Intel Core i5-13600 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two desktop processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core i5-13600 dominates the Cinebench suite, winning all six multi-core and single-core tests by margins of roughly 80%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 counters in the Passmark suite, taking 10 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks overall, with particularly large leads in encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, and physics. The Core Ultra 5 235 also holds the higher overall average benchmark score: 46062 against 44240 for the Core i5-13600, a difference of about 4%. Its percentile ranking is 89 versus 88 for the older chip.

For users whose workload is heavily threaded rendering or encoding as measured by Cinebench, the Core i5-13600 is the clear choice from this data. Its 20 threads against 14 for the Core Ultra 5 235 translate into massive multi-core leads: 80.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 80.3% in R20 multi-core, and 80.2% in R23 multi-core. For users who run Passmark-style workloads that stress encryption, instruction set extensions, prime calculation, floating point, and physics simulation, the Core Ultra 5 235 wins decisively, often by 24% to 71%. The Core i5-13600 does hold a 26.3% lead in Passmark integer math, but the Core Ultra 5 235 leads in Passmark multi-thread by 16.1%.

The launch MSRP for the Core i5-13600 is $255. The launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 235 is $257. Both processors are locked, meaning the multiplier is not unlocked on either. The Core i5-13600 uses Intel Socket 1700 with Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851 with Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm node from TSMC. These are fundamentally different platforms, so the choice also depends on motherboard compatibility.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-13600 wins in every Cinebench test in the database. The margins are consistent: 80.3% in R15 multi-core, 80% in R15 single-core, 80.3% in R20 multi-core, 80.3% in R20 single-core, 80.2% in R23 multi-core, and 80.2% in R23 single-core. This suggests a structural advantage in thread count and clock behavior for this workload, not a narrow edge. The Core i5-13600 also wins Passmark integer math with a score of 111044 against 87948, a 26.3% lead.

The Core Ultra 5 235 wins the majority of Passmark workloads. Its most dramatic win is Passmark find prime numbers, scoring 371 versus 109, a 70.6% advantage. It also leads by 30.6% in floating point math (117951 vs 81892), by 30.7% in physics (2570 vs 1782), and by 29.6% in extended instructions (32752 vs 23045). Data encryption favors the Core Ultra 5 235 by 24.3% (29293 vs 22182). Data compression is close, with the Core Ultra 5 235 ahead by just 1.7% (390711 vs 383972). Random string sorting goes to the Core Ultra 5 235 by 14.2% (48980 vs 42040), and Passmark multi-thread by 16.1% (37816 vs 31725). Single-thread performance in Passmark favors the Core Ultra 5 235 by 10.3% (4516 vs 4049).

The overall win count in the head-to-head set is 10 for the Core Ultra 5 235 and 7 for the Core i5-13600. The average benchmark score also favors the Core Ultra 5 235, 46062 versus 44240. The Core Ultra 5 235 sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i5-13600 sits in the 88th.

Architecture Differences

The Core i5-13600 is built on Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-S, using a 10 nm process from Intel. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arrow Lake, Arrow Lake-S, on a 3 nm process from TSMC. The node difference is significant: the Core Ultra 5 235 integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core i5-13600 has no recorded transistor count and a smaller die at 215 mm².

Both CPUs have 14 cores, but thread counts differ: the Core i5-13600 has 20 threads, the Core Ultra 5 235 has 14. This means the Core i5-13600 uses hyperthreading (or an equivalent) to reach 20 threads from 14 cores, while the Core Ultra 5 235 does not. The base clock differs: 2.70 GHz for the Core i5-13600 versus 3.40 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235. Both boost to 5.00 GHz.

Cache structures are different. The Core i5-13600 has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB L1 per core and 3 MB L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a larger per-core L1 and L2, which likely contributes to its Passmark single-thread and floating point leads.

Memory support differs. The Core i5-13600 supports DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5, dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Core i5-13600 has no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the Core i5-13600 but not on the Core Ultra 5 235.

PCIe lanes differ: the Core i5-13600 has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 235 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics: the Core i5-13600 uses UHD Graphics 770, the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Sockets are incompatible: Socket 1700 versus Socket 1851.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600 has 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 threads. Both have 14 cores.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600 scores 26620 versus 14769 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, a lead of 80.2%.

Q: Which processor is better for encryption workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 29293 in Passmark data encryption versus 22182 for the Intel Core i5-13600, a lead of 24.3%.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-13600 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, compared to 44240 for the Intel Core i5-13600. The Core Ultra 5 235 also holds the 89th percentile versus the 88th percentile for the Core i5-13600.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i5-13600 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 have their multiplier locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are the most lopsided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i5-13600 scores 2683 against 1488 for the Core Ultra 5 235, an 80.3% advantage. Single-core R15 shows 378 versus 210, an 80% lead. R20 multi-core repeats the pattern: 11180 versus 6202, 80.3%. R20 single-core: 1578 versus 875, 80.3%. R23 multi-core: 26620 versus 14769, 80.2%. R23 single-core: 3758 versus 2085, 80.2%. The consistency of the 80% margin across all six tests points to a fundamental throughput difference, likely the thread count and higher boost behavior of the Core i5-13600 in these specific rendering workloads.

Passmark tells a different story. The Core Ultra 5 235 wins data compression by a slim 1.7% (390711 vs 383972). Data encryption is a 24.3% win for the Core Ultra 5 235 (29293 vs 22182). Extended instructions: 32752 versus 23045, a 29.6% lead. Find prime numbers: 371 versus 109, a massive 70.6% lead, the largest single delta in the entire comparison. Floating point math: 117951 versus 81892, a 30.6% lead. Physics: 2570 versus 1782, a 30.7% lead. Random string sorting: 48980 versus 42040, a 14.2% lead. Passmark multi-thread: 37816 versus 31725, a 16.1% lead. Passmark single-thread: 4516 versus 4049, a 10.3% lead.

The Core i5-13600 takes Passmark integer math decisively: 111044 versus 87948, a 26.3% lead. That is its only Passmark win. The rest of the Passmark suite belongs to the Core Ultra 5 235. The pattern is clear: the Core Ultra 5 235 excels at algorithmic, math-heavy, and single-thread-sensitive tasks, while the Core i5-13600 dominates the Cinebench rendering suite where its extra threads and higher clocks in that workload matter most.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Threads: 20 (Core i5-13600) versus 14 (Core Ultra 5 235)
• Base clock: 2.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz
• Boost clock: both 5.00 GHz
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Raptor Lake versus Arrow Lake
• Codename: Raptor Lake-S versus Arrow Lake-S
• Generation: Core i5 (Raptor Lake) versus Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake)
• Process node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: not recorded versus 17,800 million
• Die size: 215 mm² versus 243 mm²
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core
• L3 cache: both 24 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR5 only
• Memory bandwidth: not recorded versus 102.4 GB/s
• ECC memory: supported versus not supported
• PCIe lanes: Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 5, 20 lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU
• Release date: 2023-01-03 versus 2025-01-06
• Launch MSRP: $255 versus $257
• Part number: SRMBS versus SRQAS

Both CPUs share 14 cores, a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, locked multiplier, and desktop market segment. Both are active in production. The Core Ultra 5 235 is built on a smaller process node with a larger die and more transistors, supports only DDR5 with a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and lacks ECC support. The Core i5-13600 offers broader memory compatibility with DDR4 and DDR5, includes ECC, and uses the older Socket 1700 platform.