Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX boosts to 5.20 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a TDP of 125 watts, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX has a TDP of 55 watts.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Intel BGA 2114.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 32612 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, beating the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus which scores 30867.

Q: Which chip has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855, compared to 62738 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from the Core Ultra Series 2 family, but they are built for different platforms. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop part with the codename Arrow Lake Refresh, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX is a mobile processor using the Arrow Lake-HX codename. Both are fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC with 17,800 million transistors and a die size of 243 mm².

The core layouts differ. The Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads, two more cores than the Ultra 5 250K Plus. This gives the mobile chip an advantage in heavily threaded workloads that scale beyond 18 threads. However, the Ultra 5 250K Plus compensates with much higher clock speeds. Its base clock is 4.20 GHz versus 2.40 GHz for the Ultra 7 255HX, and its boost clock reaches 5.30 GHz versus 5.20 GHz for the mobile part.

Cache configurations are identical in structure. Both chips have 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 on a dual-channel bus for both, although the desktop chip has higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s compared to 102.4 GB/s for the mobile part.

The integrated graphics are the same: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. Both support PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The desktop chip supports ECC memory, while the mobile chip does not. Both have unlocked multipliers, and both are currently active in production. The Ultra 5 250K Plus was released in March 2026, while the Ultra 7 255HX appeared in January 2025.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers 17 benchmark comparisons, and the results split heavily in favor of the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus with 14 wins against 3 wins for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX.

The largest victory for the Ultra 5 250K Plus comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 486 against 400 for the Ultra 7 255HX, a 21.5% advantage. PassMark physics also shows a wide gap: 3494 versus 2926, which is 19.4% ahead. The desktop chip leads in PassMark data compression with 568721 versus 515143, a 10.4% edge, and in random string sorting with 69090 versus 62591, also 10.4%. PassMark extended instructions favors the Ultra 5 by 8%, with scores of 44565 and 41247. Data encryption goes to the desktop part by 6.7% (42144 versus 39499), and PassMark multithread shows a 7% advantage (51596 versus 48234).

In Cinebench, the results are mixed. The Ultra 5 250K Plus wins Cinebench R20 multi-core with 18442 against 17187, a 7.3% margin, and Cinebench R20 single-core by the same 7.3% (2603 versus 2426). It also takes Cinebench R23 single-core with 2261 versus 2163, a 4.5% lead, plus Cinebench R15 single-core by a narrow 0.3% (328 versus 327). PassMark single-thread goes to the Ultra 5 by 4.3% (4757 versus 4562), and floating point math edges in its favor by 1.3% (162692 versus 160624).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX wins the remaining tests. Cinebench R23 multi-core goes to the mobile chip with 32612 versus 30867, a 5.4% margin. Cinebench R15 multi-core also favors the Ultra 7, scoring 4916 versus 4640, a 5.6% advantage. PassMark integer math is the third win for the Ultra 7, with 127126 versus 125091, a 1.6% edge.

The pattern is clear. The Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates in most single-thread, encryption, compression, and physics tests. The Ultra 7 255HX pulls ahead in specific multi-core workloads, particularly Cinebench R23 and R15 multi-core, where its extra two cores matter more than the clock speed disadvantage.

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the stronger overall performer. Its average benchmark score of 66855 places it at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, and it sits close to the AMD EPYC 4465P with a negligible 0.1% difference. The Ultra 7 255HX also reaches the 93rd percentile, but its average score of 62738 is lower. The desktop chip wins 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, and its wins are often by wide margins. The mobile chip's three wins are real but narrower, with its best result being a 5.6% margin in Cinebench R15 multi-core.

The Ultra 5 250K Plus also has the advantage of a higher boost clock at 5.30 GHz, higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s, and ECC memory support. Its TDP of 125 watts reflects its desktop positioning. The Ultra 7 255HX has more cores and a much lower TDP of 55 watts, which suits its mobile role, but the benchmark data shows it trails in most workloads.

For anyone selecting between these two, the data points to the Ultra 5 250K Plus for general computing, single-thread performance, and most multi-thread tasks. The Ultra 7 255HX makes sense only for workloads where its specific wins, namely Cinebench multi-core and integer math, are the priority.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, while the Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: 4.20 GHz for the desktop chip versus 2.40 GHz for the mobile chip. Boost clocks are closer, with 5.30 GHz against 5.20 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator: 125 watts for the Ultra 5 250K Plus versus 55 watts for the Ultra 7 255HX. The sockets are entirely different, with Intel Socket 1851 for the desktop part and Intel BGA 2114 for the mobile part. The codenames also differ, Arrow Lake Refresh versus Arrow Lake-HX, as do the generations listed in the database.

Memory bandwidth is higher on the desktop chip at 115.2 GB/s, compared to 102.4 GB/s for the mobile chip. ECC memory support is present on the Ultra 5 250K Plus but absent on the Ultra 7 255HX. The market segments differ, Desktop versus Mobile, and the release dates are different, March 2026 versus January 2025. The Ultra 5 250K Plus has a launch MSRP of $199, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 7 255HX. Their part numbers are also different: SA4UZ for the desktop chip and SRVFG for the mobile chip.

Shared specifications include the 3 nm process node, TSMC foundry, 17,800 million transistors, 243 mm² die size, identical cache layouts, DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, the same integrated graphics, and unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the choice for single-thread performance. It wins Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, plus PassMark single-thread, with margins ranging from 0.3% to 7.3%. It also dominates in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, random string sorting, and floating point math. Its 14 wins cover most everyday and professional workloads, and its higher clock speeds of 4.20 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost support this pattern.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX wins in three specific areas. Cinebench R23 multi-core and Cinebench R15 multi-core both favor the mobile chip, with margins of 5.4% and 5.6% respectively. PassMark integer math is its third win, by a slim 1.6%. These results indicate that the extra two cores of the Ultra 7 255HX provide a genuine benefit in some heavily threaded rendering and integer-heavy tasks, despite the lower clock speeds and reduced memory bandwidth.

The split is straightforward. The Ultra 5 250K Plus handles the vast majority of tasks with a clear edge, while the Ultra 7 255HX offers a niche advantage in certain multi-core scenarios. The desktop chip also holds the higher average benchmark score, 66855 versus 62738, and a better standing among its nearest rivals, with the closest competitor being the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 0.9% higher. The mobile chip's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 at 0.2% lower.