Intel Core i9-13900HK vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the Intel Core i9-13900HK, with the desktop part winning 12 of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The most dramatic victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ultra 5 225 scores 3655 against the i9-13900HK's 1843.5 — a staggering 98.3% advantage. That nearly doubles the mobile chip's output in one of the most widely cited rendering tests, underscoring how far Arrow Lake's architecture has come in single-threaded efficiency.

The Ultra 5 225 also dominates the PassMark find prime numbers test with a 225.5% lead (358 vs 110), which is a punishing workload for the older Raptor Lake design. Extended instructions show a 39% gap in favor of the Ultra 5 225 (27162 vs 19534), and floating point math follows with a 35.3% edge (92038 vs 68020). Data encryption also favors the newer part by 16.1%, while the physics test shows a 23.5% advantage. Even in Cinebench R15, the Ultra 5 225 wins both multi-core (2609 vs 2398, +8.8%) and single-core (368 vs 263, +39.9%).

However, the i9-13900HK fights back in several key workloads. Cinebench R20 is a clear win for the mobile chip, taking multi-core by 33.8% (9548 vs 6317) and single-core by 33.9% (1347 vs 891). The PassMark integer math test also goes to the i9-13900HK with a 30.6% margin (94120 vs 65345). Data compression is another mobile victory at 8.1% (329454 vs 302811), and random string sorting is essentially a tie with the i9-13900HK ahead by just 0.2% (36662 vs 36590). The multithreaded PassMark test is close, but the Ultra 5 225 takes it by 8% (30459 vs 28194).

Notably, the two chips sit at the same 85th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are within 1.3% of each other (36938 for the Ultra 5 225 vs 37425 for the i9-13900HK). The nearest rivals for each reinforce this parity — the Ultra 5 225 trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0% delta) and Ryzen 5 5500X3D (-0.2%), while the i9-13900HK sits near the Core Ultra 5 235H (-0.3%) and Core i5-13600K (-0.7%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons overall?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i9-13900HK wins 5.

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

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 225 scores 225.5% higher (358 vs 110). The second biggest is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ultra 5 225 leads by 98.3% (3655 vs 1843.5).

Q: Are there any tests where the i9-13900HK is clearly superior?

A: Yes. The i9-13900HK dominates Cinebench R20 multi-core by 33.8% (9548 vs 6317) and single-core by 33.9% (1347 vs 891). It also leads in PassMark integer math by 30.6% (94120 vs 65345) and data compression by 8.1% (329454 vs 302811).

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i9-13900HK has a marginally higher average benchmark score of 37425 compared to 36938 for the Ultra 5 225, a difference of roughly 1.3%. Both CPUs sit at the 85th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-13900HK has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. Despite fewer threads, the Ultra 5 225 still wins the multithreaded PassMark test by 8%.

Q: What is the launch MSRP difference?

A: The Ultra 5 225 has a launch MSRP of $246, while the i9-13900HK has a launch MSRP of $697.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct architectural generations and manufacturing philosophies. The Ultra 5 225 is built on Arrow Lake-S, using a 3 nm process node from TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The i9-13900HK uses Raptor Lake-H on Intel's 10 nm process, with a slightly larger 257 mm² die. The choice of foundry and node is a fundamental split: TSMC's advanced 3 nm process powers the newer chip, while Intel's 10 nm node underpins the mobile i9.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Ultra 5 225 allocates 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 20 MB of shared L3. The i9-13900HK uses 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, but has a larger 24 MB shared L3 pool. This means the mobile chip has more total L3, but the desktop part's larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations suggest a design more focused on feeding individual cores quickly.

The integrated graphics are different generations as well. The Ultra 5 225 carries Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while the i9-13900HK ships with Iris Xe Graphics featuring 96 execution units. The i9-13900HK's iGPU has many more EUs, which could matter in media applications. Memory support diverges too: the Ultra 5 225 supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i9-13900HK supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. PCIe lanes are another differentiator — the Ultra 5 225 offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, versus Gen 5 with 8 lanes on the i9-13900HK.

The market segments are inherently different: the Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1851, while the i9-13900HK is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1744. The i9-13900HK has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Ultra 5 225 does not. Production status for both is listed as Active, with the Ultra 5 225 releasing on 2025-01-06 and the i9-13900HK on 2023-01-03.

Specification Differences

The core count is a clear differentiator: 10 cores and 10 threads for the Ultra 5 225, versus 14 cores and 20 threads for the i9-13900HK. Base clocks differ substantially, with the Ultra 5 225 at 3.30 GHz and the i9-13900HK at 2.60 GHz. Boost clocks reverse the order: the i9-13900HK reaches 5.40 GHz, while the Ultra 5 225 tops out at 4.90 GHz. Thermal design power also separates them — the Ultra 5 225 is rated at 65W, while the i9-13900HK consumes 45W.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1851 for the desktop part versus Intel BGA 1744 for mobile. The process nodes differ as noted (3 nm TSMC vs 10 nm Intel), and the transistor count is only listed for the Ultra 5 225 at 17,800 million. Memory support is narrower on the newer chip, which only accepts DDR5, while the i9-13900HK can use DDR4 or DDR5. Memory bandwidth is specified only for the Ultra 5 225 at 102.4 GB/s. PCIe lane counts are 20 for the Ultra 5 225 versus 8 for the i9-13900HK, both Gen 5.

The integrated graphics units differ in execution unit count: 16 EU for Arc Xe-LPG on the Ultra 5 225 versus 96 EU for Iris Xe on the i9-13900HK. The i9-13900HK is multiplier-unlocked, while the Ultra 5 225 is locked. Launch MSRP is another gap: $246 versus $697. Release dates are roughly two years apart, with the Ultra 5 225 launching in January 2025 and the i9-13900HK in January 2023.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the clear choice for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655 versus 1843.5 is a 98.3% advantage, and the PassMark single-thread score of 4412 versus 3810 adds another 15.8% win. For tasks that depend on per-core performance — such as older games, spreadsheet macros, or scripting — the Arrow Lake desktop part is decisively faster. It also excels in math-heavy and encryption workloads: floating point math (+35.3%), data encryption (+16.1%), and extended instructions (+39%). The 225.5% lead in prime number finding makes it the obvious pick for number-crunching workloads that rely on integer iteration and branch prediction.

The i9-13900HK, despite being a mobile processor, claims victory in Cinebench R20 by roughly 34% in both multi-core and single-core tests. Its PassMark integer math score of 94120 versus 65345 is a 30.6% edge, and data compression comes in 8.1% ahead. The random string sorting result is essentially a tie. For users running compression utilities, certain integer-heavy rendering pipelines, or the specific R20 workload, the Raptor Lake chip holds its ground. Its 14 cores and 20 threads give it more parallel resources, which shows in the R20 multi-core test despite losing the R23 multi-core test by 61.6%.

The multithreaded PassMark result (30459 vs 28194) goes to the Ultra 5 225, suggesting its 10 cores are more efficient per thread than the i9-13900HK's 14. However, the i9-13900HK's integrated graphics with 96 EUs versus 16 EUs makes it the better option for iGPU-heavy media tasks, even though neither chip is aimed at serious gaming without a discrete GPU. The i9-13900HK also supports DDR4 memory, which could be a practical advantage in mobile platforms where DDR4 is still common.

The use-case split is essentially desktop efficiency versus mobile versatility. The Ultra 5 225 is a 65W desktop part with a locked multiplier and no ECC support, ideal for compact or mainstream builds where single-thread speed and newer architecture matter. The i9-13900HK is a 45W mobile part with an unlocked multiplier, offering more cores, faster boost clocks, and broader memory compatibility — but it trails in most modern benchmarks. The data suggests that for pure compute, the Arrow Lake desktop chip is the stronger performer, while the Raptor Lake mobile chip retains niche advantages in specific workloads.