Intel Core i5-13450HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX records an average benchmark score of 34333, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H records 33537. The i5-13450HX sits at the 84th percentile of all CPUs, narrowly ahead of the Ultra 7 255H at the 83rd percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i5-13450HX sits nearly level with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, which scores 34260, a delta of only 0.2% difference. The Ultra 7 255H matches the AMD Ryzen 5 240 at 33542 with a 0% delta, and trails the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS by a 0.4% gap.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores, compared to the 10 cores of the Intel Core i5-13450HX. Both processors offer 16 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H boosts to 5.10 GHz, exceeding the 4.60 GHz boost of the Intel Core i5-13450HX. The base clocks differ as well, with the i5-13450HX at 2.40 GHz and the Ultra 7 255H at 2.00 GHz.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX wins decisively with a score of 16797 against 9240 for the Ultra 7 255H, a 81.8% advantage.

Q: Which chip wins in single-threaded PassMark performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H takes the single-thread PassMark win with 4317 against 3553, a 17.7% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different Intel architectures and foundry approaches. The Intel Core i5-13450HX is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX codename, and uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arrow Lake, specifically Arrow Lake-H, and moves to a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. This node transition is a major generational shift, enabling the Ultra 7 255H to operate at a lower 28 W TDP compared to the 55 W TDP of the i5-13450HX.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i5-13450HX packs 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and also 16 threads. This means the i5-13450HX relies on hyper-threading to reach 16 threads from 10 cores, whereas the Ultra 7 255H has a 1:1 core-to-thread ratio. Cache hierarchies are also different. The i5-13450HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 255H doubles the per-core L1 to 192 KB, increases L2 to 3 MB per core, and grows the shared L3 to 24 MB.

Memory support diverges as well. The i5-13450HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, while the Ultra 7 255H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both platforms support ECC memory and both use PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-13450HX featuring UHD Graphics 710 and the Ultra 7 255H featuring Arc Graphics 140T. Socket compatibility also changes, moving from Intel BGA 1964 on the i5-13450HX to Intel BGA 4006 on the Ultra 7 255H. The multiplier is unlocked on the i5-13450HX, while the Ultra 7 255H has a locked multiplier.

The release dates are separated by two years, with the i5-13450HX launching in January 2023 and the Ultra 7 255H launching in January 2025. The i5-13450HX has a launch MSRP of $326, while the Ultra 7 255H has no launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a split picture. The Intel Core i5-13450HX is the multi-core brute. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 65.2%, R20 multi-core by 36.8%, and R23 multi-core by a massive 81.8%. It also leads in PassMark integer math by 6.7% and data compression by 2.4%. For workloads that scale across all cores, such as video rendering, compilation, or heavy batch processing, the i5-13450HX is the clear choice from this dataset.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is the efficiency and single-thread specialist. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 5.3% and PassMark single-thread by 17.7%. It dominates the PassMark extended instruction set tests, leading by 19.7%, and crushes the i5-13450HX in find prime numbers by 72.6%. Floating point math goes to the Ultra 7 255H by 37.5%, physics by 33.3%, and data encryption by 28.9%. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 30703 also beats the i5-13450HX's 25084, an 18.3% lead, despite losing all three Cinebench multi-core tests.

Who should pick which? Users prioritizing sustained multi-core rendering in Cinebench-class workloads should favor the i5-13450HX. Users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness, encryption, physics simulation, and lower power draw should favor the Ultra 7 255H. The 28 W TDP of the Ultra 7 255H versus the 55 W TDP of the i5-13450HX suggests the newer chip is designed for thinner, more thermally constrained chassis, even though the i5-13450HX remains competitive in many aggregate measurements.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-13450HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |

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

| Cores | 10 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel BGA 4006 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-HX | Arrow Lake-H |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 257 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 20 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 102.4 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 710 | Arc Graphics 140T |

| Release date | 2023-01-03 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $326 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | SRME8SRMEE | SRQAN |

Both chips share the PCIe Gen 5.0 spec with 20 CPU lanes, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, mobile market segment, and active production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest measured advantage in the entire head-to-head set belongs to the Intel Core i5-13450HX in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where its 16797 score beats the Ultra 7 255H's 9240 by 81.8%. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar story, with the i5-13450HX scoring 2503 against 1515, a 65.2% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the i5-13450HX a 36.8% win (8728 vs 6381). The i5-13450HX also wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 36.9% (1232 vs 900), which is notable because the Ultra 7 255H wins the R23 single-core test by 5.3% and the R15 single-core test by 1.2%. This inconsistency suggests the R20 single-core result is an outlier favoring the older chip.

The Ultra 7 255H takes its biggest win in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 303 against 83, a 72.6% advantage. Floating point math goes to the Ultra 7 255H by 37.5% (98796 vs 61776), and physics by 33.3% (2254 vs 1504). Data encryption favors the newer chip by 28.9% (23395 vs 16632), and extended instructions by 19.7% (23755 vs 19083). The Ultra 7 255H also wins PassMark multi-thread by 18.3% (30703 vs 25084), random string sorting by 11.4% (36058 vs 31940), and single-thread by 17.7% (4317 vs 3553).

The i5-13450HX wins 6 head-to-head tests, while the Ultra 7 255H wins 11. However, the magnitude of the i5-13450HX's Cinebench wins is enormous, with three deltas above 36%. The Ultra 7 255H's wins are more numerous but several are in the single-digit or low-double-digit range.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13450HX wins in traditional multi-core render workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core all favor the older chip by margins from 36.8% to 81.8%. Its PassMark integer math score of 83209 beats the Ultra 7 255H's 77975 by 6.7%, and data compression sees a 2.4% edge (305990 vs 298850). For users running CPU-bound render engines, batch encoding, or any workload that maps closely to Cinebench's workload, the i5-13450HX is the stronger part in this dataset.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins in a broader set of specialized and single-thread workloads. It leads in PassMark single-thread by 17.7% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 5.3%. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 30703 exceeds the i5-13450HX's 25084 by 18.3%, which is surprising given the Cinebench multi-core results. The Ultra 7 255H dominates in prime number finding, floating point math, physics, encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting. These are workloads that exercise the newer architecture's wider execution resources and lower latency. The 28 W TDP also suggests a meaningful efficiency advantage, allowing sustained operation in thermally limited mobile chassis.

The data shows a clear split: for Cinebench-style all-core rendering, the i5-13450HX wins decisively; for PassMark-style mixed workloads, single-thread speed, and power efficiency, the Ultra 7 255H wins. The overall average benchmark score slightly favors the i5-13450HX at 34333 versus 33537, but the distribution of wins is heavily tilted toward the Ultra 7 255H in the head-to-head set. Buyers should match the workload to the chip.