Passmark records first drop in average processor performance

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Laptops saw the biggest decline. In 2024, the average test score for these devices was 14,632 (based on 101,316 tests), while in 2025 it was 14,130 based on 25,541 tests, a decline of 3.4%. Desktop performance also declined. The average score in 2024 was 26,436 based on 186,053 tests. In 2025, this figure dropped to 26,311 (47,810 tests), equivalent to a 0.5% decline. While this is a small drop, long-term trends suggest that processors should actually be getting faster.

Flagship processor performance has also stagnated, with PassMark reporting stagnation in top-end desktop and laptop processors over the past three years. After a significant jump in 2023 — 58.6% for desktop and 69.9% for mobile processors thanks to AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7995WX and Ryzen 9 7945HX3D — the gains have been minimal. For example, Intel’s new Core Ultra 275HX for laptops increased performance by just 6.8%.

The PassMark software makers suggest that the decline may be due to users switching to more affordable, less powerful devices. It is also possible that Windows 11 has a negative impact on performance compared to Windows 10, especially in games where AMD and Intel processors are not yet optimized.

The exact reason for the performance drop remains unknown at this time. However, since it’s early 2025, the results may change throughout the year as more users purchase new devices and run tests.