Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus vs Intel Processor U301L Comparison

The Verdict

The data in the database presents a stark contrast. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is a desktop processor with a 93rd percentile standing among all CPUs, an average benchmark score of 66159, and 18 cores. The Intel Processor U301L is a mobile chip with a 50th percentile standing, an average benchmark score of 0, and 5 cores. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the clear performance leader, delivering scores that are orders of magnitude higher across every recorded workload. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core 9 273PQE and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, have average scores within 0.4% of its own, positioning it firmly in the high-end desktop tier. For any workload that requires substantial processing power, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the only option supported by the recorded data.

The Intel Processor U301L, conversely, has no benchmark scores recorded in the database. Its percentile rank of 50 indicates it sits at the median of all CPUs, but without specific test results, its practical performance cannot be quantified. The data shows that it is a low-power, mobile-oriented processor with integrated graphics, making it suitable for basic tasks and portable devices. The choice between these two is not a matter of preference but of necessity: the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is for demanding desktop workloads, while the Intel Processor U301L is for power-efficient mobile systems. The data does not support using the U301L for heavy lifting.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins in every benchmark category that has recorded data. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42718 and single-core score of 6030 demonstrate dominance in both multi-threaded and single-threaded applications. In PassMark testing, it achieves a multi-thread score of 50146 and a single-thread score of 4698. Its floating-point math score of 159824 and integer math score of 123030 further confirm its strength in computational tasks. The data shows that this processor is built for high-performance scenarios, from content creation to complex simulations.

The Intel Processor U301L, with no recorded benchmarks, wins only in the categories of power efficiency and portability. Its TDP of 15 watts compared to 125 watts for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus indicates a significantly lower power draw, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. It also features integrated UHD Graphics 64EU, which the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus lacks, providing a built-in display output for systems without a discrete graphics card. The U301L's Socket 1700 and mobile market segment suggest it is designed for compact, battery-powered devices where performance is secondary to longevity and heat management.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is based on the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, and is fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It has 18 cores and 18 threads, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The transistor count is listed as 17,800 million on a die size of 243 mm². It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, and it offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. It is an unlocked multiplier processor, meaning overclocking is supported.

The Intel Processor U301L uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-PS codename, and is built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 5 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.20 GHz. Its cache is smaller: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded. PCIe capability is limited to Gen 4 with 8 lanes. It has a locked multiplier, and its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU. The U301L also supports ECC memory, a feature not present on the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Intel Processor U301L has 5 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the difference in their boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Processor U301L has a boost clock of 2.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has a TDP of 125 watts, compared to 15 watts for the Intel Processor U301L.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports ECC memory, while the Intel Processor U301L does not.

Q: What is the difference in their L3 cache sizes?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Processor U301L has 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Processor U301L features UHD Graphics 64EU. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics (N/A).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results between these two processors. However, the individual benchmark scores for the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus provide a complete picture of its performance, while the Intel Processor U301L has no recorded scores. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42718 for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus stands in contrast to the zero score for the U301L. The gap is absolute: the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus delivers measurable performance, and the U301L delivers none in the recorded data.

In single-core workloads, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores 6030 in Cinebench R23 and 4698 in PassMark's single-thread test. These figures are entirely absent for the U301L. The PassMark data compression score of 553155 for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, its highest single benchmark, further illustrates the scale of its capability. The U301L's lack of data means it cannot compete on any recorded metric.

The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core 9 273PQE with an average score of 66099 (0.1% difference), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D with 65914 (0.4% difference), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus with 66855 (-1% difference). These comparisons show that the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is within a narrow performance band of other top-tier processors. The U301L has no rivals listed, confirming its position outside the competitive high-performance segment.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus and Intel Processor U301L differ across nearly every specification field. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, while the U301L has 5 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 4.20 GHz versus 1.20 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.30 GHz versus 2.20 GHz. TDP is 125 watts versus 15 watts. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses Socket 1851, while the U301L uses Socket 1700.

The process node is 3 nm at TSMC for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, compared to 10 nm at Intel for the U301L. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the U301L has no recorded transistor or die size data. Cache sizes differ substantially: L1 is 192 KB per core versus 80 KB per core, L2 is 3 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 30 MB shared versus 8 MB shared.

Memory support is DDR5 only for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, versus DDR4 and DDR5 for the U301L with no bandwidth recorded. PCIe capability is Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the U301L. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier; the U301L has UHD Graphics 64EU and a locked multiplier. ECC memory support is present on the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus but absent on the U301L. The market segments are Desktop for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus and Mobile for the U301L. The release dates are 2026-03-10 for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus and 2024-04-07 for the U301L. The launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is $184, and for the U301L it is $107.