Intel Core i5-12490F vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-12490F wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins 7. The desktop chip claims victory in the majority of tests, though the mobile processor takes several significant single-thread and specialized workloads.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 7 268V in single-core Cinebench R15?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V scores 293 versus the i5-12490F's 245 in Cinebench R15 single-core, a 19.6% advantage. This is the largest single-core win for the Ultra 7 in the Cinebench suite.

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

A: The largest delta is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 7 268V scores 192 against the i5-12490F's 87, a 120.7% advantage. The i5-12490F's biggest win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, leading by 38.4%.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Core Ultra 7 268V includes Arc 140V integrated graphics, while the Core i5-12490F has no integrated graphics listed. This makes the Ultra 7 suitable for systems without a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the difference in process node between the two chips?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, while the Core i5-12490F uses Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 7 also has a significantly lower TDP of 17 watts versus 65 watts for the i5.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V boosts to 5.00 GHz, compared to the i5-12490F's 4.60 GHz. Despite this higher peak frequency, the i5 wins most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The Core Ultra 7 268V and Core i5-12490F represent two distinct design philosophies from Intel. The Ultra 7 268V belongs to the Lunar Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC, while the i5-12490F is part of the Alder Lake-S family on Intel's 10 nm node. This process gap is substantial, and the data reflects it in efficiency-oriented metrics.

Core configuration differs significantly. The Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading. The i5-12490F has 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on hyperthreading to reach its thread count. The i5's extra threads explain its multi-threaded dominance in most tests. Cache layouts also diverge: the Ultra 7 has 192 KB L1 per core and 2.5 MB L2 per core, while the i5 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core. However, the i5 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache versus the Ultra 7's 12 MB.

Memory support differs as well. The i5-12490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the Ultra 7's memory support is listed as unknown and dependent on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe connectivity varies sharply: the i5 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes.

The Ultra 7 includes Arc 140V integrated graphics, making it a self-contained mobile solution. The i5-12490F has no integrated graphics listed, requiring a discrete GPU. The Ultra 7 is a mobile segment part on an Intel BGA 2833 socket, while the i5 is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1700. The i5 has a 163 mm² die size, while the Ultra 7's die size is not listed. TDP ratings reflect their intended environments: 17 watts for the mobile Ultra 7 versus 65 watts for the desktop i5.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-12490F is the clear winner in sustained multi-threaded workloads. It takes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, along with PassMark integer math, data compression, extended instructions, random string sorting, and multithread benchmarks. This pattern suggests the i5's 12 threads provide a decisive advantage in heavily parallel tasks. The 38.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is particularly notable, indicating that content creation and rendering workloads favor the desktop chip.

The Core Ultra 7 268V wins in single-thread and specialized math workloads. It dominates in Cinebench R15 single-core with a 19.6% lead, PassMark floating point math with a 21.8% advantage, and PassMark physics with a 20.2% edge. The 120.7% blowout in prime number finding highlights the Ultra 7's strength in integer-heavy algorithms that benefit from its architecture. It also wins data encryption by 14.7% and the PassMark single-thread tests by 10%.

The split is telling: the i5 wins raw throughput tests, while the Ultra 7 wins efficiency-oriented and specialized workloads. The Ultra 7's 8 cores at 5.00 GHz boost clock deliver superior per-thread performance in certain tasks, but the i5's 12 threads and higher base clock of 3.00 GHz provide more consistent multi-threaded output.

Specification Differences

• Cores: 8 (Ultra 7) vs 6 (i5)
• Threads: 8 (Ultra 7) vs 12 (i5)
• Base Clock: 2.20 GHz (Ultra 7) vs 3.00 GHz (i5)
• Boost Clock: 5.00 GHz (Ultra 7) vs 4.60 GHz (i5)
• TDP: 17 W (Ultra 7) vs 65 W (i5)
• Socket: Intel BGA 2833 (Ultra 7) vs Intel Socket 1700 (i5)
• Process Node: 3 nm (Ultra 7) vs 10 nm (i5)
• Foundry: TSMC (Ultra 7) vs Intel (i5)
• L1 Cache: 192 KB per core (Ultra 7) vs 80 KB per core (i5)
• L2 Cache: 2.5 MB per core (Ultra 7) vs 1.25 MB per core (i5)
• L3 Cache: 12 MB shared (Ultra 7) vs 20 MB shared (i5)
• Memory Support: Unknown/depends on motherboard (Ultra 7) vs DDR4, DDR5 (i5)
• PCIe: Gen 5, 4 lanes (Ultra 7) vs Gen 5, 20 lanes (i5)
• Integrated Graphics: Arc 140V (Ultra 7) vs None (i5)
• Market Segment: Mobile (Ultra 7) vs Desktop (i5)
• Die Size: Not listed (Ultra 7) vs 163 mm² (i5)

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite reveals a fascinating split. In R15 multi-core, the i5 wins with 1742 versus 1616, a 7.2% margin. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 7259 versus 6887, a 5.1% lead for the i5. But the R23 multi-core test delivers the i5's largest win of the entire comparison: 17284 versus 10653, a 38.4% margin. This suggests the i5 scales better as workload duration and complexity increase.

Single-core Cinebench results are contradictory. The Ultra 7 wins R15 single-core by 19.6%, scoring 293 against 245. Yet in R20 single-core, the i5 wins 1024 versus 972, a 5.1% margin. R23 single-core continues the i5's advantage: 2440 versus 1921, a 21.3% lead. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions is curious and suggests the i5's higher base clock and desktop power delivery help in newer benchmarks, while the Ultra 7's architecture excels in the older test.

PassMark results show a clear division. The Ultra 7 wins floating point math decisively, 57628 versus 47326, a 21.8% advantage. It also wins physics (1617 versus 1345, 20.2%), data encryption (13779 versus 12018, 14.7%), and prime number finding (192 versus 87, 120.7%). The i5 counters with integer math (60548 versus 42669, 29.5%), data compression (237304 versus 181443, 23.5%), extended instructions (15993 versus 15323, 4.2%), random string sorting (23791 versus 22416, 5.8%), and multithread (20202 versus 19297, 4.5%).

The PassMark single-thread tests give the Ultra 7 a 10% win, scoring 4051 versus 3682. This aligns with the R15 single-core result but contradicts the R20 and R23 single-core outcomes. The pattern suggests the Ultra 7 has strong burst performance, while the i5 maintains higher sustained single-thread performance.

Overall, the i5 wins 10 tests, the Ultra 7 wins 7. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 20897 for the Ultra 7 and 20802 for the i5. Both rank at the 74th percentile among all CPUs. The i5's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 6325P with a delta of -0.1%, while the Ultra 7's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE at 0% delta.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on use case. The Intel Core i5-12490F is the processor for multi-threaded desktop workloads. Its 12 threads and 65-watt TDP deliver substantial wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (38.4% ahead), PassMark integer math (29.5% ahead), and data compression (23.5% ahead). Any workload that scales with thread count — rendering, video encoding, data processing — favors the i5.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V is the processor for efficiency-sensitive mobile systems with integrated graphics. Its 17-watt TDP, 3 nm process, and Arc 140V graphics make it a self-contained solution. It wins in floating point math (21.8% ahead), physics (20.2% ahead), prime number finding (120.7% ahead), and data encryption (14.7% ahead). For single-thread burst performance, the Ultra 7 leads in R15 single-core by 19.6% and PassMark single-thread by 10%.

The contradictory single-core results — the Ultra 7 wins R15 and PassMark, while the i5 wins R20 and R23 — suggest workload-dependent behavior. The i5's higher base clock of 3.00 GHz helps in sustained single-thread tests, while the Ultra 7's 5.00 GHz boost clock provides brief peak performance.

Choose the i5-12490F for desktop builds where power is available and multi-threaded throughput is the priority. Choose the Ultra 7 268V for mobile systems, particularly those without a discrete GPU, where the integrated Arc 140V graphics and 17-watt TDP are essential. The near-identical average benchmark scores (20897 versus 20802) mask very different performance profiles.