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Intel Core i9-13900H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125H: Comparison
What is the difference between Core i9-13900H and Core Ultra 5 125H?
There is no decisive spec gap here. Performance cores splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, Core i9-13900H 6 against Core Ultra 5 125H 4. Add l3 cache to that, 24 MB on the Core i9-13900H versus 18 MB on the Core Ultra 5 125H, and the pattern holds. There is a split on igpu as well, Intel Iris Xe Graphics on the Core i9-13900H versus Intel Arc graphics on the Core Ultra 5 125H.
Who each one is for
Buy the Core i9-13900H for premium laptops and everyday productivity, though it is not the pick for Ultra-thin fanless laptops and maximum battery life. The Core Ultra 5 125H is the one to take for everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is the wrong buy for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Our rating of the Core i9-13900H (8.3/10): the Intel Core i9-13900H is a well-rounded performance mobile chip, suited to premium laptops balancing power and portability. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 125H (8.1/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is the value entry point of Intel's H-series Meteor Lake pair, a sensible pick for premium laptops on a tighter budget.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, total cores, integrated graphics, form factor, release year and market segment included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 2 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core i9-13900H and Core Ultra 5 125H differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 8 on the Core i9-13900H versus 10 on the Core Ultra 5 125H.
Is the SMT Enabled the same on the Core i9-13900H and Core Ultra 5 125H?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Raptor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Meteor Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 2023
TDP
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 45 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 28 W
iGPU
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Intel Arc graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Raptor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Meteor Lake
Socket
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- BGA 1744 (BGA, soldered)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- FCBGA2049
Process Node
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 7 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 4 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 14
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 14
Performance Cores
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 6Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 4
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 10Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 20Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 18
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 2.6 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 1.2 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 5.4 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 4.5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 24 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 18 MB-25%
Base Power
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 45 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 28 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- 115 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- 115 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- DDR5, DDR4, LPDDR5/x, LPDDR4x
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- DDR5, LPDDR5/X
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose 13900H if you want the higher L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
Choose 125H if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Intel Core i9-13900H
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-13900H is a well-rounded performance mobile chip, suited to premium laptops balancing power and portability.
Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is the value entry point of Intel's H-series Meteor Lake pair, a sensible pick for premium laptops on a tighter budget.




