Intel Core i7-1355U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V dominates this matchup, winning 15 of the 17 recorded tests. The largest single margin comes in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 5 226V scores 166 against the Core i7-1355U's 51, a 225.5% advantage. That is not a marginal gap; it is a category-level difference in how efficiently the two chips handle that workload.

Multi-core rendering workloads show a consistent pattern of Ultra 5 226V superiority. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Ultra 5 226V scores 6381 versus 4949 for the Core i7-1355U, a 28.9% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows slightly to 9848 against 8286, still an 18.9% win. Cinebench R15 multi-core is closer at 1501 versus 1393, a 7.8% margin. The PassMark multithread test shows 17850 versus 14299, a 24.8% advantage. The data suggests that sustained multi-threaded throughput favors the Lunar Lake part by a wide margin, even though it has fewer cores and threads.

Single-core results are split. The Ultra 5 226V wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 267 versus 255.5, a 4.5% edge, and Cinebench R20 single-core with 900 versus 698, a 28.9% gap. But the Core i7-1355U takes Cinebench R23 single-core with 1825 versus 1744, a 4.4% win for the Raptor Lake chip. PassMark single thread also goes to the Ultra 5 226V, 3754 versus 3444, a 9% margin. Net assessment: the Ultra 5 226V has the better single-core showing in most tests, but the i7-1355U is not outclassed in every single-threaded scenario.

The most striking result is the extended instructions test. The Ultra 5 226V scores 14724, while the Core i7-1355U manages only 8726, a 68.7% difference. Floating point math also favors the Ultra 5 226V heavily: 52270 versus 34965, a 49.5% lead. Physics simulation follows with 1449 versus 888, a 63.2% gap. These are compute-heavy workloads where the newer architecture pulls far ahead.

The Core i7-1355U has exactly one substantive win outside of Cinebench R23 single-core: PassMark integer math. There, it scores 52002 against 38647 for the Ultra 5 226V, a 25.7% advantage. That is a real reversal, and it indicates that the Raptor Lake chip retains an edge in certain integer-heavy operations despite losing most other tests.

Data encryption shows a 29.3% win for the Ultra 5 226V, 12710 versus 9831. Data compression is closer, 170687 versus 155727, a 9.6% edge. Random string sorting goes to the Ultra 5 226V by 18%, 20813 versus 17631. The overall pattern is one of broad, consistent superiority for the Ultra 5 226V across most measured categories, with only isolated exceptions.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is the stronger processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all multi-core Cinebench runs, all PassMark throughput tests except integer math, and every compute-heavy benchmark. Users who prioritize rendering, physics simulation, floating point math, encryption, or compression should select the Ultra 5 226V without hesitation.

The Intel Core i7-1355U is the pick only in a narrow set of cases. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.4% and PassMark integer math by 25.7%. If the primary workload is integer-heavy and single-threaded, the i7-1355U has a documented advantage. For everyone else, the Ultra 5 226V offers better measured performance in nearly every category.

Both chips sit at the 73rd percentile against all CPUs in the database, so they occupy the same overall performance tier. But within that tier, the Ultra 5 226V is the one pulling ahead in most tests. The average benchmark score reflects this: the Ultra 5 226V averages 19368, while the Core i7-1355U averages 18730. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 226V include the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS at 19364 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-1345U at 19411 (-0.2% delta). The Core i7-1355U sits near the AMD EPYC 7643 at 18697 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i5-12400 at 18683 (0.3% delta). The Ultra 5 226V is benchmarking against a higher class of competition.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families. The Ultra 5 226V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Core i7-1355U uses the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. This node advantage alone explains much of the efficiency and performance gap in compute-heavy tests.

Core configuration differs fundamentally. The Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Core i7-1355U has 10 cores and 12 threads, meaning it relies on a mix of performance and efficiency cores plus hyperthreading on some cores. Despite having fewer threads, the Ultra 5 226V wins most multi-threaded tests, which points to a much higher per-thread throughput on the Lunar Lake design.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The Ultra 5 226V carries 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Core i7-1355U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 226V has more per-core cache, while the i7-1355U has more total L3. The larger per-core cache likely contributes to the Ultra 5 226V's strong single-threaded and floating point results.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Ultra 5 226V pairs with Arc 130V graphics, while the Core i7-1355U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. Memory support also differs: the Ultra 5 226V's memory depends on the motherboard, while the Core i7-1355U explicitly supports DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe connectivity favors the Ultra 5 226V with Gen 5 at 4 lanes, versus Gen 4 at 8 lanes for the i7-1355U. The socket changes from Intel BGA 2833 on the Ultra 5 226V to Intel BGA 1744 on the i7-1355U.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: the Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads, the Core i7-1355U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clock specifications are listed differently in the database, with the Ultra 5 226V at 2.10 GHz and the i7-1355U at 1700.00 MHz, which is the same value expressed in different units. Boost clock favors the i7-1355U at 5.00 GHz versus 4.50 GHz for the Ultra 5 226V.

TDP differs slightly: 17 watts for the Ultra 5 226V, 15 watts for the Core i7-1355U. Both are low-power mobile parts. The process node is 3 nm for the Ultra 5 226V and 10 nm for the i7-1355U. Foundry is TSMC for the Lunar Lake chip and Intel for the Raptor Lake chip.

Cache differences: L1 is 192 KB per core on the Ultra 5 226V versus 80 KB per core on the i7-1355U. L2 is 2.5 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 is 8 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. The i7-1355U has more total L3, but the Ultra 5 226V has more per-core cache at both L1 and L2 levels.

Release dates differ: the Ultra 5 226V launched on 2024-09-23, the Core i7-1355U on 2023-01-03. The i7-1355U has a launch MSRP of $469. The Ultra 5 226V has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both are active production parts, both are mobile segment, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V wins every multi-core test in the database. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 28.9% lead, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 18.9%, and PassMark multithread shows 24.8%. The Ultra 5 226V does this with fewer cores and threads: 8 cores and 8 threads versus 10 cores and 12 threads on the Core i7-1355U.

Q: Does the Core i7-1355U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two tests. It takes Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.4% (1825 versus 1744) and PassMark integer math by 25.7% (52002 versus 38647). These are the only two head-to-head tests where the i7-1355U comes out ahead.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The Ultra 5 226V has an average benchmark score of 19368, while the Core i7-1355U averages 18730. Both sit at the 73rd percentile against all CPUs in the database. The Ultra 5 226V's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS at 19364 and the Intel Core i5-1345U at 19411, while the i7-1355U sits near the AMD EPYC 7643 at 18697.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 5 226V scores 166 versus 51 for the i7-1355U, a 225.5% advantage. The extended instructions test also shows a massive gap at 68.7% in favor of the Ultra 5 226V.

Q: Which chip has better single-core performance?

A: It depends on the test. The Ultra 5 226V wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 4.5% and Cinebench R20 single-core by 28.9%, plus PassMark single thread by 9%. The Core i7-1355U wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.4%. The Ultra 5 226V wins more single-threaded tests overall.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance tier?

A: Yes, both are at the 73rd percentile against all CPUs. However, the Ultra 5 226V sits at a higher average benchmark score of 19368 versus 18730 for the i7-1355U, and its nearest rivals are generally faster parts than those around the i7-1355U.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks. It wins physics simulation by 63.2%, floating point math by 49.5%, extended instructions by 68.7%, and find prime numbers by 225.5%. These are the kinds of workloads found in rendering, scientific computing, and engineering simulation. The data shows that the Ultra 5 226V is not just slightly better in these areas; it is often dramatically better.

For content creation and general productivity, the Ultra 5 226V again holds the edge. It wins data compression by 9.6%, data encryption by 29.3%, and random string sorting by 18%. Multi-core Cinebench results favor the Ultra 5 226V across R15, R20, and R23, with margins ranging from 7.8% to 28.9%. Anyone running video encodes, batch photo processing, or compilation workloads should favor the Ultra 5 226V based on these numbers.

The Core i7-1355U has a narrower set of wins, but they are not trivial. Its 25.7% win in PassMark integer math suggests it handles integer-heavy code more efficiently, which can matter in database operations, certain financial calculations, and some legacy software. Its Cinebench R23 single-core win of 4.4% indicates that in at least one modern rendering workload, the Raptor Lake chip can outpace the Lunar Lake part in single-threaded performance.

For users who need PCIe bandwidth, the i7-1355U offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while the Ultra 5 226V offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes. The Gen 5 standard provides higher per-lane bandwidth, but the i7-1355U has more lanes available. The i7-1355U also explicitly supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which may simplify platform choices for some builders.

The Ultra 5 226V compensates for its smaller core count with a much more modern process node, 3 nm at TSMC versus 10 nm at Intel, and larger per-core caches at both L1 and L2 levels. This combination explains why it wins most tests despite having fewer threads. The i7-1355U has 12 MB of shared L3 versus 8 MB on the Ultra 5 226V, which helps in some cache-sensitive workloads but does not overcome the architectural advantages of the newer chip.

The final recommendation from the data is straightforward. The Ultra 5 226V is the better processor for almost every measured workload, and it does so on a more efficient node with larger per-core caches. The i7-1355U remains competitive only in integer math and one single-core rendering test. For a mobile system where the workload is diverse and demanding, the Ultra 5 226V is the stronger pick. For a niche use case centered on integer-heavy single-threaded tasks, the i7-1355U has a documented advantage, but it is the exception rather than the rule.