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

Intel Core Ultra 5 225T and Intel Core Ultra 5 235 are both desktop processors from Intel's Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake architecture and the 3 nm process node. Despite sharing the same architecture, the recorded benchmark data reveals two distinctly different performance profiles: the 225T dominates legacy Cinebench tests with scores roughly 49% higher, while the 235 counters with substantial wins across modern PassMark workloads, often leading by 30% to 40%. The average benchmark score for the 225T is 30468, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, whereas the 235 achieves an average score of 46062, ranking in the 89th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the Cinebench sweep by the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 225T scores 2214 against the 235's 1488, a 48.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 312 versus 210, a 48.6% lead. This pattern repeats across Cinebench R20 and R23. In R20 multicore, the 225T posts 9227 versus 6202, again a 48.8% delta. The R20 single-core result is 1302 versus 875, also 48.8%. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the 225T at 21971 and the 235 at 14769, a 48.8% difference, while R23 single-core is 3101 versus 2085, a 48.7% gap. The consistency of this margin, roughly 49% across all six Cinebench tests, indicates a fundamental scaling difference in how these two chips execute those workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 answers decisively in the PassMark suite. The largest margin is in random string sorting, where the 235 scores 48980 versus 28774, a 41.3% lead. Data compression shows the 235 at 390711 against 233998, a 40.1% advantage. Extended instructions favor the 235 by 38.7%, with scores of 32752 and 20083. Data encryption follows at 37.6%, with 29293 versus 18289. The multithread test gives the 235 a 32.9% win, 37816 versus 25358. Integer math is 87948 versus 59543, a 32.3% lead. Floating point math shows 117951 against 82751, a 29.8% margin. The 235 also wins find prime numbers by 23.5% (371 versus 284) and physics by 20.1% (2570 versus 2053). The single-thread PassMark test is much closer, with the 235 leading only 4516 versus 4348, a 3.7% edge.

The win tally reflects this split: the 225T wins 6 of the head-to-head tests, all Cinebench, while the 235 wins 11 tests, all PassMark. The Cinebench results favor the 225T by a nearly uniform 48.8%, while the PassMark wins for the 235 range from 3.7% in single-thread up to 41.3% in random string sorting. The average benchmark score difference is substantial: 46062 for the 235 versus 30468 for the 225T, a 51.2% gap in average performance.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Arrow Lake architecture, codename Arrow Lake-S, and are manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The die size is identical at 243 mm², with 17,800 million transistors. The core configurations differ significantly. The 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, while the 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither processor uses simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts match core counts.

Clock speeds separate the two as well. The 225T has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The 235 runs at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 5.00 GHz. Both are locked processors, with the multiplier unlocked flag set to false for each. The 235 carries the part number SRQAS, while the 225T's part number is listed as unknown.

Cache allocations differ in the L3 tier. Both chips have 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 20 MB on the 225T and 24 MB on the 235. Neither processor supports 3D V-Cache.

Memory and I/O specifications are shared. Both support DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ: the 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while the 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units. Both fit the Intel Socket 1851 and carry a 65 W TDP.

The release dates differ slightly. The 225T launched on 2024-12-31, and the 235 launched on 2025-01-06. The 235 has a launch MSRP of $257. The 225T has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, compared to 30468 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T. The 235 also ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the 225T ranks in the 82nd percentile.

Q: Why does the 225T win all Cinebench tests if the 235 has a higher average score?

A: The database records show the 225T winning every Cinebench test by roughly 48.8%, including R15, R20, and R23 in both multicore and single-core variants. The 235's higher average score is driven by its larger wins in the PassMark suite, where it leads by margins up to 41.3%.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. Both are on the Arrow Lake architecture with no multithreading, so threads equal cores.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The 225T has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The 235 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Is the integrated graphics different between the two?

A: Yes. The 225T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while the 235 includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket and memory?

A: Both use Intel Socket 1851, support DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, and have a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both also use PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The core count is 10 for the 225T and 14 for the 235. Thread counts follow the same pattern: 10 versus 14. Base clock is 2.50 GHz on the 225T and 3.40 GHz on the 235. Boost clock is 4.90 GHz on the 225T and 5.00 GHz on the 235. The L3 cache is 20 MB shared on the 225T and 24 MB shared on the 235. Integrated graphics differ: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU on the 225T versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU on the 235. The release dates are 2024-12-31 for the 225T and 2025-01-06 for the 235. The 235 has a launch MSRP of $257 and a part number of SRQAS; the 225T has no recorded launch MSRP and its part number is unknown.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the stronger choice for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, where it leads every recorded Cinebench test by 48.8%. Its single-core Cinebench R23 score of 3101 far outperforms the 235's 2085. The 225T also has a lower base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, yet it still dominates these specific benchmarks.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is the better processor for PassMark-driven applications. It wins all 11 PassMark tests, with data compression at 390711, integer math at 87948, and floating point math at 117951. Its 14 cores and 24 MB of L3 cache provide a structural advantage in these workloads. The 235 also carries the higher average benchmark score of 46062 and the 89th percentile ranking, compared to the 225T's 30468 and 82nd percentile.

The single-thread PassMark result is the only close contest, with the 235 leading 4516 versus 4348, a 3.7% margin. That proximity suggests the 225T's Cinebench wins are not a simple clock-speed effect, since the 235 actually boosts higher at 5.00 GHz. The 225T's architecture appears to execute the Cinebench workload more efficiently, while the 235's additional cores and cache drive its PassMark dominance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins exclusively in Cinebench tests. All six recorded Cinebench benchmarks, R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore variants, go to the 225T with deltas of 48.6% to 48.8%. This makes it the appropriate selection for users running those specific rendering benchmarks.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins every PassMark test in the database. The largest margins are in random string sorting at 41.3%, data compression at 40.1%, and extended instructions at 38.7%. It also leads in data encryption, multithread, integer math, floating point math, find prime numbers, physics, and the single-thread PassMark tests. The 235's 14-core configuration and 24 MB L3 cache align with these results, making it the stronger processor for general computational throughput and data-heavy tasks.

The 225T's 6 wins all come from one benchmark family, while the 235's 11 wins span the broader PassMark suite. The average benchmark scores reinforce the 235's overall position: 46062 versus 30468. The 235 is also the only one of the pair with a recorded launch MSRP of $257.