Intel Core Ultra 5 125U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V and Intel Core Ultra 5 125U represent two distinct approaches to mobile computing within Intel’s Core Ultra lineup. The 256V, built on Lunar Lake, faces the 125U, a Meteor Lake part, with the data showing a clear but not absolute advantage for the newer chip. The benchmark suite reveals a consistent pattern where the Ultra 7 256V dominates in single-threaded and most multi-threaded workloads, while the Ultra 5 125U secures specific wins in integer-heavy and compression tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories for the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V come in synthetic single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 256V scores 285.5 against the 125U’s 227, a 25.8% advantage. This gap widens in Geekbench single-core, where the 256V’s 1990 score surpasses the 125U’s 1493 by 33.3%. The pattern continues in Cinebench R20 single-core (982 vs 844, a 16.4% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1877.5 vs 1561, a 20.3% lead). The PassMark single-thread test reinforces this, with the 256V delivering 4029 points versus 3296, a 22.2% margin. These results indicate a substantial architectural efficiency advantage for the Lunar Lake design in workloads that rely on a single core’s peak performance.

Multi-core performance tells a more nuanced story. The 256V wins in Geekbench multi-core with 8643 points against 6308, a commanding 37% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the 256V scores 6958 versus 5982, a 16.3% improvement. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result shows a smaller but still positive delta of 6.1% (10399 vs 9799). The PassMark multithread score favors the 256V by 12.1% (19530 vs 17417). However, the 125U strikes back in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 1640 against the 256V’s 1583.5, a 3.4% victory for the older chip. This suggests the 125U’s higher core and thread count (12 cores, 14 threads versus 8 cores, 8 threads) can still leverage older, more thread-hungry benchmarks to its advantage.

The specialized workload tests reveal where each processor excels. The 256V delivers a massive 200% win in PassMark find prime numbers (192 vs 64), indicating superior integer processing for this specific mathematical task. It also leads by 41.7% in floating point math (58576 vs 41331) and by 37.9% in extended instructions (15643 vs 11340). The 256V wins PassMark physics by 47.4% (1595 vs 1082) and data encryption by 14.4% (13998 vs 12231). Conversely, the 125U posts a 24% victory in integer math (57046 vs 43358) and a 7% win in data compression (198858 vs 184985). The random string sorting test is close, with the 256V edging ahead by 2.8% (22481 vs 21872). The data shows the 256V wins 16 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, with the 125U claiming only 3.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V wins every single-core benchmark in the comparison. Its margins range from 20.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core to 33.3% in Geekbench single-core, with a 22.2% lead in PassMark single-thread.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes. The 125U wins 3 of the 19 tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core (1640 vs 1583.5, a 3.4% lead), PassMark data compression (198858 vs 184985, a 7% lead), and PassMark integer math (57046 vs 43358, a 24% lead).

Q: How do the overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ultra 7 256V has an average benchmark score of 21112, while the Ultra 5 125U scores 20826. This places the 256V in the 75th percentile of all CPUs and the 125U in the 74th percentile.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each chip based on average score?

A: The Ultra 7 256V is closely matched with the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (deltaPct -0.1%), AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (deltaPct 0.1%), and Intel Core i3-1220P (deltaPct 0.2%). The Ultra 5 125U is near the Intel Xeon 6325P (deltaPct 0%), AMD EPYC 7J13 (deltaPct -0.1%), and Intel Core i5-12490F (deltaPct 0.1%).

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Ultra 5 125U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Ultra 7 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The 125U has 4 more cores and 6 more threads.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 7 256V has a boost clock of 4.80, which is higher than the Ultra 5 125U’s boost clock of 4.30.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V as the stronger overall performer. It wins 16 of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, including all single-core tests and the majority of multi-core and specialized workloads. Its average benchmark score of 21112 is higher than the 125U’s 20826, and it achieves a higher percentile ranking (75th vs 74th). The 256V’s lead is particularly pronounced in Geekbench multi-core (37%), floating point math (41.7%), and physics (47.4%).

However, the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is not without merit. Its wins in PassMark integer math (24% ahead) and data compression (7% ahead) indicate that for specific workloads, its higher core count and thread count (12 cores, 14 threads) can be leveraged effectively. The 125U also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core, suggesting compatibility with older rendering benchmarks. The 125U’s launch MSRP is $363, a figure that appears once in the data.

For users prioritizing raw single-thread speed, cryptographic tasks, floating-point calculations, and overall synthetic benchmark dominance, the Ultra 7 256V is the clear choice. For those who need to maximize integer math throughput or data compression performance, the Ultra 5 125U holds a specific, measurable edge. The overall data, however, favors the 256V for general-purpose computing and most productivity tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly in their core configurations. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U has 12 cores and 14 threads. The 256V has a base clock of 2.20 and a boost clock of 4.80, whereas the 125U has a base clock of 1300.00 and a boost clock of 4.30. The 256V has a TDP of 17, while the 125U has a TDP of 15.

The cache hierarchies also differ. The 256V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, while the 125U has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache. The memory support differs as well: the 256V’s memory support is listed as "unknown" and depends on the motherboard, while the 125U supports DDR5 and has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

The PCIe configurations are different. The 256V supports Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the 125U supports Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the 256V has Arc 140V, and the 125U has Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The sockets are incompatible: the 256V uses Intel BGA 2833, and the 125U uses Intel BGA 2049. The release dates are distinct, with the 256V releasing on 2024-09-23 and the 125U on 2023-12-13.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is built on Lunar Lake architecture, codenamed Lunar Lake, and is part of Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is built on Meteor Lake architecture, codenamed Meteor Lake, and is part of Core Ultra Series 1. It uses a 7 nm process node from Intel. This process difference is a primary factor in the 256V’s superior single-core performance and efficiency.

The core counts and threading models differ fundamentally. The 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyperthreading, while the 125U has 12 cores and 14 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration with hyperthreading on some cores. The L1 cache per core is larger on the 256V (192 KB) compared to the 125U (112 KB), and the L2 cache per core is also larger (2.5 MB vs 2 MB). The L3 cache is the same at 12 MB shared.

The memory controllers differ, with the 125U explicitly supporting DDR5 and offering a specified memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the 256V’s memory support is dependent on the motherboard. The PCIe generation and lane counts differ, with the 256V offering Gen 5 (4 lanes) and the 125U offering Gen 4 (12 lanes). The integrated graphics are different models, with the 256V featuring Arc 140V and the 125U featuring Arc Xe-LPG 64EU.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is the winner in single-threaded applications and most multi-threaded workloads. The data shows it leads by 25.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 33.3% in Geekbench single-core, and 22.2% in PassMark single-thread. It also wins in multi-core tests like Geekbench multi-core (37% lead) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (16.3% lead). For tasks involving floating-point math, such as scientific computing or 3D rendering, the 256V’s 41.7% lead in floating point math makes it the superior choice. Its 200% lead in find prime numbers and 47.4% lead in physics further cement its dominance in mathematical and simulation workloads. The 256V also wins in data encryption (14.4% lead) and extended instructions (37.9% lead), making it better for security-related tasks and workloads using advanced instruction sets.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U wins in three specific areas. Its 24% lead in integer math (57046 vs 43358) indicates a clear advantage for workloads that process large amounts of integer operations, such as certain types of data processing or legacy software. Its 7% lead in data compression (198858 vs 184985) makes it the better choice for file archiving or compression-heavy tasks. The 125U also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 3.4%, suggesting that in this specific older benchmark, its higher core and thread count (12 cores, 14 threads) provides a tangible benefit. These wins, while fewer, are substantial in their respective domains and should be considered for specialized use cases.