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Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 5 235TA and Core Ultra 7 165UL?
Start with l3 cache, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Core Ultra 5 235TA 24 MB against Core Ultra 7 165UL 12 MB, 50% in favour of Core Ultra 5 235TA. They differ on tdp too, 35 W on the Core Ultra 5 235TA versus 15 W on the Core Ultra 7 165UL. Form factor is not the same on both, Desktop on the Core Ultra 5 235TA versus Embedded on the Core Ultra 7 165UL. They differ on release year too, 2025 on the Core Ultra 5 235TA versus 2024 on the Core Ultra 7 165UL.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 5 235TA or Core Ultra 7 165UL?
The Core Ultra 5 235TA is the one to take for desktop gaming and everyday productivity, though it is the wrong buy for laptops and fanless designs. Buy the Core Ultra 7 165UL for embedded systems and all-in-one PCs, though it is not the pick for traditional laptop designs and maximum core-count workloads. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 235TA (7.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA is a channel variant of the low-power 235T, suited to compact small-form-factor builds. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 165UL (8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL packages Intel's mobile Core Ultra silicon onto a socketed LGA platform for embedded and all-in-one system designs.
What Core Ultra 5 235TA and Core Ultra 7 165UL have in common
Everything else lines up. Total threads, integrated graphics, socket, igpu and memory type read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 5 235TA and Core Ultra 7 165UL differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 14 on the Core Ultra 5 235TA versus 12 on the Core Ultra 7 165UL.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Embedded
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Meteor Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 2024
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 35 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 15 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Embedded
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- Arrow Lake-S
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Meteor Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- FCLGA1851
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- FCLGA1851
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 4 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 14Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 12
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 6Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 2
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 10Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 14
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 14
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 2.2 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 1.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 5.0 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 4.9 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 24 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 12 MB-50%
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 35 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 15 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 114 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 57 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 235TA if you want the higher L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
Choose 165UL if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA is a channel variant of the low-power 235T, suited to compact small-form-factor builds.
Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL packages Intel's mobile Core Ultra silicon onto a socketed LGA platform for embedded and all-in-one system designs.