Intel Core Ultra 5 225 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 are both part of the Core Ultra Series 2, built on Intel's Arrow Lake architecture and fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC. The 235H is a mobile processor with 14 cores and 14 threads, while the 225 is a desktop chip with 10 cores and 10 threads. Despite the core count difference, their average benchmark scores are close: the 235H averages 37522 across the database, the 225 averages 36938, and both sit at the 85th percentile among all CPUs. The head-to-head results, however, show a clear split in workload strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Cinebench R20 gap. The 235H scores 10751 in multi-core, which is 70.2% ahead of the 225's 6317. The single-core R20 result is even more lopsided: 1517 versus 891, a 70.3% advantage for the 235H. These are the two largest deltas in the entire comparison. The 235H also wins PassMark integer math by 13.6% (74247 vs 65345), floating point math by 1.6% (93509 vs 92038), and data encryption by 3.8% (23121 vs 22285).

The 225 takes the remaining 12 benchmarks, but most of its wins are narrow. In Cinebench R15, it leads by 1.1% in both multi-core (2609 vs 2580) and single-core (368 vs 364). The same 1.1% margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core (25891 vs 25598) and single-core (3655 vs 3613). PassMark data compression is a 0.3% edge (302811 vs 301979), multithread is 1.2% (30459 vs 30091), random string sorting is 1% (36590 vs 36208), and single thread is 1.2% (4412 vs 4359). The 225's larger wins come in extended instructions (27162 vs 23354, a 14% gap), find prime numbers (358 vs 239, a 33.2% gap), and physics (2342 vs 1985, a 15.2% gap).

Context from the nearest rivals helps interpret these numbers. The 235H's average score of 37522 places it within 0.6% of the Core Ultra 5 225F and 0.3% of the Core i9-13900HK, while the 225's average of 36938 is essentially tied with the Ryzen 5 5600F (0% delta) and 0.2% above the Ryzen 5 5500X3D. Both chips are solidly mid-pack in the database, but their benchmark profiles are very different.

Where Each One Wins

The 235H is the clear choice for integer-heavy and encryption workloads. Its PassMark integer math score of 74247 is 13.6% above the 225's 65345, and its data encryption score of 23121 beats 22285 by 3.8%. It also leads in floating point math (93509 vs 92038) and dominates the Cinebench R20 tests, where it more than doubles the 225's scores. If a workload relies on integer arithmetic or cryptographic operations, the 235H has a measurable advantage.

The 225, on the other hand, wins in single-threaded performance, physics simulation, prime number finding, extended instruction sets, and most Cinebench versions. Its single-thread score of 4412 is 1.2% higher than the 235H's 4359, and its physics score of 2342 is 15.2% higher. The 225 also has a 14% advantage in extended instructions and a 33.2% advantage in prime number finding. For general productivity, the 225's consistent small leads across many tests make it the more balanced performer, while the 235H is specialized for certain compute tasks.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Arrow Lake architecture and are built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, but they target different platforms. The 235H is a mobile chip (Arrow Lake-H) with a BGA 2049 socket, while the 225 is a desktop chip (Arrow Lake-S) on Socket 1851. The 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads, the 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The 225 has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, but the 235H has a slightly higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. The 225 has a TDP of 65 W, the 235H is rated at 28 W.

Cache configurations differ in the L3 tier: both have 192 KB L1 per core and 3 MB L2 per core, but the 235H has 18 MB shared L3 while the 225 has 20 MB. Memory support also diverges: the 235H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, the 225 only DDR5; both are dual-channel with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity is different: the 235H has Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), the 225 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are not the same: the 235H has Arc Graphics 140T, the 225 has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The 225 has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm²; the 235H does not have those figures recorded. The 225 has a launch MSRP of $246; the 235H has no recorded MSRP. Release dates are close: the 225 launched on 2025-01-06, the 235H on 2025-01-12. Both are active production and have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The 235H boosts to 5.00 GHz, the 225 to 4.90 GHz.

Q: Which has a larger L3 cache?

A: The 225 has 20 MB shared L3, the 235H has 18 MB.

Q: Do they support the same memory types?

A: No. The 235H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the 225 supports only DDR5. Both are dual-channel with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which has more PCIe lanes?

A: The 225 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), the 235H has Gen 5 with 8 lanes.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The 235H has a TDP of 28 W, the 225 has a TDP of 65 W.

The Verdict

The data shows that the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, but most of those wins are narrow, under 2%. The 235H wins 5 benchmarks, but its victories in Cinebench R20 and integer math are substantial. For a desktop builder, the 225 offers a slight overall edge in single-threaded and many multi-threaded tasks, plus a larger L3 cache and more PCIe lanes. For a mobile user, the 235H is the only option in this comparison, and it brings more cores and a lower TDP, which suits thin-and-light laptops. The 225's launch MSRP is $246, but the 235H has no recorded MSRP. If your workload involves heavy integer math or encryption, the 235H's 13.6% and 3.8% leads respectively could be decisive. Otherwise, the 225's consistent small wins across the majority of tests make it the more versatile choice for desktop use.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 235H | Intel Core Ultra 5 225 |

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

| Cores | 14 | 10 |

| Threads | 14 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2049 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Arrow Lake-H | Arrow Lake-S |

| Generation | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake-H) | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 243 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Graphics 140T | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-12 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $246 |

| Part Number | SRQAP | SRQCZSRVF7 |