Intel Core i5-1235U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 115U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1235U and the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U are two mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, yet they achieve their results through notably different designs. The benchmark data shows a near-dead heat in overall average score, with the i5-1235U posting 16770 against the Ultra 5 115U’s 16753, a razor-thin 0.1% margin. However, a closer look at individual tests reveals that the two chips have sharply contrasting strengths, making the choice between them highly workload-dependent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories belong to the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U in the Cinebench suite. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Ultra 5 115U wins by a consistent margin of roughly 10%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 5 115U scores 10855 against the i5-1235U’s 9774, a 10% lead. Single-core performance follows the same pattern: the Ultra 5 115U reaches 1532 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1379 for the i5-1235U, again a 10% gap. The same 10% delta appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1094 vs 985), R15 single-core (154 vs 138), R20 multi-core (4559 vs 4105), and R20 single-core (643 vs 579). This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural advantage for the Ultra 5 115U in rendering and general CPU-heavy tasks.

The i5-1235U fights back with substantial wins in several PassMark tests. The most dramatic is PassMark find prime numbers, where the i5-1235U scores 954 versus a mere 53 for the Ultra 5 115U — a 1700% advantage. This is an outlier result, but it highlights a huge difference in specific mathematical workloads. The i5-1235U also leads by 41.8% in floating point math (43303 vs 30538) and by 18.3% in integer math (48553 vs 41043). Data compression and encryption also favor the i5-1235U, with leads of 3.9% (147450 vs 141945) and 8.6% (9347 vs 8606), respectively. Random string sorting goes to the i5-1235U by 12.7% (17050 vs 15124), and single-threaded PassMark scores show a 3.1% edge for the i5-1235U (3151 vs 3057).

The Ultra 5 115U counters in other areas. It wins PassMark physics by a substantial 23.6% (898 vs 686), and PassMark extended instructions by 5.2% (8620 vs 8176). The multi-threaded PassMark score is nearly identical, with the Ultra 5 115U edging ahead by just 0.8% (13024 vs 12923). Overall, the Ultra 5 115U claims 9 wins against 8 for the i5-1235U across the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, but the magnitude of the i5-1235U’s wins in prime numbers and math operations is far larger than the consistent 10% leads the Ultra 5 115U holds in Cinebench.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and use different manufacturing processes. The i5-1235U is built on Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-U) using a 10 nm process, while the Ultra 5 115U is a Meteor Lake part (Core Ultra Series 1) on a 7 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the node difference is significant — the Ultra 5 115U’s 7 nm process is a newer generation.

Core counts and threading differ as well. The i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 115U has 8 cores and 10 threads. This gives the i5-1235U a nominal advantage in raw thread count, yet the Ultra 5 115U still wins in multi-core Cinebench tests, suggesting that its cores are more efficient or its architecture handles the workload better. The base clocks are 1300 MHz for the i5-1235U and 1500 MHz for the Ultra 5 115U, while boost clocks are 4.40 GHz and 4.20 GHz, respectively. The Ultra 5 115U has a higher base clock but a lower boost clock.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i5-1235U features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 115U has larger per-core caches: 112 KB L1, 2 MB L2, but a smaller 10 MB shared L3. Memory support diverges, with the i5-1235U supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 115U supports DDR5 only, with a stated memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-1235U provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 115U provides Gen 4 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics are another point of separation — the i5-1235U has Iris Xe 80EU, while the Ultra 5 115U has Arc Xe-LPG 48EU. Both use dual-channel memory and do not support ECC. Sockets differ (Intel BGA 1744 for the i5-1235U, Intel BGA 2049 for the Ultra 5 115U), and both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data points to a split decision. For users running Cinebench-style workloads — rendering, 3D modeling, or any heavily multi-threaded task that scales with core efficiency — the Ultra 5 115U is the clear pick, delivering a consistent 10% advantage across the board. Its higher base clock and newer 7 nm architecture appear to overcome its lower core and thread counts. The Ultra 5 115U also wins decisively in physics simulations, with a 23.6% lead, which could matter for certain scientific or engineering applications.

Conversely, the i5-1235U is the stronger choice for mathematical and data-processing tasks. Its 1700% lead in prime number finding is extraordinary, and its 41.8% lead in floating point math and 18.3% lead in integer math make it superior for spreadsheet calculations, financial modeling, or any workload heavy on arithmetic operations. It also wins in data compression and encryption, making it better suited for file archiving and security-related tasks. The i5-1235U edges out the Ultra 5 115U in single-threaded PassMark scores, though the margin is slim at 3.1%.

Neither chip has a meaningful overall advantage — the 0.1% delta in average benchmark score is negligible, and both sit at the 70th percentile of all CPUs. The choice hinges entirely on whether the user prioritizes the Ultra 5 115U’s rendering and physics strength or the i5-1235U’s mathematical and data-processing dominance. A user doing video rendering should pick the Ultra 5 115U; a user running complex simulations or heavy data manipulation should pick the i5-1235U.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-1235U | Intel Core Ultra 5 115U |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 1300 MHz | 1500 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| 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) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

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

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 4, 12 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 80EU | Arc Xe-LPG 48EU |

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

| Part Number | SRLFR | SRN6F |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U has an average benchmark score of 16770, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has 16753. The difference is 0.1% in favor of the i5-1235U.

Q: How big is the Cinebench R23 multi-core performance gap?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U scores 10855 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to 9774 for the Intel Core i5-1235U, giving the Ultra 5 115U a 10% lead.

Q: Which chip is better at finding prime numbers?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U is overwhelmingly better, scoring 954 in PassMark find prime numbers versus 53 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U, a 1700% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has 8 cores and 10 threads.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-1235U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-1235U wins 8.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1235U dominates in arithmetic and data-centric workloads. It wins by 1700% in prime number calculation, 41.8% in floating point math, and 18.3% in integer math. It also takes data compression (3.9%), data encryption (8.6%), random string sorting (12.7%), and single-threaded PassMark tests (3.1%). These results make it the better option for financial analysis, scientific computing, database operations, and any task that involves heavy number crunching or data manipulation. Its dual memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) and higher PCIe lane count (20 vs 12) also provide more flexibility for system builders.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U wins in rendering, physics, and general CPU performance. It holds a consistent 10% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single and multi-core. It also wins PassMark physics by 23.6%, extended instructions by 5.2%, and multi-threaded PassMark by 0.8%. Its higher base clock (1500 MHz vs 1300 MHz) and newer 7 nm process give it an edge in sustained workloads. This makes it the preferred choice for video editing, 3D rendering, physics simulations, and other tasks that rely on Cinebench-style performance. Its larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (112 KB and 2 MB versus 80 KB and 1.25 MB) may contribute to its efficiency in these areas.