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Intel Core Ultra 7 164U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 256V: Comparison
Core Ultra 7 164U vs Core Ultra 7 256V: the total cores difference
These two are close on paper, and total cores is the only measure that separates them at all: Core Ultra 7 164U 12 against Core Ultra 7 256V 8. There is a split on socket as well, FCBGA2551 on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus FCBGA2833 on the Core Ultra 7 256V. Release year is not the same on both, 2023 on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus 2024 on the Core Ultra 7 256V. They differ on igpu too, Intel Graphics on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus Intel Arc 140V GPU on the Core Ultra 7 256V.
Who each one is for
The Core Ultra 7 164U is the one to take for everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is not built for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. The Core Ultra 7 256V suits Ultra-thin and light laptops and all-day battery life, though it is not the pick for heavy sustained multi-core workloads and gaming laptops. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 164U (7.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 256V (9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake chip for consumer ultra-thin laptops wanting more headroom than the Core Ultra 5 tier.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, p-core boost clock, l3 cache, integrated graphics, form factor and market segment included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 7 164U and Core Ultra 7 256V differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 2 on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus 4 on the Core Ultra 7 256V.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Lunar Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 2024
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 9 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 17 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Intel Arc 140V GPU
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Lunar Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- FCBGA2551
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- FCBGA2833
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 4 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 12Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 8
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 2
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 4Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 10Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 4
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 14Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 8
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 1.1 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 2.2 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 4.8 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 4.8 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 12 MB
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 12 MB
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 9 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 17 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 30 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 37 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- LPDDR5/X
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- LPDDR5X
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
- 45 TOPS (NPU 4)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 164U if you want the higher L3 cache (12 MB vs 12 MB).
Choose 256V if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.
Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake chip for consumer ultra-thin laptops wanting more headroom than the Core Ultra 5 tier.