Intel Core i7-12800HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12800HX and Intel Core Ultra 7 255H are two very different interpretations of a 16-core mobile processor. The data shows a clear split: the i7-12800HX is a multi-threaded powerhouse from the Alder Lake era, while the Core Ultra 7 255H is a modern Arrow Lake chip that prioritizes efficiency and single-thread finesse. With 10 benchmark wins for the i7-12800HX against 7 for the Core Ultra 7 255H, the older chip holds the overall victory, but the nature of those wins reveals a more nuanced story about workload suitability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories belong to the Intel Core i7-12800HX in heavily threaded workloads. The data shows a staggering 143% lead over the Core Ultra 7 255H in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with scores of 22456 versus 9240. This trend continues across the Cinebench suite, with the i7-12800HX posting a 123.3% advantage in R15 multi-core (3383 vs 1515) and a 74.1% lead in R20 multi-core (11111 vs 6381). The gap is not limited to Cinebench; in PassMark integer math, the i7-12800HX wins by 41% (109968 vs 77975), and in data compression it is 29.7% ahead (387535 vs 298850). The i7-12800HX also takes PassMark multi-thread by a smaller 2.9% margin (31585 vs 30703) and random string sorting by 17.7% (42453 vs 36058).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H’s wins are concentrated in other areas. Its most significant victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 303 against the i7-12800HX’s 108, a 64.4% advantage. It also leads in floating point math, scoring 98796 versus 82122, a 16.9% difference. In single-threaded tests, the Core Ultra 7 255H is consistently ahead, winning PassMark single-thread by 14% (4317 vs 3711) and Cinebench R23 single-core by a narrow 1.7% (1843 vs 1812). The newer chip also takes PassMark physics by 22.7% (2254 vs 1743) and data encryption by 6.1% (23395 vs 21972). The extended instructions test is a virtual tie, with the i7-12800HX winning by a negligible 0.0% (23760 vs 23755).

The single-core Cinebench results are particularly telling. The i7-12800HX wins R15 single-core by 3.6% (260 vs 251) and R20 single-core by a massive 74.2% (1568 vs 900), yet loses R23 single-core by 1.7%. This inconsistency in the older chip’s single-thread scores across different Cinebench versions suggests a less stable performance profile, while the Core Ultra 7 255H shows more consistent single-thread behavior, culminating in a higher peak score.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12800HX is the clear choice for workloads that scale with thread count. Its 16 cores and 24 threads give it a structural advantage in rendering, video encoding, and heavy compilation tasks. The Cinebench multi-core results are the strongest evidence: a 143% lead in R23 is not a marginal difference; it represents a fundamentally higher throughput ceiling. The PassMark integer math and data compression wins further solidify its position for database operations, file archiving, and scientific computing that relies on integer arithmetic. For users running heavily parallelized applications, the i7-12800HX is the only rational choice based on this data.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins in scenarios that favor efficiency and specialized instruction execution. Its 64.4% lead in find prime numbers suggests a more efficient prime-number calculation pipeline, which is relevant for cryptography and certain mathematical simulations. The 16.9% advantage in floating point math makes it better suited for physics simulations, 3D modeling, and financial risk analysis that rely on extensive decimal calculations. Its PassMark single-thread victory by 14% indicates snappier response in everyday applications and light workloads that are not fully multi-threaded. The physics test win by 22.7% also points to better performance in gaming physics calculations, though the overall gaming picture is incomplete from this data alone.

The Core Ultra 7 255H’s wins are not about raw core count; they are about architectural efficiency. It achieves these results with a 28W TDP compared to the i7-12800HX’s 55W TDP, suggesting that it delivers its performance at a significantly lower power envelope. This is a critical factor for thin-and-light laptops where thermals and battery life are paramount. The i7-12800HX, with its higher TDP, is more suited to larger chassis with robust cooling solutions.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for multi-threaded performance: the Intel Core i7-12800HX is the superior processor. Any user whose primary workload is rendering, video editing, or software compilation should choose the i7-12800HX without hesitation. The 143% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a decisive margin that will translate into dramatically shorter render times and faster build processes. Its 41% advantage in integer math also makes it the better choice for data-heavy analytical tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is the pick for users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness and specific computational strengths. Its 14% lead in PassMark single-thread and 64.4% lead in prime number finding make it attractive for general productivity, light coding, and specialized mathematical workloads. The floating point advantage of 16.9% is also significant for scientific and engineering applications that are not fully parallelized. However, its multi-core deficit is severe; in Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores less than half of the i7-12800HX. This is a dealbreaker for any serious multi-threaded use case.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split: the i7-12800HX has an average score of 33875, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 255H has an average of 33537, in the 83rd percentile. The i7-12800HX sits within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon 6353P and 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT. The Core Ultra 7 255H is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 240 and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS. These are comparable overall positions, but the distribution of scores is what differentiates them. The i7-12800HX is a specialist in throughput; the Core Ultra 7 255H is a generalist with a modern efficiency focus.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HX is overwhelmingly faster. It leads by 143% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 74.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread by 14% (4317 vs 3711) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 1.7% (1843 vs 1812). However, it loses Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core to the i7-12800HX.

Q: What is the most significant difference in their specification sheets?

A: The core and thread counts differ. The i7-12800HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning the i7-12800HX supports hyper-threading and the Core Ultra 7 255H does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-12800HX has an average benchmark score of 33875, placing it in the 84th percentile. The Core Ultra 7 255H has an average score of 33537, placing it in the 83rd percentile.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to the i7-12800HX’s 4.80 GHz.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket?

A: No. The i7-12800HX uses Intel BGA 1964, while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses Intel BGA 2049.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct architectural generations. The Intel Core i7-12800HX is based on Alder Lake, built on Intel’s 10 nm process node, with a die size of 215 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is based on Arrow Lake, built on TSMC’s 3 nm process node. This process difference is significant; the 3 nm node allows for greater transistor density and efficiency, which is reflected in the Core Ultra 7 255H’s lower TDP of 28W versus the i7-12800HX’s 55W.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i7-12800HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 255H has significantly more L1 and L2 cache, with 192 KB per core and 3 MB per core respectively, but slightly less shared L3 cache at 24 MB. This larger per-core cache in the Core Ultra 7 255H likely contributes to its superior single-threaded performance in PassMark.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-12800HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 7 255H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 7 255H also has a specified memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, whereas the i7-12800HX does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure. The Core Ultra 7 255H supports ECC memory, while the i7-12800HX does not. Both processors feature PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ, with the i7-12800HX featuring UHD Graphics 770 and the Core Ultra 7 255H featuring Arc Graphics 140T. The i7-12800HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 7 255H is locked.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several key differences. The most notable is the thread count: the i7-12800HX has 24 threads versus the Core Ultra 7 255H’s 16 threads, despite both having 16 cores. The base clocks are nearly identical at 2000.00 MHz for the i7-12800HX and 2.00 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 255H, but the boost clocks differ, with the Core Ultra 7 255H reaching 5.10 GHz versus the i7-12800HX’s 4.80 GHz.

The TDP is a major differentiator, with the i7-12800HX rated at 55W and the Core Ultra 7 255H at 28W. The sockets are different: BGA 1964 for the i7-12800HX and BGA 2049 for the Core Ultra 7 255H. The manufacturing process is a 10 nm Intel node for the i7-12800HX and a 3 nm TSMC node for the Core Ultra 7 255H. The i7-12800HX has a listed die size of 215 mm², while the Core Ultra 7 255H has none listed.

Memory support differs, with the i7-12800HX supporting DDR4 and DDR5, and the Core Ultra 7 255H supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 7 255H has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while no figure is listed for the i7-12800HX. ECC memory support is present on the Core Ultra 7 255H but absent on the i7-12800HX. The integrated graphics are different: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Graphics 140T. The i7-12800HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 7 255H does not. The i7-12800HX has a launch MSRP of $457, while the Core Ultra 7 255H has no launch MSRP listed. The release dates differ, with the i7-12800HX released in 2022 and the Core Ultra 7 255H in 2025.