Core Ultra 5 235 vs Ryzen 7 9700X: which is better

Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (desktop, 2025) against AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (desktop, 2024): benchmarks, games, specs and current prices.

Key differences

Ryzen 7 9700X is 1% faster in multi-threaded work (PassMark 36,920 vs 36,378).
Ryzen 7 9700X is 6% faster per core.
Core Ultra 5 235 is $42 cheaper ($283 vs $325).
Core Ultra 5 235 gives 13% more performance per dollar.
Different sockets (LGA1851 and AM5): they need different motherboards.

Open the full duel

	Core Ultra 5 235	Ryzen 7 9700X
Overall score	50.5	51.2
PassMark CPU Mark	36,378	36,920
Single-thread rating	4,384	4,642
US price	from $283	from $325
Cores	14 (6P + 8E)	8
Threads	14	16
Base clock	3.4 GHz	3.8 GHz
Max boost	5.0 GHz	5.5 GHz
L3 cache	24 MB	32 MB
TDP	65 W	65 W
Max power	121 W	88 W
Memory	DDR5	DDR5
Memory speed	6400 MT/s	5600 MT/s
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Socket	LGA1851	AM5
Process	3 nm (TSMC N3B)	4 nm (TSMC N4P)
Architecture	Arrow Lake	Zen 5
Series	Core Ultra 200S	Ryzen 9000
Release year	2025	2024
Integrated graphics	Intel Graphics	Radeon (2 CU)

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