Intel Core i9-13980HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

The Intel Core i9-13980HX and Intel Core Ultra 5 235 are two processors separated by two years, a process generation, and a market segment, yet their aggregate benchmark scores land within 0.7% of each other. The i9-13980HX, a Raptor Lake-HX mobile chip, posts an average benchmark score of 50944, while the Arrow Lake-S desktop Ultra 5 235 scores 50598. That near-tie masks a wide divergence in individual workloads: the i9 wins 11 of 17 head-to-head tests, the Ultra wins 6, but the margins are lopsided in opposite directions.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-13980HX’s biggest advantage comes in integer-heavy and parallel workloads. Its PassMark integer math score of 166455 crushes the Ultra’s 93621, a 77.8% lead. Data compression follows with 588306 against 413865, a 42.1% gap, and random string sorting shows a 33.1% margin (66125 vs 49667). Cinebench results are consistently in the i9’s favor across every version: R15 multicore 3974 vs 3440 (+15.5%), R20 multicore 16561 vs 14334 (+15.5%), and R23 multicore 39433 vs 34129 (+15.5%). Single-core Cinebench also favors the i9 by 15.5–15.7% (R23 5567 vs 4818). The i9 also wins PassMark multithread (46409 vs 40192, +15.5%) and data encryption (35332 vs 31148, +13.4%).

The Ultra 5 235 counters with a different set of strengths. Its most dramatic win is in prime number finding: 396 vs 191, a 51.8% advantage. It also leads in physics (2976 vs 2575, +13.5%), floating-point math (125202 vs 118645, +5.2%), and PassMark single-thread (4542 vs 4252, +6.4%). Extended instructions edge out the Ultra by a slim 2.7% (34793 vs 33868). Notably, the Ultra’s single-thread advantage in PassMark does not extend to Cinebench, where the i9 leads by over 15% in every single-core test. This suggests the i9’s higher boost clock (5.60 GHz vs 5.00 GHz) and older architecture excel in certain legacy workloads, while the Ultra’s newer design wins in other scalar tasks.

Across the 17 head-to-head tests, the i9’s wins are often by large margins, while the Ultra’s wins are smaller in percentage terms (except for prime numbers). The i9’s average score is 50944, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs; the Ultra sits at 50598 and the 93rd percentile. Per the nearestRivals data, the i9 is 0.7% ahead of the Ultra, and the Ultra is 0.7% behind the i9—essentially a statistical tie in overall performance.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on fundamentally different foundations. The i9-13980HX uses Intel’s 10nm process (Raptor Lake), while the Ultra 5 235 uses TSMC’s 3nm process (Arrow Lake). That process gap explains several downstream differences. The i9 packs 24 cores and 32 threads, whereas the Ultra has 14 cores and 14 threads—no hyperthreading. Clock speeds also diverge: the i9’s base is 2.20 GHz and boost is 5.60 GHz, while the Ultra runs at 3.40 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The i9 has a 55W TDP, the Ultra 65W.

Cache layouts differ per core and in total. The i9 has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Ultra has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra’s larger per-core caches reflect its newer design, but the i9’s larger L3 gives it an edge in cache-sensitive multi-threaded workloads. Memory support also differs: the i9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra supports only DDR5. The Ultra lists a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s; the i9 does not list a figure. ECC memory is supported on the i9 but not on the Ultra.

The integrated graphics are different: the i9 uses UHD Graphics 770, the Ultra uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra is locked. The i9 is a mobile part (Intel BGA 1964), while the Ultra is a desktop part (Intel Socket 1851). The i9 was released on 2023-01-03, the Ultra on 2025-01-06. The i9 has a die size of 257 mm²; the Ultra is 243 mm². The Ultra’s transistor count is listed as 17,800 million; the i9’s is not provided. The i9’s part number is SRME9, the Ultra’s is SRQAS.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-13980HX has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance in PassMark?

A: The Ultra 5 235 scores 4542 in PassMark single-thread, compared to 4252 for the i9-13980HX, a 6.4% advantage.

Q: Which processor is built on a more advanced process node?

A: The Ultra 5 235 uses TSMC’s 3nm process, while the i9-13980HX uses Intel’s 10nm process.

Q: Does the i9-13980HX support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i9-13980HX has ECC memory support; the Ultra 5 235 does not.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i9-13980HX has 36 MB shared L3, while the Ultra 5 235 has 24 MB.

Q: Which processor is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The i9-13980HX has an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra 5 235 does not.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-13980HX | Intel Core Ultra 5 235 |

|---------------|----------------------|------------------------|

| Cores | 24 | 14 |

| Threads | 32 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 KB | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache (per core) | 2 MB | 3 MB |

| L3 Cache (shared) | 36 MB | 24 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | True | False |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2023-01-03 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $668 | $257 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | True | False |

| Part Number | SRME9 | SRQAS |

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear split in workload suitability. The i9-13980HX is the superior choice for multi-threaded, integer-heavy, and compression-heavy tasks. Its 24-core/32-thread configuration and 36 MB L3 cache deliver a 15.5% lead in Cinebench multicore and a 77.8% advantage in integer math. It also wins in data encryption and random string sorting by double-digit margins. For users running video encoding, code compilation, or database workloads, the i9’s parallel throughput is decisive.

The Ultra 5 235, despite having fewer cores, wins in single-thread PassMark, physics, and prime number finding. Its 3nm process and larger per-core caches give it a 6.4% edge in single-thread PassMark and a 13.5% lead in physics. It also handles floating-point math 5.2% better. However, its Cinebench single-core scores trail the i9 by over 15%, which suggests that the i9’s higher boost clock and older architecture are more effective in some legacy single-threaded benchmarks.

Given the near-identical average scores (50944 vs 50598) and percentile ranks (94th vs 93rd), the decision comes down to platform and workload. The i9-13980HX is a mobile part with an unlocked multiplier and ECC support, making it a fit for high-end laptops where maximum multi-core performance is needed. The Ultra 5 235 is a desktop chip with a more modern process and better performance in specific math and physics workloads, but it lacks ECC and overclocking. The data does not show a universal winner; it shows two processors optimized for different priorities.