Intel Core i3-1220P vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1220P and Intel Core Ultra 5 125U are both mobile processors, but the benchmark data reveals they have fundamentally different performance profiles. The Core Ultra 5 125U wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the Core i3-1220P takes 4, and the margin of victory tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core i3-1220P delivers a decisive 35.9% victory, scoring 13314 against the Ultra 5's 9799. This is the largest delta in either direction across all tests. The i3-1220P also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 20.4%, posting 1879 versus 1561. These two wins are substantial, suggesting the older Alder Lake design has a significant advantage in sustained rendering workloads.

The Core Ultra 5 125U, however, dominates nearly every other metric. Its largest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 64 versus 33 — a 48.4% advantage. PassMark physics shows a 41.1% gap (1082 vs 637), and Cinebench R15 multi-core favors the Ultra 5 by 18.2% (1640 vs 1341). The Ultra 5 also leads in Cinebench R15 single-core by 16.7% (227 vs 189) and PassMark multi-thread by 16.9% (17417 vs 14481).

The remaining PassMark tests show consistent but smaller Ultra 5 advantages: extended instructions (11.4%, 11340 vs 10051), data encryption (10.7%, 12231 vs 10923), floating point math (9.8%, 41331 vs 37294), data compression (9.2%, 198858 vs 180528), integer math (6.2%, 57046 vs 53507), and random string sorting (4.7%, 21872 vs 20846). Cinebench R20 results are closer, with the Ultra 5 ahead by 6.5% in both multi-core (5982 vs 5591) and single-core (844 vs 789).

The only test where the i3-1220P wins by a narrow margin is PassMark single-thread, where it scores 3362 versus 3296, a 2% edge. This pattern — the i3-1220P winning the two R23 tests and a single-thread test, while the Ultra 5 wins everything else — suggests the i3-1220P's advantage is concentrated in specific rendering and single-threaded scenarios, while the Ultra 5 is more broadly capable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras. The Core i3-1220P uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Core Ultra 5 125U is based on Meteor Lake on a 7 nm node. This node difference likely contributes to the Ultra 5's efficiency, though the benchmark data does not directly measure power consumption.

Core counts differ: the i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 has 12 cores and 14 threads. The Ultra 5's additional cores and threads help explain its wins in multi-threaded PassMark tests like physics and multi-thread. Cache configurations also differ: the i3-1220P has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the Ultra 5 has 112 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache.

Memory support diverges. The i3-1220P supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only, with memory depending on motherboard. The Ultra 5 has a stated memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; the i3-1220P's bandwidth is not listed. PCIe lane counts also differ: the i3-1220P offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 offers Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics are different as well. The i3-1220P uses UHD Graphics 64EU, while the Ultra 5 uses Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. Both have 64 execution units, but the architectures are distinct. The Ultra 5 carries a launch MSRP of $363, while the i3-1220P has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core i3-1220P has an average benchmark score of 21066, while the Core Ultra 5 125U scores 20826. Both sit at the 74th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Why does the Core i3-1220P win Cinebench R23 multi-core by such a large margin?

A: The i3-1220P scores 13314 versus 9799 for the Ultra 5, a 35.9% advantage. This is despite the Ultra 5 having more cores (12 vs 10) and threads (14 vs 12), indicating the i3-1220P's Alder Lake architecture handles this specific rendering workload more efficiently.

Q: What is the Core Ultra 5 125U's biggest advantage?

A: In PassMark find prime numbers, the Ultra 5 scores 64 versus 33, a 48.4% lead. It also shows a 41.1% advantage in PassMark physics (1082 vs 637).

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: Results are split. The i3-1220P wins PassMark single-thread by 2% (3362 vs 3296) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 20.4% (1879 vs 1561). The Ultra 5 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 16.7% (227 vs 189) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 6.5% (844 vs 789).

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i3-1220P supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 5 has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The i3-1220P has Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 has Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). This is a 40% difference in lane count.

The Verdict

The data points to two different use cases. The Core Ultra 5 125U is the more consistent performer, winning 13 of 17 benchmarks with broad advantages across PassMark tests and Cinebench R15/R20. Its wins in physics (41.1%), prime numbers (48.4%), and multi-thread (16.9%) indicate strong general-purpose and parallel workload capability. It also has a smaller TDP of 15W versus 28W for the i3-1220P, suggesting better efficiency for mobile use.

The Core i3-1220P is a specialist. Its 35.9% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 20.4% win in R23 single-core are the largest margins in the comparison, but they come in only two tests plus a narrow single-thread win. The i3-1220P also has more PCIe lanes (20 vs 12) and supports DDR4 memory, which could be relevant for certain system configurations.

For a user prioritizing sustained rendering performance in Cinebench R23, the i3-1220P is the clear choice. For everything else — encryption, compression, floating-point math, physics, and general multithreaded work — the Ultra 5 125U is ahead. The Ultra 5's higher core count (12 vs 10) and threads (14 vs 12) support its broader wins, though the i3-1220P's R23 dominance shows core count alone does not determine all outcomes.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-1220P | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U |

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

| Cores | 10 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 1500.00 MHz | 1300.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Meteor Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 112 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 only |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2023-12-13 |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $363 |

| Part Number | SRLFY | SRN6E |

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 125U is the winner for workloads that stress multiple cores simultaneously. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 17417 is 16.9% higher, and its physics score of 1082 is 41.1% higher. Data-heavy tasks also favor the Ultra 5: data compression (198858 vs 180528), data encryption (12231 vs 10923), and extended instructions (11340 vs 10051) all show double-digit or near-double-digit advantages. For integer math (57046 vs 53507) and floating-point math (41331 vs 37294), the Ultra 5 leads by 6-10%. Prime number finding is its standout at 48.4%.

The Core i3-1220P wins in Cinebench R23, where it is 35.9% faster in multi-core and 20.4% faster in single-core. It also edges out the Ultra 5 in PassMark single-thread by 2%. These results suggest the i3-1220P is better suited for rendering workloads that use Cinebench-style algorithms, and for specific single-threaded tasks where its 4.40 GHz boost clock (versus 4.30 GHz for the Ultra 5) may play a role. The i3-1220P also has more PCIe lanes (20 vs 12), which could benefit systems needing more expansion connectivity, and its support for DDR4 gives it flexibility with older memory modules.