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Intel Core i9-13900HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125U: Comparison
What is the difference between Core i9-13900HX and Core Ultra 5 125U?
L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, Core i9-13900HX 36 MB against Core Ultra 5 125U 12 MB, a 67% lead for Core i9-13900HX. P-core base clock is not the same on both, 2.2 GHz on the Core i9-13900HX versus 1.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U. There is a split on tdp as well, 55 W on the Core i9-13900HX versus 15 W on the Core Ultra 5 125U. Socket is not the same on both, BGA 1964 on the Core i9-13900HX versus FCBGA2049 on the Core Ultra 5 125U.
Who each one is for
Buy the Core i9-13900HX for high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is the wrong buy for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. The Core Ultra 5 125U suits everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is not the pick for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Our rating of the Core i9-13900HX (8.6/10): the Intel Core i9-13900HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile chassis, a strong pick for high-end gaming and creator laptops. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 125U (7.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.
What Core i9-13900HX and Core Ultra 5 125U have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, integrated graphics, form factor, release year, market segment and smt enabled included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core i9-13900HX and Core Ultra 5 125U differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 24 on the Core i9-13900HX versus 12 on the Core Ultra 5 125U.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Raptor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Meteor Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2023
TDP
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 15 W
iGPU
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Intel UHD Graphics for 13th Gen Intel Processors
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Raptor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Meteor Lake
Socket
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- BGA 1964 (BGA, soldered)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- FCBGA2049
Process Node
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 7 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 4 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 24Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 12
Performance Cores
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 8Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 16Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 10
Total Threads
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 32Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 14
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 2.2 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 1.3 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 5.4 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 4.3 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 36 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 12 MB-67%
Base Power
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 15 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- 157 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 57 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- DDR5, DDR4
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- DDR5, LPDDR5/X
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose 13900HX if you want the higher L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB).
Choose 125U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Intel Core i9-13900HX
8.6 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-13900HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile chassis, a strong pick for high-end gaming and creator laptops.
Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.