Intel Core i5-12600T vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U and the Intel Core i5-12600T represent two distinct philosophies from Intel: a power-sipping mobile processor built on a new chiplet architecture versus a higher-power desktop chip from the previous generation. The benchmark data reveals a clear split, with the desktop part dominating most multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, while the mobile chip counters in specific areas. Of the 17 head-to-head comparisons available, the Core i5-12600T takes 13 wins, leaving the Ultra 7 155U with only 4.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Core i5-12600T comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 14,822 against the Ultra 7 155U’s 9,674.5. This represents a substantial 34.7% lead, a margin that underscores the desktop chip’s ability to sustain heavy all-core loads. The single-core story is similar, with the i5-12600T posting a 2,092 score compared to the Ultra 7’s 1,666, a 20.4% advantage. These results are echoed in Cinebench R20, where the i5-12600T leads by 7.4% in both multi-core (6,225 vs. 5,765) and single-core (878 vs. 813) tests. However, the older Cinebench R15 test tells a different story, with the Ultra 7 155U winning multi-core by 6.1% (1,585 vs. 1,494) and single-core by a larger 13.6% (238.5 vs. 210).

Outside of Cinebench, the i5-12600T continues its dominance in synthetic workloads. In Passmark’s extended instructions test, the desktop chip leads by 24.6% (13,140 vs. 9,903), and it is 14.5% ahead in the find prime numbers test (76 vs. 65). The i5-12600T also wins the Passmark multi-thread test with 17,446 points, a 6.1% edge over the Ultra 7’s 16,382. In data compression, the i5-12600T scores 195,924, which is 9.6% higher than the Ultra 7’s 177,122. Smaller but consistent wins for the desktop part appear in floating-point math (42,295 vs. 40,256, a 4.8% lead), physics (1,212 vs. 1,084, a 10.6% lead), random string sorting (20,299 vs. 19,767, a 2.6% lead), and single-thread performance (3,516 vs. 3,372, a 4.1% lead).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U’s victories are narrower but noteworthy. Its strongest win is in Passmark data encryption, where it scores 11,333 against the i5-12600T’s 10,205, an 11.1% advantage. The mobile chip also wins in Passmark integer math, scoring 57,564 against 54,646, a 5.3% lead. These two wins, combined with the two Cinebench R15 victories, show that the Ultra 7 155U has specific strengths in certain instruction patterns, but they are not enough to offset the i5-12600T’s broader performance advantage. Overall average benchmark scores reflect this, with the i5-12600T posting an average of 20,917 compared to the Ultra 7 155U’s 21,174. Despite the i5-12600T winning more individual tests, the Ultra 7 155U’s average score is actually 0.2% higher, a quirk driven by the weighting of the specific tests included in that average. Both processors sit in the 74th-75th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing despite their different workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is a mobile part from the Core Ultra Series 1, using the Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm process node. It is built for the Intel BGA 2049 socket and has a 15 W TDP. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-12600T is a desktop chip from the Core 12th Gen family, using the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and has a 35 W TDP. The process node difference is significant, with the Ultra 7’s 7 nm process being more advanced than the i5-12600T’s 10 nm process, but the higher TDP of the desktop chip allows it to sustain higher clocks.

Core configurations differ substantially. The Ultra 7 155U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ultra 7’s core count is higher, but the i5-12600T has a higher base clock of 2.10 GHz versus the Ultra 7’s 1.70 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. The i5-12600T actually boosts higher at 4.80 GHz, but the Ultra 7’s boost is lower at 4.60 GHz. The cache hierarchy also differs: the Ultra 7 has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i5-12600T has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. However, the i5-12600T has a much larger shared L3 cache at 18 MB, compared to the Ultra 7’s 12 MB. The i5-12600T also has a known die size of 163 mm², while the Ultra 7’s die size is not listed.

Platform features diverge as well. The Ultra 7 155U supports DDR5 memory (with support depending on the motherboard), while the i5-12600T supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 7 has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i5-12600T’s bandwidth is not provided. For PCIe, the Ultra 7 supports Gen 4 with 12 lanes, while the i5-12600T supports the newer Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the Ultra 7 featuring Arc Xe-LPG 64EU and the i5-12600T using UHD Graphics 770. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are actively produced with locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T is significantly faster, scoring 14,822 compared to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U’s 9,674.5. This is a 34.7% difference in favor of the desktop chip.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins four head-to-head tests. These include Cinebench R15 multi-core (1,585 vs. 1,494) and single-core (238.5 vs. 210), as well as Passmark data encryption (11,333 vs. 10,205) and Passmark integer math (57,564 vs. 54,646).

Q: How do their core counts and TDPs compare?

A: The Ultra 7 155U has 12 cores and 14 threads with a 15 W TDP, while the i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads with a 35 W TDP. The i5-12600T draws more than double the power.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T has a larger shared L3 cache at 18 MB. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the architecture and process node for each chip?

A: The Ultra 7 155U uses the Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm process node. The i5-12600T uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12600T boosts up to 4.60 GHz.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload and platform. The Intel Core i5-12600T is the stronger performer for almost all compute-intensive tasks. Its lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (34.7%) and single-core (20.4%) makes it the superior choice for rendering, content creation, and general productivity where sustained performance is key. Its wins in Passmark extended instructions (24.6%), physics (10.6%), and data compression (9.6%) reinforce this position. Users building a desktop system on Socket 1700 who prioritize raw performance should choose the i5-12600T.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, while losing the majority of benchmarks, has its place. Its wins in data encryption (11.1%) and integer math (5.3%) suggest it handles certain specialized workloads well. More importantly, its 15 W TDP is less than half of the i5-12600T’s 35 W, and it is designed for the mobile BGA 2049 socket. This makes it the only viable choice for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is paramount. The data shows that for users who need a capable processor in a mobile form factor with lower power draw, the Ultra 7 155U is the appropriate pick, despite being slower in most benchmarks. The i5-12600T is for desktop users who want maximum performance and have the power budget to support it.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Intel Core i5-12600T |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Series | Core Ultra Series 1 | Core 12th Gen |

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 14 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1.70 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2049 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Meteor Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Meteor Lake | Alder Lake-S |

| Generation | Ultra 7 (Meteor Lake) | Core i5 (Alder Lake-S) |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 163 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 (Depends on motherboard) | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| PCIe | Gen 4, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | $490 | $223 |

| Part Number | SRN6B | SRL5U |