random string sorting shows 37325 against 17238, a 53.8% difference.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall trend. The Ultra 5 225F averages 37313, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 350 averages 17779, sitting at the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 225F include the Intel Core i9-13900HK (0.3% behind) and AMD Ryzen 7 7735H (0.4% ahead), while the Core 7 350 sits near the Intel Core 5 221TE (0.5% ahead) and AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (0.6% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 7 350 is a mobile part built on the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is a desktop processor using the Arrow Lake-S architecture. Both use a 3 nm process node, but the Core 7 350 is fabricated by Intel, while the Ultra 5 225F uses TSMC as its foundry.

Core counts diverge significantly. The Core 7 350 offers 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Ultra 5 225F doubles the core count to 10 cores and 10 threads. This explains much of the multi-core performance gap observed in the benchmarks.

Cache configurations also differ. Both processors share the same L1 cache structure at 192 KB per core. The L2 cache changes: the Core 7 350 has 2.5 MB per core, while the Ultra 5 225F has 3 MB per core. The L3 cache shows a substantial difference, with the Core 7 350 featuring 6 MB shared against 20 MB shared for the Ultra 5 225F.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. The Core 7 350 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Ultra 5 225F starts higher at 3.30 GHz base and reaches 4.90 GHz boost. Despite the lower base clock, the Core 7 350 achieves better results in two Cinebench single-core tests, suggesting the boost behavior and per-core efficiency play a role.

Memory architecture separates these parts further. The Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 5 225F supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, achieving 102.4 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity shows another generational divide. The Core 7 350 uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes, while the Ultra 5 225F provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics situation is reversed: the Core 7 350 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 5 225F has no integrated graphics at all.

Socket and market positioning differ as expected. The Core 7 350 uses Intel BGA 1516 and targets the mobile segment. The Ultra 5 225F uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets desktops. The Ultra 5 225F has a known transistor count of 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 7 350 does not disclose these figures. The Core 7 350 has a 15 W TDP, while the Ultra 5 225F draws 65 W.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F averages 37313, more than double the 17779 average of the Intel Core 7 350.

Q: In which tests does the Intel Core 7 350 outperform the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F?

A: The Core 7 350 wins Cinebench R15 singlecore by 1.7% and Cinebench R23 singlecore by 8.1%.

Q: How does the core count differ between the two processors?

A: The Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Ultra 5 225F has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Core 7 350 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ultra 5 225F has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Core 7 350 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 5 225F has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F for compute-heavy workloads. Its 10 cores, larger 20 MB L3 cache, dual-channel memory at 102.4 GB/s, and Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes position it as the stronger processor across virtually every multi-core and specialized benchmark. The 85th percentile ranking against 71st for the Core 7 350 confirms its higher standing in the overall CPU landscape.

The Intel Core 7 350 has its own strengths. It wins two single-core Cinebench tests, suggesting competitive per-core performance in certain workloads. It includes integrated graphics, which the Ultra 5 225F lacks entirely. Its 15 W TDP indicates a far lower power draw than the 65 W of the Ultra 5 225F. The single-channel memory and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, however, limit its memory-intensive performance.

The launch MSRP of the Core 7 350 is $469. The launch MSRP of the Ultra 5 225F is $231.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 350 | Intel Ultra 5 225F |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 6 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-S |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not disclosed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not disclosed | 243 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | N/A |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $469 | $231 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F wins in every multi-core benchmark category. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show margins above 51%. PassMark multithread, physics, floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, and random string sorting all favor the Ultra 5 225F by margins ranging from 49.2% to 69.6%. It also wins the PassMark single_thread test by 6.8%, making it the better choice for the majority of compute scenarios.

The Ultra 5 225F excels in memory bandwidth with 102.4 GB/s over dual-channel DDR5, compared to 59.7 GB/s single-channel for the Core 7 350. Its Gen 5 PCIe implementation with 20 lanes provides significantly more expansion headroom than the Gen 4, 6-lane configuration of the Core 7 350. The 20 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB further supports its performance advantage.

The Intel Core 7 350 wins only two tests, both in Cinebench single-core scenarios. The 8.1% advantage in R23 singlecore and 1.7% in R15 singlecore suggest that in lightly threaded workloads, the Core 7 350 can match or exceed the Ultra 5 225F. Its integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics make it a self-contained mobile solution, whereas the Ultra 5 225F requires a discrete GPU. The 15 W TDP positions the Core 7 350 for power-constrained mobile designs, where the 65 W Ultra 5 225F would be impractical.

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Ultra 5 225F is the performance leader by a wide margin, while the Core 7 350 offers specific advantages in single-threaded efficiency, integrated graphics, and mobile power envelopes.