Intel Core 7 250H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison
Intel Core 7 250H
Core Ultra 5 225
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 7 250H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark data splits these two processors into clearly different personalities. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 12 of the 17 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 250H takes 5. But the margins tell the real story.
The biggest single-core gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 3655 against the Core 7 250H's 1931. That is an 89.3% lead, the largest delta in the entire comparison. The same pattern shows in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ultra 5 leads 368 to 298, a 23.5% advantage. PassMark single-thread results echo this: 4412 versus 4148, a 6.4% edge for the desktop chip.
Multi-core results are far more contradictory. The Core 7 250H wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 3147 against 2609, a 17.1% margin. It also dominates Cinebench R20 multi-core, scoring 9697 versus 6317, which is a 34.9% lead. But in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the tables turn completely: the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 25891 against 16561, a 56.3% advantage. The PassMark multi-thread test also favors the Ultra 5, with 30459 versus 27030, a 12.7% win.
Some workloads are closer than the overall score suggests. PassMark data compression is nearly identical: 302811 for the Ultra 5 225 and 303269 for the Core 7 250H, a 0.2% difference that could go either way in real-world use.
PassMark integer math is a major win for the Core 7 250H. It scores 99100 against 65345, a 34.1% lead. This is the largest single advantage for the mobile chip in the whole dataset.
The Core Ultra 5 225 counters with decisive wins in several specialized tests. PassMark find prime numbers shows 358 against 106, a 237.7% blowout. Extended instructions favor the Ultra 5 225 by 56.8%, with 27162 against 17318. Floating-point math goes to the Ultra 5 225 by 41.4%, scoring 92038 versus 65094. Data encryption also favors the desktop chip: 22285 against 18206, a 22.4% lead.
Physics and sorting tasks round out the picture. The Ultra 5 225 wins PassMark physics with 2342 against 1824, a 28.4% margin. Random string sorting goes to the Ultra 5 225 as well, 36590 against 34136, a 7.2% advantage.
The Verdict
The data points to two different buyers. If you need raw single-thread performance and certain compute-heavy workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R23 single-core lead of 89.3% is the single largest performance gap in this comparison. It also dominates in floating-point math, encryption, extended instructions, and prime number calculations. The desktop chip's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database matches the Core 7 250H's percentile, but the Ultra 5 225 has the higher average benchmark score at 36938 versus 35728.
The Intel Core 7 250H wins where thread count matters most in certain multi-thread tests. It takes Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core by 17.1% and 34.9% respectively, and it crushes integer math with a 34.1% lead. Its 14 cores and 20 threads outperform the Ultra 5 225's 10 cores and 10 threads in those specific scenarios.
For a desktop user who values snappy response, compile times, or any workload that scales with strong single-core execution, the Core Ultra 5 225 is the better choice based on recorded data. For a mobile user who needs sustained multi-thread throughput in integer-heavy tasks, the Core 7 250H makes more sense. The launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 225 is $246, while the Core 7 250H has a launch MSRP of $502, but pricing differences do not change the performance trade-offs shown here.
Where Each One Wins
The Core Ultra 5 225 owns the following categories: single-core performance in every Cinebench version, Cinebench R23 multi-core, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, multi-thread PassMark, physics simulation, random string sorting, and single-thread PassMark. It also edges out the Core 7 250H in average benchmark score with 36938 against 35728.
The Core 7 250H takes Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core, data compression, and integer math. Its wins are concentrated in workloads that scale with core count and thread count. The 20-thread count gives it a structural advantage in heavily parallel integer operations.
For everyday desktop use, the Core Ultra 5 225's single-thread dominance will be noticeable in app launching, browsing, and any software that is not fully multi-thread aware. For content creation with heavy multi-thread rendering in older Cinebench versions, the Core 7 250H holds the advantage.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU has better single-core Cinebench performance?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins all single-core tests. It leads by 23.5% in Cinebench R15 (368 vs 298), 34.9% in Cinebench R20 (891 vs 1368), and 89.3% in Cinebench R23 (3655 vs 1931).
Q: Does the Core 7 250H win any multi-core test?
A: Yes. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (3147 vs 2609) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (9697 vs 6317). However, the Core Ultra 5 225 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (25891 vs 16561) and PassMark multi-thread (30459 vs 27030).
Q: Which chip is better for encryption workloads?
A: The Core Ultra 5 225 wins PassMark data encryption with 22285 against 18206, a 22.4% lead.
Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?
A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Core 7 250H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Core 7 250H has 4 more cores and 10 more threads.
Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?
A: The Core 7 250H boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 225 boosts to 4.90 GHz. The base clock is higher on the Core Ultra 5 225 at 3.30 GHz vs 2.50 GHz.
Q: How do the two compare in average benchmark scores?
A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, while the Core 7 250H scores 35728. Both rank in the 85th percentile among all CPUs in the database.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from entirely different designs. The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. It is built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC and uses 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 7 250H is a Raptor Lake design with the Raptor Lake-H codename from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. It uses a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry.
The Core Ultra 5 225 has a different cache layout: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 250H has smaller per-core caches at 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, but a larger 24 MB L3 shared. This likely explains some of the single-thread advantages seen in the Core Ultra 5 225, as larger per-core L2 can reduce latency.
The integrated graphics differ. The Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while the Core 7 250H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 EUs. The Core 7 250H has more graphics execution units, but the Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part that will most often be paired with a discrete GPU.
Specification Differences
The Core Ultra 5 225 and Core 7 250H differ in several core specifications. The Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop processor with 10 cores and 10 threads. The Core 7 250H is a mobile processor with 14 cores and 20 threads. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Core 7 250H has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz.
The Core Ultra 5 225 has a 65 W TDP and uses the Intel Socket 1851. The Core 7 250H has a 45 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports only DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Core 7 250H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database.
The PCIe lanes also differ: the Core Ultra 5 225 provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 7 250H provides 8. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a launch MSRP of $246, while the Core 7 250H has a launch MSRP of $502. The Core Ultra 5 225 launched on 2025-01-06, and the Core 7 250H launched on 2024-12-17. The Core Ultra 5 225 part number is SRQCZSRVF7, and the Core 7 250H part number is SRQ6UQ5MK. Both are non-unlocked, meaning the multiplier is locked on both chips. Both are currently in active production.