Ultra 5 125U vs i7-1260U

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-1260U
2022
10 cores / 12 threads, 9 Watt
9.23
Core Ultra 5 125U
2023
12 cores / 14 threads, 15 Watt
11.51
+24.7%

Core Ultra 5 125U outperforms Core i7-1260U by a significant 25% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking855696
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Alder Lake-MIntel Meteor Lake-U
Power efficiency93.5269.97
Architecture codenameAlder Lake-U (2022)Meteor Lake-P (2023)
Release date23 February 2022 (2 years ago)14 December 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$363

Detailed specifications

Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores10 (Deca-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads1214
Base clock speed1.1 GHz1.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.7 GHz4.3 GHz
L1 cache80K (per core)112 KB (per core)
L2 cache1.25 MB (per core)2 MB (per core)
L3 cache12 MB (shared)12 MB (shared)
Chip lithographyIntel 7 nmIntel 4 nm
Maximum core temperature100 °C110 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCBGA1781FCBGA2049
Power consumption (TDP)9 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shift++
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access-+
SIPP+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost++
Supported AI Software Frameworks-OpenVINO™, WindowsML, ONNX RT

Security technologies

Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4, DDR5DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB96 GB
Max memory channels22

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligibleIntel® Graphics
Quick Sync Video++
Graphics max frequency950 MHz1.85 GHz
Execution Units96no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported44

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2304 @ 60Hz4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz (HDMI 2.1 TMDS) 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz (HDMI2.1 FRL)
Max resolution over eDP4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz3840x2400 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12.112.2
OpenGL4.64.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U.

PCIe version4.04.0
PCI Express lanes1412
PCI supportno data4.0

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-1260U 9.23
Ultra 5 125U 11.51
+24.7%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-1260U 14127
Ultra 5 125U 17616
+24.7%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-1260U 1203
Ultra 5 125U 1657
+37.7%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-1260U 220
Ultra 5 125U 225
+2.5%

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

i7-1260U 7258
Ultra 5 125U 8311
+14.5%

Blender(-)

i7-1260U 412
+17.7%
Ultra 5 125U 350

Geekbench 5.5 Single-Core

i7-1260U 1611
+2.7%
Ultra 5 125U 1569

7-Zip Single

i7-1260U 4897
+6.5%
Ultra 5 125U 4598

7-Zip

i7-1260U 34244
Ultra 5 125U 39087
+14.1%

WebXPRT 3

i7-1260U 246
+0.6%
Ultra 5 125U 245

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 9.23 11.51
Recency 23 February 2022 14 December 2023
Physical cores 10 12
Threads 12 14
Power consumption (TDP) 9 Watt 15 Watt

i7-1260U has 66.7% lower power consumption.

Ultra 5 125U, on the other hand, has a 24.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and 20% more physical cores and 16.7% more threads.

The Core Ultra 5 125U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-1260U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-1260U and Core Ultra 5 125U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-1260U
Core i7-1260U
Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
Core Ultra 5 125U

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 29 votes

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Questions & comments

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