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

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600HX records a higher average benchmark score of 38261, compared to 37522 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H. However, the Ultra 5 235H wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, so the average score does not reflect per-test dominance.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H leads in every Cinebench multi-core test. Its R23 multi-core score of 25598 is 8.5% higher than the i5-13600HX's 23422, with identical 8.5% deltas in R15 and R20 multi-core.

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The Ultra 5 235H wins all single-thread tests. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4359 versus 3684 for the i5-13600HX, a 15.5% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3613 against 3306, also an 8.5% lead.

Q: Are there any workloads where the i5-13600HX wins?

A: Yes, the i5-13600HX wins three tests: PassMark data compression (328686 vs 301979, an 8.8% lead), PassMark integer math (97126 vs 74247, a 30.8% lead), and PassMark random string sorting (36783 vs 36208, a 1.6% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both processors have 14 cores. The i5-13600HX has 20 threads, while the Ultra 5 235H has 14 threads, meaning the i5 supports additional simultaneous multi-threading.

Q: How does the single-thread PassMark score compare to the Cinebench single-core result?

A: The Ultra 5 235H shows a 15.5% lead in PassMark single-thread (4359 vs 3684), while its Cinebench R23 single-core lead is smaller at 8.5% (3613 vs 3306). The PassMark gap is nearly double the Cinebench gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations. The i5-13600HX is built on Raptor Lake-HX, a 10 nm Intel process, while the Ultra 5 235H uses Arrow Lake-H on a 3 nm TSMC process. The foundry shift is notable: Intel fabricates the older chip, TSMC fabricates the newer one.

Core organization differs in cache layout. The i5-13600HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 235H has larger per-core caches: 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2, but smaller shared L3 at 18 MB. The newer chip trades total shared cache for larger private cache per core.

The Ultra 5 235H uses a newer socket, Intel BGA 2049, versus the i5-13600HX's Intel BGA 1964. Memory support also diverges: the i5 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Ultra 5 has a stated memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; no comparable figure is recorded for the i5.

Integrated graphics differ substantially. The i5-13600HX carries UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 235H features Arc Graphics 140T. The Ultra 5 also supports fewer PCIe lanes from the CPU: 8 lanes versus 20 lanes on the i5, both Gen 5.

The i5-13600HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 5 235H does not. ECC memory support is present on the i5 but absent on the Ultra 5. The i5's TDP is 55 W, nearly double the Ultra 5's 28 W, a significant efficiency gap given the newer chip's higher boost clock.

The i5-13600HX was released on 2023-01-03, while the Ultra 5 235H arrived on 2025-01-12. The i5 has a launch MSRP of $284; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 5.

Where Each One Wins

The Ultra 5 235H dominates general-purpose compute. It wins all six Cinebench tests, both multi-core and single-core, by a uniform 8.5% margin. In PassMark, it takes data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, multithread, physics, and single-thread tests. Its biggest wins are prime number finding (54.4% ahead), integer math is the only major loss, and floating point math (24.5% ahead).

The i5-13600HX wins in three specific PassMark workloads. Integer math is its strongest category, scoring 30.8% higher than the Ultra 5. Data compression shows an 8.8% advantage, and random string sorting is a narrow 1.6% win. These results suggest the i5's architecture handles certain integer-heavy and compression-style tasks more efficiently, despite losing most other workloads.

For mixed-use scenarios, the Ultra 5 is the better all-rounder due to wins across rendering, encryption, floating point, and single-thread tasks. The i5-13600HX is preferable when integer math throughput or data compression is the priority. The i5 also offers ECC memory support, which the Ultra 5 lacks, relevant for reliability-focused workloads.

The Ultra 5's lower TDP (28 W versus 55 W) makes it more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, while the i5's higher TDP suggests a higher-performance envelope at the cost of efficiency.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-13600HX | Intel Core Ultra 5 235H |

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

| Threads | 20 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Graphics 140T |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRME6 | SRQAP |

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

| Launch MSRP | $284 | Not recorded |

The core count is identical at 14, but the i5 has 20 threads versus 14 on the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 has a lower base clock (2.40 GHz vs 2.60 GHz) but a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz vs 4.80 GHz). The i5 draws 55 W TDP versus 28 W for the Ultra 5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ultra 5 235H wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, with the i5-13600HX taking the remaining three. The data shows a clear generational shift in most workloads, but not all.

Starting with Cinebench, the Ultra 5 sweeps every test by exactly 8.5%. In R23 multi-core, the Ultra 5 scores 25598 versus 23422 for the i5. R20 multi-core shows 10751 against 9837, and R15 multi-core shows 2580 against 2360. Single-core results follow the same pattern: R23 single-core 3613 versus 3306, R20 single-core 1517 versus 1388, and R15 single-core 364 versus 333. The uniformity of the 8.5% delta across all six Cinebench tests suggests a consistent architectural efficiency advantage rather than workload-specific tuning.

PassMark results are more varied. The Ultra 5's largest win is prime number finding at 239 versus 109, a 54.4% advantage. Floating point math shows 93509 versus 70618, a 24.5% lead. Data encryption goes to the Ultra 5 at 23121 versus 19289, a 16.6% margin. Extended instructions show 23354 versus 19720, a 15.6% lead. Single-thread performance is 4359 versus 3684, a 15.5% advantage. Multithread scores 30091 versus 28280, a 6% lead. Physics scores 1985 versus 1810, an 8.8% margin.

The i5-13600HX counters with its biggest win in PassMark integer math: 97126 versus 74247, a commanding 30.8% lead. This is the single largest delta in either direction across all tests. Data compression also goes to the i5 at 328686 versus 301979, an 8.8% win. Random string sorting is the narrowest result on the board: 36783 versus 36208, a 1.6% edge for the i5.

Looking at the overall benchmark averages, the i5-13600HX scores 38261, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 5 235H averages 37522, placing it in the 85th percentile. Despite the Ultra 5's test-win dominance, the two chips sit within 2% of each other in average score. The i5's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (0.1% ahead), Intel Core Ultra 9 285H (0.1% behind), and Intel Core Ultra 5 245T (0.2% ahead). The Ultra 5's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900HK (0.3% ahead), Intel Core i5-13600K (0.4% behind), and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 (0.6% behind).

The average score gap between the two chips is only 739 points, or roughly 2%. This is smaller than several individual test deltas, reflecting how the i5's integer math and compression wins partially offset the Ultra 5's broader advantages. For peak multi-threaded rendering, the Ultra 5 is clearly ahead. For integer-heavy batch processing, the i5 remains competitive. The data shows two different design philosophies: the i5 maximizes thread count with 20 threads and a 55 W envelope, while the Ultra 5 relies on a more efficient 3 nm process, higher boost clock, and larger per-core caches to win most tests with fewer threads and half the TDP.