TurboVS
Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
Intel Core Ultra 7 255U

Intel Core Ultra 5 225U Intel Core Ultra 7 255U

Overview

When choosing between the Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, laptop buyers face a nuanced decision within Intel’s modern ultra-mobile lineup. Both chips share the same 15W TDP, BGA 2049 socket, and 3 nm manufacturing process, yet they diverge in meaningful ways across clock speeds, turbo performance, and integrated graphics power. This comparison breaks down every specification to help you determine which processor best fits your workload and budget.

Common Features

  • ✓ Both processors are designed for laptop form factor.
  • ✓ Both use the BGA 2049 CPU socket.
  • ✓ Integrated graphics are available on both processors.
  • ✓ Both have a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 15W.
  • ✓ Both are manufactured on a 3 nm semiconductor process.
  • ✓ Both have a maximum CPU temperature of 110°C.
  • ✓ Both support PCI Express (PCIe) version 4.
  • ✓ Both support 64-bit computing.
  • ✓ Both processors have 14 CPU threads.
  • ✓ Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.
  • ✓ Both processors use big.LITTLE technology.
  • ✓ Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate on their integrated graphics.
  • ✓ The integrated graphics on both support up to 4 displays simultaneously.
  • ✓ Both support OpenGL version 4.6.
  • ✓ Both support OpenCL version 3.
  • ✓ Both support a maximum RAM speed of 8400 MHz.
  • ✓ Both use DDR5 memory.
  • ✓ Both processors support dual memory channels.
  • ✓ Both support a maximum memory amount of 128GB.
  • ✓ ECC memory is not supported on either processor.
  • ✓ Multithreading is supported on both processors.
  • ✓ The NX bit security feature is present on both processors.
  • ✓ Both processors support the same instruction sets: MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2.

Main Differences

  • • CPU base speed is 2 x 1.5 GHz & 8 x 1.3 GHz on Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and 2 x 2 GHz & 8 x 1.7 GHz on Intel Core Ultra 7 255U.
  • • Turbo clock speed is 4.8 GHz on Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and 5.2 GHz on Intel Core Ultra 7 255U.
  • • Clock multiplier is 15 on Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and 20 on Intel Core Ultra 7 255U.
  • • PassMark multi-core result is 18824 on Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and 18555 on Intel Core Ultra 7 255U.
  • • PassMark single-core result is 3630 on Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and 3732 on Intel Core Ultra 7 255U.
  • • Integrated GPU turbo clock speed is 2000 MHz on Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and 2100 MHz on Intel Core Ultra 7 255U.
Specs Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 225U

Intel Core Ultra 5 225U

Intel Core Ultra 7 255U

Intel Core Ultra 7 255U

General info:
Type Laptop Laptop
CPU socket BGA 2049 BGA 2049
Has integrated graphics ✓ ✓
release date January 2025 January 2025
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 15W 15W
semiconductor size 3 nm 3 nm
CPU temperature 110 °C 110 °C
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4 4
Supports 64-bit ✓ ✓

In terms of general platform identity, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U are virtually identical. Both are laptop-class processors built on the same BGA 2049 socket, meaning they are soldered directly onto the motherboard — not user-upgradeable. This is standard practice for ultra-low-power mobile chips and has no practical downside for the intended use case.

Every foundational technical parameter matches across the board: both are fabbed on a 3 nm process node, operate within a 15W TDP envelope, cap out at a 110 °C junction temperature, support PCIe 4.0, include integrated graphics, and are fully 64-bit compatible. The shared 15W TDP is particularly significant — it defines both chips as efficiency-first designs suited for thin-and-light laptops, prioritizing battery life and thermal management over raw sustained performance.

Based strictly on the general info specs, these two processors are in a complete tie. There is no differentiator in this category whatsoever — same platform, same power envelope, same process node, same feature set. Any meaningful distinction between the Core Ultra 5 225U and Core Ultra 7 255U will only emerge from other spec groups such as CPU cores, clock speeds, or GPU configuration.

Performance:
CPU speed 2 x 1.5 & 8 x 1.3 GHz 2 x 2 & 8 x 1.7 GHz
CPU threads 14 threads 14 threads
turbo clock speed 4.8GHz 5.2GHz
Has an unlocked multiplier ✕ ✕
Uses big.LITTLE technology ✓ ✓
clock multiplier 15 20

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U both feature 14 CPU threads, but their CPU speeds and turbo clock speeds differ. The Core Ultra 5 225U operates with a CPU speed of 2 cores at 1.5 GHz and 8 cores at 1.3 GHz, while the Core Ultra 7 255U has 2 cores running at 2.0 GHz and 8 cores at 1.7 GHz. This results in a higher base clock speed for the Core Ultra 7 255U compared to the Core Ultra 5 225U.

For turbo clock speed, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225U can reach up to 4.8 GHz, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 7 255U can boost to 5.2 GHz, offering slightly higher peak performance.

Both processors share the same features of an unlocked multiplier (none) and the use of big.LITTLE technology. The clock multipliers also differ, with the Core Ultra 5 225U using a multiplier of 15, while the Core Ultra 7 255U uses a multiplier of 20, reflecting the higher clock speeds of the latter.

Benchmarks:
PassMark result 18824 18555
PassMark result (single) 3630 3732

Both the Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U are close in their overall PassMark results, with the Core Ultra 5 225U scoring 18824 and the Core Ultra 7 255U scoring slightly lower at 18555. While the difference is minimal, the Core Ultra 5 225U achieves a slightly higher overall score.

In terms of single-core performance, the Core Ultra 7 255U outperforms the Core Ultra 5 225U, with a single-core score of 3732 compared to 3630 for the Core Ultra 5 225U. This indicates that the Core Ultra 7 255U has a small edge in single-threaded tasks.

Overall, both processors have very similar multi-core performance, with the Core Ultra 5 225U edging out the Core Ultra 7 255U in the total PassMark score, while the Core Ultra 7 255U leads in single-core performance.

Integrated graphics:
GPU turbo 2000 MHz 2100 MHz
DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate DirectX 12 Ultimate
supported displays 4 4
OpenGL version 4.6 4.6
OpenCL version 3 3

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U share most of their integrated graphics features. Both models support DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and OpenCL 3. Additionally, they both support up to 4 displays, providing flexibility for multi-monitor setups.

The key difference lies in the GPU turbo speed. The Core Ultra 5 225U has a GPU turbo speed of 2000 MHz, while the Core Ultra 7 255U features a slightly higher GPU turbo speed of 2100 MHz. This indicates that the Core Ultra 7 255U has a marginally higher potential for graphics performance under heavy load.

In summary, while the two processors are largely similar in terms of graphics capabilities, the Core Ultra 7 255U offers a small advantage with its higher GPU turbo speed.

Memory:
RAM speed (max) 8400 MHz 8400 MHz
DDR memory version 5 5
memory channels 2 2
maximum memory amount 128GB 128GB
Supports ECC memory ✕ ✕

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U are identical in terms of memory specifications. Both processors support a maximum RAM speed of 8400 MHz, DDR5 memory version, and two memory channels. Additionally, each model can handle up to 128GB of memory.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, meaning error-correcting code functionality is not available on either model.

Overall, the memory capabilities of the Core Ultra 5 225U and Core Ultra 7 255U are exactly the same, with no differences in the provided specifications.

Features:
instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2 F16C, MMX, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
uses multithreading ✓ ✓
Has NX bit ✓ ✓

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225U and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U share most of the same features. Both processors support the same set of instruction sets, including MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2, ensuring they are capable of handling a wide range of software tasks efficiently.

Both models also use multithreading, allowing for improved performance in multi-tasking and parallel processing environments. Additionally, they both feature the NX bit, a security feature that helps prevent certain types of attacks.

In summary, the features of the Core Ultra 5 225U and Core Ultra 7 255U are nearly identical, with no significant differences between the two models in this category.

Comparison Summary & Verdict

After examining every data point, the choice between these two processors comes down to workload type. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225U holds a surprising edge in multi-core PassMark performance (18824 vs 18555), making it a compelling option for sustained parallel workloads where its score edges ahead. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, however, dominates in single-core speed (3732 vs 3630), offers a higher turbo clock of 5.2 GHz versus 4.8 GHz, and pairs that with a faster integrated GPU turbo of 2100 MHz. Users who prioritize snappy single-threaded responsiveness, faster everyday application launches, and slightly better graphics headroom will find the Ultra 7 255U the stronger all-round performer. Those on a tighter budget who run heavily threaded workloads may find the Ultra 5 225U surprisingly competitive.

Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
Buy Intel Core Ultra 5 225U if...

Buy the Intel Core Ultra 5 225U if you primarily run multi-threaded workloads and want a capable ultra-mobile processor at a lower price point, as it actually leads in multi-core PassMark score.

Intel Core Ultra 7 255U
Buy Intel Core Ultra 7 255U if...

Buy the Intel Core Ultra 7 255U if you want the best single-core responsiveness, a higher turbo clock speed of 5.2 GHz, and a faster integrated GPU for everyday performance and light graphics tasks.