Intel Core Ultra 7 256V vs Intel Xeon 6325P Comparison

The Intel Xeon 6325P and Intel Core Ultra 7 256V represent two very different design philosophies from the same manufacturer. The Xeon 6325P is a Raptor Lake-based server/workstation part with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ultra 7 256V is a Lunar Lake mobile chip with 8 cores and 8 threads. Benchmark data shows the Ultra 7 256V wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the Xeon 6325P takes the most decisive victory in a heavy multithreaded workload. The overall average benchmark scores are close—20,821 for the Xeon versus 21,112 for the Ultra 7—placing both chips in the 74th and 75th percentile of all CPUs respectively. This is not a simple speed comparison; it is a study in how architecture, power envelopes, and target markets shape performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V dominates in everyday throughput and scalar workloads. It leads in Cinebench R15 multicore by 12.7%, scoring 1583.5 against the Xeon’s 1382, and extends that lead to 17.2% in Cinebench R20 multicore (6958 versus 5761). The Ultra 7 also wins PassMark multithread by 17.4% (19530 versus 16138) and PassMark physics by 36.1% (1595 versus 1020). Its biggest margins come in specialized compute tasks: floating point math is 36.4% higher (58576 versus 37265), prime number finding is 65.6% higher (192 versus 66), and data encryption is 33.5% higher (13998 versus 9311). The Ultra 7 also handles extended instructions 25.6% better (15643 versus 11645) and random string sorting 15% better (22481 versus 19113). Data compression is close, with the Ultra 7 ahead by 3.8% (184985 versus 178020).

The Intel Xeon 6325P wins are fewer but significant in specific areas. Its largest victory is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 13717 against the Ultra 7’s 10399—a 31.9% advantage. This suggests the Xeon’s sustained multithreaded performance under a longer render workload is superior, despite losing the shorter R15 and R20 runs. The Xeon also wins PassMark integer math by 13.4% (49151 versus 43358) and PassMark single-thread by 4.6% (4213 versus 4029). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon edges ahead by 3.1% (1936 versus 1877.5). The split is clear: the Ultra 7 excels at bursty, diverse workloads and floating-point-heavy tasks, while the Xeon holds its own in integer math, single-thread responsiveness, and sustained multi-core rendering.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from entirely different foundries and process nodes. The Xeon 6325P is built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm², while the Ultra 7 256V uses TSMC’s 3 nm process. The Xeon is based on Raptor Lake architecture (specifically Raptor Lake-R) and belongs to the Xeon 6 generation. The Ultra 7 is built on Lunar Lake architecture and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. This node difference explains much of the power and efficiency gap: the Xeon has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Ultra 7 draws only 17 watts.

Core and thread counts differ fundamentally. The Xeon has 4 physical cores and 8 threads, indicating Hyper-Threading support. The Ultra 7 has 8 physical cores and 8 threads, with no hyper-threading. Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Xeon offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and also 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7’s larger per-core caches compensate for its lack of threads, giving each core more local data capacity.

Memory support and platform integration diverge sharply. The Xeon supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC memory support enabled. The Ultra 7’s memory support is listed as “depends on motherboard,” also dual-channel, but it lacks ECC. PCIe lane counts differ: the Xeon provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 7 offers Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. The Ultra 7 includes integrated Arc 140V graphics, whereas the Xeon has no integrated GPU. Sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 7 is on Intel BGA 2833. The Xeon targets the server/workstation segment, while the Ultra 7 is a mobile part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Xeon 6325P beats the Ultra 7 256V by 31.9% (13717 versus 10399). This is the Xeon’s only win in the Cinebench suite, and it is a large one. The Ultra 7 wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 12.7% (1583.5 versus 1382) and Cinebench R20 multicore by 17.2% (6958 versus 5761). In single-core Cinebench tests, the results are mixed: the Xeon wins R23 single-core by 3.1% (1936 versus 1877.5), but the Ultra 7 wins R15 single-core by 31.7% (285.5 versus 195) and R20 single-core by 17.2% (982 versus 813).

PassMark results show a clear pattern favoring the Ultra 7 in most compute categories. The Ultra 7 wins data compression by 3.8% (184985 versus 178020), data encryption by 33.5% (13998 versus 9311), extended instructions by 25.6% (15643 versus 11645), find prime numbers by 65.6% (192 versus 66), floating point math by 36.4% (58576 versus 37265), multithread by 17.4% (19530 versus 16138), physics by 36.1% (1595 versus 1020), and random string sorting by 15% (22481 versus 19113). The Xeon counters with integer math, winning by 13.4% (49151 versus 43358), and single-thread, winning by 4.6% (4213 versus 4029). The single-thread score of 4213 is identical in both PassMark single-thread and singlethread listings for the Xeon, and the Ultra 7’s 4029 likewise appears twice.

The data reveals that the Ultra 7’s 8 physical cores outperform the Xeon’s 4-core/8-thread setup in most parallel tasks, but the Xeon’s higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz (versus 4.80 GHz) gives it an edge in single-thread PassMark and in the longer Cinebench R23 render. The Xeon’s base clock of 3.50 GHz is also significantly higher than the Ultra 7’s 2.20 GHz, suggesting that sustained frequency is more important than core count in certain workloads.

Specification Differences

The key differences between the two processors are stark. Core count: the Xeon has 4 cores, the Ultra 7 has 8. Thread count: the Xeon has 8 threads, the Ultra 7 has 8 threads. Base clock: 3.50 GHz for the Xeon versus 2.20 GHz for the Ultra 7. Boost clock: 5.20 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP: 55 watts versus 17 watts. Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel BGA 2833. Process node: 10 nm Intel versus 3 nm TSMC. L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core. L3 cache is identical at 12 MB shared.

Memory support differs: the Xeon supports DDR4 and DDR5 with ECC, while the Ultra 7’s memory is motherboard-dependent and lacks ECC. PCIe lanes: 16 Gen 5 lanes for the Xeon versus 4 Gen 5 lanes for the Ultra 7. Integrated graphics: none on the Xeon, Arc 140V on the Ultra 7. Market segment: server/workstation versus mobile. Release date: the Xeon launched on 2025-02-23, while the Ultra 7 launched earlier on 2024-09-23. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $281; the Ultra 7 has no listed MSRP. The Xeon’s part number is SRPLX, while the Ultra 7 lists SRPMPSRPMZ. Both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V has 8 physical cores, while the Intel Xeon 6325P has only 4 cores. However, the Xeon compensates with Hyper-Threading, giving it 8 threads, matching the Ultra 7’s thread count.

Q: How do they compare in sustained multithreaded rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Xeon 6325P wins decisively with a score of 13717 versus the Ultra 7’s 10399, a 31.9% advantage. This is the Xeon’s largest win in any benchmark.

Q: Which chip has better single-thread performance?

A: The Xeon 6325P edges out the Ultra 7 256V in PassMark single-thread (4213 versus 4029, a 4.6% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1936 versus 1877.5, a 3.1% lead). The Ultra 7 wins R15 single-core by 31.7% and R20 single-core by 17.2%.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Xeon 6325P has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Ultra 7 256V has a TDP of just 17 watts. The Ultra 7 uses TSMC’s 3 nm process, while the Xeon uses Intel’s 10 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon 6325P supports ECC memory with DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 7 256V does not support ECC, and its memory support depends on the motherboard.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Xeon 6325P provides 16 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 256V offers only 4 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). This reflects the Xeon’s server/workstation positioning.