Intel Core Ultra 5 125U vs Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405)

Intel Core Ultra 5 125U or Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U has 12 cores with 14 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.30 GHz. Up to 96 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U was released in Q4/2023.

The Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) has 4 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.50 GHz. The CPU supports up to 16 GB of memory in 4 memory channels. The Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) was released in Q4/2021.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U has 12 CPU cores and can calculate 14 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is 1.30 GHz (4.30 GHz) while the Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) has 4 CPU cores and 8 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) is at 2.40 GHz (3.50 GHz).

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U or Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U can use up to 96 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 120.0 GB/s. The Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) supports up to 16 GB of memory in 4 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 88.0 GB/s.

The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is 15 W, while the Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) has a TDP of 15 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is manufactured in 7 nm and has 12.00 MB cache. The Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) is manufactured in 7 nm and has a 6.00 MB cache.