Core i7-12700F vs Core Ultra 5 225: which is better

Intel Core i7-12700F (desktop, 2022) against Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (desktop, 2025): benchmarks, games, specs and current prices.

Key differences

Core Ultra 5 225 is 1% faster in multi-threaded work (PassMark 30,335 vs 30,126).
Core Ultra 5 225 is 15% faster per core.
Core Ultra 5 225 is $163 cheaper ($160 vs $323).
Core Ultra 5 225 gives 103% more performance per dollar.
Different sockets (LGA1700 and LGA1851): they need different motherboards.

Open the full duel

	Core i7-12700F	Core Ultra 5 225
Overall score	41.8	42.1
PassMark CPU Mark	30,126	30,335
Single-thread rating	3,842	4,414
Games, 1080p, % of the best	no data	62.5%
US price	from $323	from $160
Cores	12 (8P + 4E)	10 (6P + 4E)
Threads	20	10
Base clock	2.1 GHz	3.3 GHz
Max boost	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
L3 cache	25 MB	20 MB
TDP	65 W	65 W
Max power	180 W	121 W
Memory	DDR4 / DDR5	DDR5
Memory speed	4800 MT/s	6400 MT/s
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
Process	10 nm (Intel 7)	3 nm (TSMC N3B)
Architecture	Alder Lake	Arrow Lake
Series	12th Gen Core	Core Ultra 200S
Release year	2022	2025
Integrated graphics	none	Intel Graphics (2 Xe)

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