Intel Core i7-8550U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
37.7Single-core72.8
23.8Multi-core73.8
66.4Efficiencyspec-based44.4
25.8iGPU—
37.2Platformspec-based69.6
1 spec wins — Intel Core i7-8550U12 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
InnoReviews verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX wins this laptop processor face-off, 67.9 to 35.9, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+50) and single-core (+35). Intel Core i7-8550U still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i7-8550U
- 73% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 55 W
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Stronger single-core score: 73 vs 38
- Stronger multi-core score: 74 vs 24
- 991% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 31,781 vs 2,914
- 727% higher PassMark: 47,933 vs 5,794
- 700% higher Max memory: 256 GB vs 32 GB
General
| Spec | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017 | 2025 |
| Process | 14 nm | 3 nm+79% |
| Base TDP | 15 W+73% | 55 W |
| Max TDP | 25 W | 160 W+540% |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 20+400% |
| Performance cores | — | 8 |
| Efficiency cores | — | 12 |
| Threads | 8 | 20+150% |
| Base clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.4 GHz+33% |
| Boost clock | 4 GHz | 5.2 GHz+30% |
| L3 cache | 8 MB | 30 MB+275% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) |
| iGPU clock | 1,150 MHz | 1,850 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR4-2400 / LPDDR3-2133 | DDR5-6400 |
| Max memory | 32 GB | 256 GB+700% |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | — | 2,959Top 17% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | — | 17,915Top 12% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,021Bottom 8% | 2,154+111%Top 10% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 2,914Bottom 5% | 31,781+991%Top 6% |
| PassMark | 5,794Bottom 7% | 47,933+727%Top 8% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | 389Bottom 7% | — |
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