Intel Core Ultra 5 225T vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably one-sided picture. Across all 17 recorded tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins every single matchup. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V does not take a single recorded victory. The margins, however, vary significantly by workload type.

The largest gap appears in the PassMark prime number search test. The Ultra 5 225T scores 284 versus 191 for the Ultra 7 266V, a delta of 48.7%. This kind of workload, which relies heavily on integer throughput and branch prediction, clearly favors the desktop part's architecture and higher power envelope. Floating point math also shows a substantial divide: 82751 versus 56923, a 45.4% advantage. Integer math follows closely at 43.3% ahead, with scores of 59543 and 41558 respectively.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern across all six tests. The Ultra 5 225T leads by 32.8% in R15 multicore (2214 vs 1667), R15 singlecore (312 vs 235), R20 multicore (9227 vs 6948), R23 multicore (21971 vs 16544), and R23 singlecore (3101 vs 2335). The R20 singlecore test shows a nearly identical delta at 32.9% (1302 vs 980). This uniformity suggests the per-core performance advantage of the Ultra 5 225T is consistent regardless of thread count or rendering engine version.

The narrowest margin appears in the PassMark single-thread tests. The Ultra 5 225T scores 4348 versus 3943 for the Ultra 7 266V, a delta of 10.3%. While still a clear win, this shows that the Lunar Lake part's single-core capabilities are relatively closer to the desktop chip than its heavily multithreaded performance would suggest. The data encryption test shows a 32.3% gap (18289 vs 13822), while extended instructions land at 26.1% (20083 vs 15928). Data compression shows a 25.1% advantage (233998 vs 187050), random string sorting a 25.6% edge (28774 vs 22905), and multithread performance a 30.3% lead (25358 vs 19461). The physics test completes the sweep with a 27.7% margin (2053 vs 1608).

The average benchmark score tells the broader story. The Ultra 5 225T holds an average score of 30468, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 7 266V averages 23297, sitting in the 76th percentile. The closest rival to the Ultra 5 225T is the Intel Core i9-11980HK at 30422, just 0.2% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS and Ryzen 7 7736U trail by 0.3% each. The Intel Core i5-13600H leads it by 0.3%. For the Ultra 7 266V, the nearest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H at 23277, a 0.1% gap, followed by the Intel Core i9-11900F at 0.2% and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V at 0.3%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different branches of Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 family. The Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, while the Ultra 7 266V uses Lunar Lake. Both are fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC, but their design philosophies diverge sharply.

The Arrow Lake part is a desktop processor with 10 cores and 10 threads, no hyperthreading. It draws a 65 W TDP and uses the Intel Socket 1851. The Lunar Lake chip is a mobile processor with 8 cores and 8 threads, also without hyperthreading, but with a dramatically lower 17 W TDP. It uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket, which is soldered directly to the motherboard.

Cache configurations differ in important ways. Both parts share the same 192 KB L1 cache per core. The L2 cache, however, is 3 MB per core on the Ultra 5 225T versus 2.5 MB per core on the Ultra 7 266V. The shared L3 cache also diverges: 20 MB on the Arrow Lake desktop chip versus 12 MB on the Lunar Lake mobile chip. The transistor count and die size for the Ultra 5 225T are listed at 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the corresponding figures for the Ultra 7 266V are not recorded in the database.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Ultra 5 225T supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X, with the exact memory type depending on the motherboard, also on a dual-channel bus but with a higher 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity shows a major split. The Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 7 266V provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: the Ultra 5 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while the Ultra 7 266V uses the Arc 140V, a more capable integrated solution for a mobile part. The release dates place the Ultra 7 266V earlier at September 2024, while the Ultra 5 225T followed in December 2024. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz. The base clocks are 2.20 GHz and 2.50 GHz respectively.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Ultra 5 225T?

A: The Ultra 5 225T has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 12 MB on the Ultra 7 266V. The L2 cache is 3 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core.

Q: Which chip supports more PCIe lanes?

A: The Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 7 266V provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes, a substantial reduction suited to its mobile role.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Ultra 5 225T has a 65 W TDP, while the Ultra 7 266V has a 17 W TDP. The mobile chip uses far less power, which aligns with its BGA socket and laptop-oriented design.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Ultra 5 225T and the Ultra 7 266V have ECC memory support marked as false in the database.

Q: Which chip has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Ultra 5 225T averages 30468 across all recorded benchmarks, placing it in the 82nd percentile. The Ultra 7 266V averages 23297, placing it in the 76th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T | Intel Core Ultra 7 266V |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 10 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1851 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Lunar Lake |

| Codename | Arrow Lake-S | Lunar Lake |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 17,800 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 243 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 Cache | 3 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

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

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | December 2024 | September 2024 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data gives the Ultra 5 225T a clean sweep in every benchmark category. This makes the use-case division fairly straightforward. The desktop chip is categorically faster in the database's measurements, with its largest margins in prime number finding, floating point math, and integer math. These workloads benefit from the higher 65 W TDP, the larger 20 MB L3 cache, and the two additional cores. The 10-core, 10-thread configuration with 3 MB L2 per core delivers a 43.3% to 48.7% advantage in pure arithmetic tasks.

For rendering workloads, the Cinebench results show a consistent 32.8% to 32.9% lead across single-core and multi-core tests alike. This suggests the Ultra 5 225T's per-core efficiency is the primary driver, not just the extra cores. The desktop part also wins the PassMark multithread test by 30.3%, data compression by 25.1%, encryption by 32.3%, extended instructions by 26.1%, random string sorting by 25.6%, and physics by 27.7%.

The Ultra 7 266V does not win any recorded test. Its advantages lie outside the benchmark suite: a 5.00 GHz boost clock versus 4.90 GHz, higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s, a more capable Arc 140V integrated GPU, and a far lower 17 W TDP versus 65 W. The mobile chip also has 4 PCIe lanes versus 20, which is appropriate for a laptop platform. For users who prioritize battery life, integrated graphics performance, or LPDDR5X memory bandwidth, the Ultra 7 266V is the better fit. For raw compute performance, the data shows no contest.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the faster processor in every measured metric. It wins all 17 head-to-head tests with deltas ranging from 10.3% in single-thread performance to 48.7% in prime number finding. Its average benchmark score of 30468 places it well above the Ultra 7 266V's 23297, and it sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs compared to the 76th percentile for the mobile part. The nearest rivals to each chip confirm their respective tiers: the Ultra 5 225T trades blows with the Core i9-11980HK and Ryzen 5 7640HS, while the Ultra 7 266V sits alongside the Ryzen 7 5800H and Core i9-11900F.

The choice between these two hinges on platform rather than performance. The Ultra 5 225T is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, Socket 1851, 20 PCIe lanes, and DDR5 support. It delivers superior compute results across the board, from Cinebench rendering to PassMark arithmetic tests. The Ultra 7 266V is a mobile processor with a 17 W TDP, BGA 2833 socket, 4 PCIe lanes, and LPDDR5X support. It offers a higher boost clock, more memory bandwidth, and a more substantial integrated GPU in the Arc 140V.

For a desktop build where power draw is secondary and compute throughput is primary, the Ultra 5 225T is the clear pick from the data. For a thin-and-light laptop where the 17 W TDP and integrated graphics matter more than raw CPU scores, the Ultra 7 266V serves that role. The recorded benchmarks do not show a single scenario where the Ultra 7 266V outperforms the Ultra 5 225T, so the decision rests entirely on the intended form factor and power budget. The desktop chip's 10 cores, larger caches, and higher TDP deliver consistent wins; the mobile chip's efficiency and platform fit remain its only recorded advantages.