Intel Core 7 360 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 7 360 trailing by margins that range from narrow to severe. The closest contest appears in PassMark's single-thread workload, where the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 4412 against 4274 for the Core 7 360, a deficit of only 3.1%. That is the only test where the Core 7 360 comes within striking distance.

The largest gaps emerge in compute-heavy and memory-sensitive tasks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 225 delivers 25891 versus 13634, which is 47.3% ahead. The single-core result in the same test shows a similar 47.4% advantage, with scores of 3655 and 1924 respectively. Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core tell the same story: 2609 versus 1374 (47.3% gap) and 368 versus 193 (47.6% gap). These are not marginal differences; they indicate a fundamental performance tier separation.

PassMark workloads reinforce the pattern. Data compression shows the Core Ultra 5 225 at 302811 against 142877, a 52.8% lead. Data encryption follows at 22285 versus 11164, a 49.9% gap. Extended instructions show 27162 versus 12390, which is 54.4% ahead. Floating point math delivers 92038 versus 44963, a 51.1% advantage. Integer math sits at 65345 versus 34238, a 47.6% gap. The multi-thread score is 30459 against 15544, a 49% difference. Physics tests show 2342 versus 1213, a 48.2% gap. Random string sorting comes in at 36590 versus 17636, a 51.8% lead. The single largest margin appears in the find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 358 against 120, a 66.5% advantage.

Even the Cinebench R20 results, which are closer, still favor the Core Ultra 5 225 by 9.4% in multi-core (6317 versus 5726) and 9.3% in single-core (891 versus 808). Those are the narrowest Cinebench gaps, but they still confirm the same direction. The data leaves no ambiguity: the Core Ultra 5 225 is faster in every measured workload, often by a wide margin.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 outperforms the Intel Core 7 360 across every benchmark in the database, with an average benchmark score of 36938 compared to 18374. That places the Core Ultra 5 225 in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 360 sits in the 72nd percentile.

For anyone choosing between these two, the Core Ultra 5 225 is the stronger processor by every measured metric. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (average score 36945, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093, -0.4%), which places it in the same performance class as those desktop and mobile parts. The Core 7 360, by contrast, sits alongside the Intel Core i3-13100 (18380, 0%), the Intel Core 5 330 (18345, 0.2%), and the Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, 0.3%), a lower tier of competition.

The Core 7 360 does have one advantage that the benchmark scores do not capture directly: it is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part rated at 65 W. That difference matters for system design, but from a pure performance standpoint, the data shows no scenario where the Core 7 360 wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The Intel Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, part of the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, part of the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation, also on a 3 nm process but fabricated by TSMC. Both use 3 nm silicon, but the underlying designs and manufacturing sources differ.

Core counts diverge significantly. The Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads, also without hyperthreading. That 4-core advantage explains much of the multi-threaded benchmark gap. Clock speeds also differ: the Core 7 360 runs at a 1.50 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost, while the Core Ultra 5 225 runs at 3.30 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The higher base clock alone gives the Core Ultra 5 225 a substantial head start in sustained workloads.

Cache configuration favors the Core Ultra 5 225 as well. Both have 192 KB of L1 per core, but the Core Ultra 5 225 has 3 MB of L2 per core versus 2.5 MB for the Core 7 360. L3 cache shows a bigger gap: 20 MB shared for the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 6 MB shared for the Core 7 360. The Core Ultra 5 225 also has a larger die at 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors, while the Core 7 360 has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Memory support differs. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports DDR5 only, but with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. That memory bandwidth difference is a major factor in the wide gaps seen in data compression, encryption, and string sorting tests.

PCIe capabilities also separate them. The Core 7 360 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 225 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 7 360 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 225 has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 EU. The Core 7 360 uses an Intel BGA 1516 socket, the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core 7 360 is a mobile part; the Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 360 boosts to 4.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 225 also has a much higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between them?

A: The largest margin appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 358 versus 120 for the Core 7 360, a 66.5% advantage.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Core 7 360 wins?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 winning all 17 tests, with no wins for the Core 7 360.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 supports 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Intel Core 7 360 supports 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus that works with DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, placing it in the 85th percentile. The Intel Core 7 360 has an average score of 18374, placing it in the 72nd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins every recorded benchmark, so the practical question is not which one is faster, but what the Core 7 360 still offers. The Core 7 360 is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, which makes it suitable for low-power, thin-and-light systems where heat and battery life are the primary constraints. Its 6 cores and single-channel memory are modest, but the 3 nm process and Wildcat Lake design keep power consumption low. The integrated Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores provides basic display output without a discrete GPU.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, designed for performance-first builds. Its 10 cores, dual-channel memory at 102.4 GB/s, and Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes make it a stronger fit for workloads that scale with core count, memory bandwidth, or I/O throughput. The 20 MB L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache give it a clear advantage in data-heavy tasks like compression, encryption, and string sorting, where the benchmark gaps exceed 50%.

The Core 7 360 sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs and competes with parts like the Intel Core i3-13100 and Intel Core i3-14100. The Core Ultra 5 225 sits in the 85th percentile and competes with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D. That positioning tells the story: the Core 7 360 is an entry-level mobile part, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is a mid-range desktop part. For any workload where performance matters, the data points to the Core Ultra 5 225. For a low-power mobile system where the 15 W TDP is a hard requirement, the Core 7 360 is the only option of the two.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 7 360 | Intel Core Ultra 5 225 |

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

| 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 |

| Generation | Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 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 (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Launch MSRP | $426 | $246 |

Both processors are active in production, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC memory support. The Core 7 360 uses a 3 nm process at Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 225 launched earlier and at a lower launch MSRP, while the Core 7 360 arrived later with a higher launch MSRP. The single-channel memory bus on the Core 7 360 and the dual-channel bus on the Core Ultra 5 225 are the most consequential specification differences for memory-bound workloads.