Intel Core i7-10700 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V and the Intel Core i7-10700 represent two distinct eras of Intel design, separated by process technology and architectural philosophy. The data shows a mobile-first Lunar Lake chip facing off against a desktop Comet Lake processor. While both CPUs land at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, their benchmark profiles diverge sharply, revealing that the Ultra 5 226V dominates in single-threaded and efficiency-oriented tasks, whereas the i7-10700 holds ground in specific multi-threaded and integer-heavy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V scores 1744 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 13.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-10700’s score of 1540.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Geekbench multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 8598, defeating the Intel Core i7-10700’s 5092 by a substantial 68.9% margin.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-10700 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the data shows the i7-10700 wins 5 out of 19 head-to-head tests, including Cinebench R23 multi-core (10910 vs 9848), PassMark data compression, extended instructions, integer math, and random string sorting.

Q: What is the difference in thread counts between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 threads across 8 cores, while the Intel Core i7-10700 has 16 threads across 8 cores, giving the older chip a 2:1 thread advantage.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-10700 has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V’s 4.50 GHz boost clock.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-10700 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 8 MB shared L3 cache found on the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two parts is stark, beginning with the manufacturing process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-10700 uses Intel’s 14 nm node. This process gap underpins a major power disparity: the Ultra 5 226V has a TDP of 17 watts, compared to the i7-10700’s 65 watts.

The core and cache layouts diverge as well. The Ultra 5 226V features 8 cores and 8 threads, with a per-core L1 cache of 192 KB and a per-core L2 cache of 2.5 MB. The i7-10700 also has 8 cores, but it supports 16 threads via Hyper-Threading, and its per-core L1 cache is smaller at 64 KB, with a per-core L2 cache of 256 KB. The shared L3 cache tells a similar story: 8 MB on the Lunar Lake chip versus 16 MB on Comet Lake.

Platform support further separates the two. The Ultra 5 226V uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket and features PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-10700 uses the Intel Socket 1200 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Memory support differs as well: the i7-10700 explicitly supports DDR4 with a specified memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, whereas the Ultra 5 226V’s memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Ultra 5 226V carrying Arc 130V graphics versus the i7-10700’s UHD Graphics 630. The market segments are clear — mobile for the Ultra 5 226V and desktop for the i7-10700 — and the release dates reflect a 2024 launch for the former and a 2020 launch for the latter.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a clear pattern: the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V wins 14 of 19 tests, often by overwhelming margins. The most lopsided victory comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 226V scores 166 against the i7-10700’s 47, a delta of 253.2% in favor of the newer chip. PassMark data encryption also favors the Ultra 5 226V heavily, with a score of 12710 versus 5379, a 136.3% advantage. These results indicate a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage for Lunar Lake.

The Geekbench tests amplify this narrative. The Ultra 5 226V posts a single-core score of 1930, which is 51.4% higher than the i7-10700’s 1275. The multi-core Geekbench result is even more dramatic: 8598 versus 5092, a 68.9% delta. Cinebench R15 and R20 also go to the Ultra 5 226V in both single and multi-core variants. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 226V scores 1501 versus 1099, a 36.6% win; in R15 single-core, it scores 267 versus 155, a 72.3% win. R20 multi-core shows a 39.3% lead (6381 vs 4582), and R20 single-core shows the same 39.3% delta (900 vs 646). PassMark physics is another strong win for the Ultra 5 226V, at 1449 versus 794, an 82.5% advantage. PassMark floating point math also goes to the Ultra 5 226V (52270 vs 38823, 34.6% ahead), as does PassMark multithread (17850 vs 16161, 10.5% ahead) and PassMark single-thread (3754 vs 2891, 29.9% ahead).

The Intel Core i7-10700’s five wins are concentrated in specific workloads. Its largest victory is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 62988 versus 38647, a 38.6% lead for the older chip. PassMark data compression also goes to the i7-10700, with a score of 252113 versus 170687, a 32.3% advantage. PassMark random string sorting favors the i7-10700 at 31585 versus 20813, a 34.1% lead. In extended instructions, the i7-10700 wins 16160 to 14724, an 8.9% margin. The most notable win for the i7-10700 is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 10910 against the Ultra 5 226V’s 9848, a 9.7% delta. This is the only Cinebench test the older chip wins, and it demonstrates the value of its 16 threads in sustained all-core rendering workloads.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet highlights where the two processors diverge. The most obvious difference is TDP: the Ultra 5 226V draws 17 watts, while the i7-10700 draws 65 watts. Base clocks differ, with the i7-10700 starting at 2.90 GHz versus the Ultra 5 226V’s 2.10 GHz. Boost clocks also favor the i7-10700, at 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. Thread counts differ as noted: 8 threads for the Ultra 5 226V and 16 threads for the i7-10700.

Process node and foundry are different: 3 nm TSMC for the Ultra 5 226V, 14 nm Intel for the i7-10700. The cache hierarchy differs in size at every level. The L1 cache is 192 KB per core on the Ultra 5 226V versus 64 KB per core on the i7-10700. L2 cache is 2.5 MB per core versus 256 KB per core. L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 16 MB shared. The sockets are different (BGA 2833 vs Socket 1200), and the PCIe versions and lane counts differ (Gen 5, 4 lanes vs Gen 3, 16 lanes). Memory support is listed as motherboard-dependent for the Ultra 5 226V, while the i7-10700 explicitly supports DDR4 with a 46.9 GB/s bandwidth rating. The integrated GPUs are different (Arc 130V vs UHD Graphics 630). Market segments differ (Mobile vs Desktop), as do release dates (2024-09-23 vs 2020-04-29). The Ultra 5 226V’s part number is listed as SRPMQSRPMR, while the i7-10700’s is SRH6Y.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V as the superior overall performer, given its 14 wins versus 5 and its dominance in single-threaded and general multi-core benchmarks. Its 68.9% lead in Geekbench multi-core and 51.4% lead in Geekbench single-core are decisive indicators of architectural efficiency. For workloads like encryption, prime number calculation, physics simulation, and floating-point math, the Ultra 5 226V is clearly ahead, often by margins exceeding 30%. Its 17-watt TDP also makes it the obvious choice for power-constrained environments.

However, the Intel Core i7-10700 is not without merit. Its 16 threads deliver a 9.7% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is a demanding all-core render test. It also wins in integer math, data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting. Users who prioritize these specific integer-heavy or string-manipulation tasks, and who can tolerate a 65-watt desktop TDP, will find the i7-10700 competitive. The data does not support the i7-10700 as a general-purpose winner, but it remains a specialist in certain high-throughput integer workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V wins in scenarios that stress single-core performance and modern instruction efficiency. Its 72.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 39.3% lead in R20 single-core indicate it is better suited for lightly-threaded applications like general productivity, web browsing, and legacy software that relies on high per-core throughput. Its 136.3% advantage in data encryption and 253.2% advantage in prime number finding makes it the pick for security-related tasks and mathematical computation. The 34.6% lead in floating-point math suggests superiority in scientific and simulation workloads. Its 82.5% win in physics tests points to better performance in physics-based calculations and certain game engines. The 10.5% lead in PassMark multithread, despite having half the threads, underscores the efficiency of the Lunar Lake architecture in mixed workloads.

The Intel Core i7-10700 wins where raw thread count and large caches matter. Its 9.7% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core makes it the better choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering, such as video encoding or 3D rendering in software that scales beyond 8 threads. Its 38.6% lead in integer math indicates a strong showing in database operations, cryptographic hashing, and other integer-heavy algorithms. The 32.3% win in data compression and 34.1% win in random string sorting further support its use in file archiving, data storage, and text processing. The 8.9% lead in extended instructions suggests an edge in workloads leveraging advanced SIMD and instruction set extensions, despite the older 14 nm process. For users running these specific tasks on a desktop platform, the i7-10700’s 16 threads and 16 MB of L3 cache provide a tangible advantage that the Ultra 5 226V cannot match.