Intel Core i9-12900T vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12900T and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 are both 85th-percentile desktop processors, yet they achieve parity through opposing design philosophies. The data shows a clear split: the older 12th-generation chip dominates in two specific multi-threaded workloads, while the newer Arrow Lake part wins the majority of head-to-head tests, particularly in single-thread and integer-heavy tasks. The Core Ultra 5 225 takes 12 of 17 benchmark comparisons, but the Core i9-12900T’s victories are often by dramatic margins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire dataset is in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Core i9-12900T scores 10301 against the Core Ultra 5 225’s 6317. That is a 63.1% advantage for the older chip, a massive gap that suggests the i9’s 16 cores and 24 threads are leveraged exceptionally well in this specific renderer. The single-core R20 result follows the same pattern, with the i9 winning 1454 to 891, a 63.2% delta. These two results are anomalies compared to the rest of the field, indicating that the i9-12900T has a distinct architectural advantage in this particular benchmark generation.

Outside of R20, the story flips. In Cinebench R23, the Core Ultra 5 225 wins multi-core with 25891 points versus 24528, a 5.3% margin. The single-core R23 result also favors the Ultra 5, scoring 3655 against 3462, again a 5.3% delta. This is a curious inversion: the i9 wins R20 by a landslide, but the Ultra 5 wins R23 by a consistent, smaller margin. The pattern suggests that the newer chip’s efficiency and per-core performance scale better in the newer benchmark version, while the i9’s raw thread count dominates the older one.

The PassMark suite reveals more nuanced strengths. The i9-12900T wins integer math decisively, posting 108211 versus 65345, a 65.6% lead. This is the largest single delta in the entire comparison and indicates that the i9’s hybrid core arrangement is exceptionally strong at parallel integer workloads. The i9 also wins data compression (345021 vs 302811, a 13.9% edge) and random string sorting (39771 vs 36590, an 8.7% edge). These are all multi-threaded, throughput-oriented tasks where the 16-core/24-thread configuration provides a clear advantage.

Conversely, the Core Ultra 5 225 dominates in almost every other PassMark test. The most dramatic win is find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 scores 358 versus the i9’s 116, a 67.6% advantage. This is a massive single-threaded victory. The Ultra 5 also wins extended instructions (27162 vs 20054, a 26.2% lead), physics (2342 vs 1811, a 22.7% lead), and floating point math (92038 vs 75741, a 17.7% lead). In single-thread performance, the Ultra 5 is clearly superior, scoring 4412 versus 3810 in PassMark single-thread, a 13.6% edge. It also wins data encryption (22285 vs 20750, a 6.9% margin) and the overall PassMark multithread score (30459 vs 29601, a 2.8% lead), despite losing the integer and compression tests.

The head-to-head win count tells the final story: the Core Ultra 5 225 wins 12 tests, while the Core i9-12900T wins only 5. However, the i9’s wins are often by larger margins (63.1%, 63.2%, 65.6%) than the Ultra 5’s typical wins (mostly under 20%). This means the i9 is a specialist in specific heavy multi-threaded tasks, while the Ultra 5 is the more consistent all-around performer.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent a generational leap in manufacturing and design. The Core i9-12900T uses Alder Lake architecture on Intel’s 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arrow Lake on TSMC’s 3 nm node. This process shrink is reflected in the transistor count: the Ultra 5 packs 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die, whereas the i9’s die size is listed as 215 mm². The newer chip is denser and more power-efficient per transistor, which explains its strong single-thread and floating-point results despite having fewer cores.

The core configurations are fundamentally different. The i9-12900T has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Ultra 5 225 has only 10 cores and 10 threads. This means the i9 supports hyper-threading on its efficiency cores, while the Ultra 5 does not use simultaneous multithreading at all. The i9’s thread advantage is the primary reason it wins integer math and compression tests. The Ultra 5 compensates with much higher clock speeds: a base clock of 3.30 GHz versus the i9’s 1.40 GHz, though both boost to 4.90 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are also quite different. The i9-12900T has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 225 has significantly more per-core cache: 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, but less shared L3 at 20 MB. This larger per-core cache likely contributes to the Ultra 5’s superior single-threaded performance, as more data can be stored closer to the execution units.

Memory support diverges as well. The i9-12900T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Ultra 5 225 exclusively supports DDR5, also dual-channel, but has a rated memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i9’s memory bandwidth is not listed, but the Ultra 5’s explicit figure suggests a high-speed DDR5 implementation. Both processors offer PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the i9 using UHD Graphics 770 and the Ultra 5 using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

The sockets are incompatible: the i9 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 5 is locked. The i9 launched in January 2022 with a launch MSRP of $489, while the Ultra 5 launched in January 2025 with a launch MSRP of $246. The i9’s TDP is 35 watts, while the Ultra 5’s is 65 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900T has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i9 has both more cores and supports hyper-threading, while the Ultra 5 does not.

Q: Why does the Core i9-12900T win Cinebench R20 by such a large margin?

A: The i9 scores 10301 in R20 multi-core versus 6317 for the Ultra 5, a 63.1% lead. This appears tied to its 24 threads and 30 MB of L3 cache, which are heavily utilized in that specific benchmark version. The i9 also wins R20 single-core by 63.2%, indicating a benchmark-specific optimization.

Q: Is the Core Ultra 5 225 faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: Yes. The Ultra 5 wins PassMark single-thread with 4412 versus 3810, a 13.6% lead. It also wins Cinebench R23 single-core (3655 vs 3462) and R15 single-core (368 vs 348). Its higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and larger per-core cache contribute to this advantage.

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

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 scores 358 against the i9’s 116, a 67.6% advantage for the Ultra 5. The largest gap favoring the i9 is in PassMark integer math, where it leads by 65.6% (108211 vs 65345).

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core i9-12900T supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports only DDR5, with a rated bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core i9-12900T has an average benchmark score of 37112, while the Core Ultra 5 225 has an average score of 36938. The i9 is listed as a nearest rival to the Ultra 5 with a deltaPct of -0.5, meaning the i9 is slightly ahead on average.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core i9-12900T offers 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The i9’s base clock is 1.40 GHz compared to the Ultra 5’s 3.30 GHz, though both have a 4.90 GHz boost clock. The i9 has a TDP of 35 watts, whereas the Ultra 5 has a TDP of 65 watts.

The manufacturing process differs: the i9 uses Intel’s 10 nm node, while the Ultra 5 uses TSMC’s 3 nm process. The Ultra 5 has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the i9 has no transistor count listed and a die size of 215 mm². Cache layouts differ: the i9 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 30 MB shared L3; the Ultra 5 has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core with 20 MB shared L3.

Memory support is a key difference: the i9 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports only DDR5. The Ultra 5 has a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; the i9’s is not listed. The sockets are different (LGA 1700 vs LGA 1851). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the i9 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU on the Ultra 5. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra 5 is locked. The i9 launched in January 2022 with a launch MSRP of $489, while the Ultra 5 launched in January 2025 with a launch MSRP of $246. The Ultra 5’s part number is SRQCZSRVF7, while the i9’s is SRL4M.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900T is the clear winner in integer-heavy, throughput-oriented tasks. Its 65.6% lead in PassMark integer math is the defining result of this comparison. It also wins data compression (13.9% ahead) and random string sorting (8.7% ahead). The i9’s victory in Cinebench R20 multi-core (63.1% ahead) and R20 single-core (63.2% ahead) makes it the better choice for workloads that rely on that specific benchmark engine, which often correlates with older rendering or simulation software. Its 24 threads and 30 MB of L3 cache are the likely drivers of these wins.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins the majority of tests, making it the better all-rounder. It excels in single-threaded performance, as shown by its 13.6% lead in PassMark single-thread and wins in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests. It also wins floating point math (17.7% ahead), physics (22.7% ahead), and extended instructions (26.2% ahead). The find prime numbers result (67.6% ahead) indicates a massive advantage in specific integer-heavy single-thread algorithms. The Ultra 5 also wins data encryption (6.9% ahead) and the overall PassMark multithread score (2.8% ahead), despite having fewer threads. Its higher base clock and larger per-core cache appear to drive these wins.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For users running Cinebench R20-style workloads or tasks that heavily utilize integer math and data compression across many threads, the Intel Core i9-12900T is the superior choice. Its 63.1% lead in R20 multi-core and 65.6% lead in integer math are not minor edges; they represent a dominant position in those specific areas. If the software in question is known to scale with thread count and uses older rendering pipelines, the i9’s 24 threads will provide a tangible benefit.

For virtually everything else, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the better processor. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including the newer Cinebench R23 versions and the majority of PassMark tests. Its single-thread performance is consistently superior, with a 13.6% lead in PassMark single-thread and wins in every single-core benchmark except R20. The Ultra 5’s wins in floating point, physics, and extended instructions make it a stronger choice for modern productivity, scientific computing, and general desktop responsiveness. Its lower launch MSRP of $246 versus $489 also makes it the more accessible option, though both chips sit at the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

The verdict is straightforward: choose the Core i9-12900T if your primary applications are old Cinebench R20-style renders and parallel integer operations. Choose the Core Ultra 5 225 for a faster, more modern all-around desktop experience, particularly for single-threaded tasks and newer benchmark suites. The i9 is a niche specialist; the Ultra 5 is the broader winner.