AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data does not include direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H. Instead, the database contains a full benchmark suite for the Intel part and no benchmark entries for the AMD processor. This absence of direct measurements means a numeric win/loss tally cannot be established from the available information.

What the database does show is the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H's performance profile across multiple test suites. In Cinebench R15, the processor scores 2504 points in multi-core and 305 points in single-core. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score rises to 10213 with a single-core score of 1441. The Cinebench R23 iteration shows 16331 multi-core and 2044 single-core. These scores place the Ultra 5 338H at the 84th percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database, with an average benchmark score of 33989.

The PassMark results add further detail. The Ultra 5 338H produces 276539 in data compression, 21367 in data encryption, and 23906 in extended instructions. Integer math reaches 64934, floating point math hits 84067, and the multi-thread score is 28717. Single-thread performance sits at 4180. The processor also posts 304 in prime number finding, 2697 in physics, and 34082 in random string sorting.

Because the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, no direct performance deltas can be calculated between the two parts. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip provide context: the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H scores 34083, which is 0.3 percent lower than the Ultra 5 338H's average, while the Intel Core i7-12800HX scores 33875, which is 0.3 percent higher. The Intel Xeon 6353P sits at 33844, 0.4 percent higher, and the AMD EPYC 4244P reaches 34220, 0.7 percent higher. These figures show the Ultra 5 338H clustering tightly with those four processors, within a range of roughly one percent. The database's percentile ranking of 84 confirms that this mobile chip outperforms the vast majority of all tracked CPUs, despite being a 12-thread part.

For the Threadripper 9960X, the absence of benchmark entries means no comparable scores exist in the database. The analysis must therefore rely on architectural specifications and market positioning rather than measured performance. The data gap is significant: one processor has 17 benchmark results, the other has none. This asymmetry defines the limits of any head-to-head comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a desktop part built on the Zen 5 architecture under the Shimada Peak codename, part of the 9000 series. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC and packs 33,260 million transistors across a die consisting of 4x 70.6 mm² chiplets. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is a mobile processor using the Panther Lake architecture, also under the Panther Lake codename, from the Core Ultra Series 3. It is fabricated on Intel's own 3 nm process, with no transistor or die size data recorded.

Core counts differ dramatically. The Threadripper 9960X provides 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Ultra 5 338H delivers 12 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part has no simultaneous multithreading advantage over the Intel part in terms of thread count per core; both have one thread per core on the Intel side, but the AMD doubles threads per core. Clock speeds also diverge: the Threadripper's base clock is 4.20 GHz with a 5.30 GHz boost, whereas the Ultra 5 338H runs at 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The Threadripper's boost clock is 0.6 GHz higher, and its base clock is more than double the Intel chip's.

Cache hierarchies are structured very differently. The Threadripper 9960X uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. While the Intel chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, the AMD processor's L3 is over seven times larger in total. The Threadripper also has no 3D V-Cache option recorded.

Memory support diverges as well. The Threadripper 9960X supports DDR5 with a quad-channel memory bus and a peak bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, plus ECC memory. The Ultra 5 338H uses LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and 136.5 GB/s bandwidth, and it does not support ECC. PCIe connectivity is another major split: the AMD processor offers Gen 5 with 80 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with just 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ too, with the Threadripper having none and the Ultra 5 338H including an Arc B370 GPU.

Power envelopes are starkly different. The Threadripper 9960X carries a 350 TDP, while the Ultra 5 338H is rated at 25 TDP. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket sTR5 and is unlocked for multiplier adjustment. The Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540 and is locked. The Threadripper is a desktop-market product released on 2025-07-29 with a launch MSRP of $1499. The Ultra 5 338H is a mobile-market product released on 2026-01-04 with no launch MSRP recorded. Both are listed as Active in production status.

The Verdict

The database presents a clear split based on available data. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a complete benchmark suite showing strong measured performance, ranking in the 84th percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 33989. Its nearest rivals, all within one percent, include the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, Intel Core i7-12800HX, Intel Xeon 6353P, and AMD EPYC 4244P. For workloads covered by Cinebench and PassMark tests, this mobile processor performs competitively with those established parts.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has no benchmark scores in the database, so its measured performance cannot be verified against the Intel chip. What the specifications indicate is a part designed for extreme multi-threaded throughput: 24 cores, 48 threads, a 5.30 GHz boost, 128 MB of L3 cache, quad-channel DDR5, and 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The 350 TDP and sTR5 socket confirm this is a workstation-class desktop processor, not a mobile chip.

Choosing between them depends entirely on the use case and the data available. For mobile systems where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter, the Ultra 5 338H is the documented performer. For desktop workstations requiring massive core counts and high memory bandwidth, the Threadripper 9960X is the specification leader, but its benchmark performance remains unmeasured in this database. The data does not support a blanket recommendation; it supports a workload-specific one.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors, based solely on the recorded data:

• Cores: AMD 24, Intel 12
• Threads: AMD 48, Intel 12
• Base clock: AMD 4.20 GHz, Intel 1.90 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD 5.30 GHz, Intel 4.70 GHz
• TDP: AMD 350, Intel 25
• Socket: AMD Socket sTR5, Intel BGA 2540
• Architecture: Zen 5, Panther Lake
• Codename: Shimada Peak, Panther Lake
• Generation: Ryzen Threadripper (Zen 5 (Shimada Peak)), Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H)
• Process node: 4 nm, 3 nm
• Foundry: TSMC, Intel
• Transistors: 33,260 million, not recorded
• Die size: 4x 70.6 mm², not recorded
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core, 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: 1 MB per core, 2.5 MB per core
• L3 cache: 128 MB, 18 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR5, LPDDR5X
• Memory bus: Quad-channel, Dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: 204.8 GB/s, 136.5 GB/s
• ECC memory: Yes, No
• PCIe: Gen 5, 80 lanes (CPU only), Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: N/A, Arc B370
• Market segment: Desktop, Mobile
• Release date: 2025-07-29, 2026-01-04
• Launch MSRP: $1499, not recorded
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes, No
• Part number: 100-000001595, SA4REQ9EW

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Threadripper 9960X boosts to 5.30 GHz, and the Ultra 5 338H boosts to 4.70 GHz, a 0.6 GHz advantage for the AMD part.

Q: How does the L3 cache compare?

A: The Threadripper 9960X has 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Ultra 5 338H has 18 MB shared, so the AMD processor holds more than seven times the L3 capacity.

Q: Does the Intel chip have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Ultra 5 338H includes an Arc B370 GPU, whereas the Threadripper 9960X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each support?

A: The Threadripper 9960X supports 204.8 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR5 bus, and the Ultra 5 338H supports 136.5 GB/s over a dual-channel LPDDR5X bus.

Q: How does the Intel chip rank among all CPUs?

A: The Ultra 5 338H sits at the 84th percentile with an average benchmark score of 33989, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, is only 0.3 percent behind.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in every measured benchmark category because the database contains no benchmark scores for the AMD Threadripper 9960X. The Intel chip's recorded wins include Cinebench R15 multi-core at 2504, R20 multi-core at 10213, R23 multi-core at 16331, and single-core results of 305, 1441, and 2044 across those same versions. PassMark tests also favor the Intel part in all listed categories, from data compression at 276539 to single-thread performance at 4180. Its 84th percentile ranking and average score of 33989 confirm that, within the measured data, the Ultra 5 338H is the only one with a performance record.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X wins on raw specifications that matter for specific workloads. Its 24 cores and 48 threads double the Intel chip's core count and quadruple its thread count. The 128 MB L3 cache dwarfs the Intel part's 18 MB, which benefits large datasets that fit in cache. The quad-channel DDR5 memory bus at 204.8 GB/s and 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide far more I/O and memory throughput than the Intel chip's dual-channel 136.5 GB/s and 4 lanes. The unlocked multiplier and 350 TDP indicate a part built for sustained high-performance desktop workloads, while the Ultra 5 338H's 25 TDP suits power-limited mobile environments.

For users prioritizing measured multi-threaded and single-threaded scores, the database only supports the Intel chip. For users prioritizing core count, cache capacity, memory bandwidth, and PCIe expansion, the Threadripper 9960X is the specification winner. The two processors occupy separate market segments, Desktop versus Mobile, and the data reflects that divide. No benchmark overlap exists, so each one wins within its own recorded domain: the Intel part in measured performance, the AMD part in architectural capacity.