Intel Core 3 100U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The Intel Core 3 100U and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are both mobile processors from Intel, but they occupy very different tiers in the lineup. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap, with the newer Core Ultra 5 338H winning every single recorded test. The Core 3 100U relies on a lower power envelope and older architecture, while the Core Ultra 5 338H delivers substantially higher throughput across all workloads. This analysis breaks down the recorded results, architectural differences, and where each processor fits based strictly on the database information.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data contains 17 recorded comparisons, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins all 17. There is no single benchmark where the Intel Core 3 100U comes out ahead. The largest margin appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 338H scores 304 against 52 for the Core 3 100U, a delta of -82.9% from the perspective of the Core 3 100U. This indicates a massive lead in integer-heavy, iterative computation.

In Cinebench tests, the Core Ultra 5 338H shows consistent dominance. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 2504 versus 1070, a -57.3% delta. The single-core R15 result shows 305 versus 150, a -50.8% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 10213 versus 4462 (-56.3%), and the single-core score is 1441 versus 629 (-56.3%). In Cinebench R23, the multicore gap narrows relatively, with 16331 versus 10624 (-34.9%), while the single-core score is 2044 versus 1499 (-26.7%). These results indicate that while the Core Ultra 5 338H is faster in both single and multi-threaded rendering, the multi-thread advantage is slightly more pronounced in the older R15 and R20 tests.

The PassMark suite reveals similar patterns. In data compression, the Core Ultra 5 338H scores 276539 versus 136497 (-50.6%). Data encryption shows 21367 versus 8128 (-62%). Extended instructions deliver 23906 versus 7894 (-67%), and floating point math shows 84067 versus 28322 (-66.3%). Integer math scores 64934 versus 39580 (-39%). The multithread test shows 28717 versus 12522 (-56.4%), and the physics test shows 2697 versus 876 (-67.5%). Random string sorting also favors the Core Ultra 5 338H, with 34082 versus 15191 (-55.4%). In the single-thread PassMark test, the margin is smaller but still clear: 4180 versus 3506 (-16.1%).

The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 338H is 33989, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 100U has an average score of 16148, placing it in the 70th percentile. The nearest rival for the Core 3 100U is the Intel Core i7-10850H, with an average score of 16204 and a delta of -0.3%. The Core Ultra 5 338H sits close to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, which scores 34083 with a delta of -0.3%. This confirms that the Core Ultra 5 338H competes in a higher performance class entirely.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Core 3 100U is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-U codename, using a 10 nm process node from Intel. It has 6 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, with the Panther Lake-H codename, fabricated on a 3 nm process node. It has 12 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 1.90 GHz, and the same boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The process node shrink from 10 nm to 3 nm is a major factor in the performance and efficiency differences.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Core 3 100U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 338H doubles the per-core L1 to 192 KB, doubles the per-core L2 to 2.5 MB, and increases the shared L3 to 18 MB. This larger cache hierarchy likely contributes to the Core Ultra 5 338H’s advantage in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 100U supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. The Core Ultra 5 338H supports only LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The Core 3 100U has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. The PCIe interface also differs: the Core 3 100U uses Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 338H uses Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are different, with the Core 3 100U featuring UHD Graphics 64EU and the Core Ultra 5 338H featuring Arc B370.

The sockets are not interchangeable. The Core 3 100U uses Intel BGA 1744, while the Core Ultra 5 338H uses Intel BGA 2540. The thermal design power also differs, with the Core 3 100U rated at 15 and the Core Ultra 5 338H rated at 25. Both are locked multipliers, and both are marked as Active production status. The release dates are roughly two years apart, with the Core 3 100U released in January 2024 and the Core Ultra 5 338H released in January 2026. The Core 3 100U has a launch MSRP of $426, while the Core Ultra 5 338H has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in every single category. There is no workload where the Intel Core 3 100U shows a lead. The closest margin is in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Core Ultra 5 338H leads by 674 points, a 16.1% advantage. This suggests that in lightly threaded, short-burst tasks, the Core 3 100U is relatively less disadvantaged, but it still trails.

The Core Ultra 5 338H shows its largest advantages in workloads that stress parallel execution and complex instruction sets. The find prime numbers test, with a -82.9% delta, indicates a massive lead in pure integer iteration. The extended instructions test (-67%), floating point math (-66.3%), and physics simulation (-67.5%) all show the Core Ultra 5 338H delivering roughly triple the performance of the Core 3 100U. This points to the 12-core configuration and newer architecture being far more capable in scientific, analytical, and simulation tasks.

For content creation and rendering, the Cinebench results show the Core Ultra 5 338H is significantly faster, with multicore scores roughly double those of the Core 3 100U in R15 and R20, and about 54% faster in R23. This suggests that video rendering, 3D modeling, and other multi-threaded creative workloads will see substantial benefits from the Core Ultra 5 338H.

The Core 3 100U’s only potential advantage lies in its lower thermal design power of 15, compared to 25 for the Core Ultra 5 338H. This could translate into quieter operation or longer battery life in thin-and-light laptops, but the benchmark data does not record any efficiency metrics. The database shows no wins for the Core 3 100U in any performance test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H outperforms the Intel Core 3 100U in every recorded benchmark, from single-thread responsiveness to multi-thread rendering and data processing. The Core Ultra 5 338H’s 12 cores, larger caches, newer 3 nm process node, and higher thermal design power all contribute to its dominance. Its average benchmark score of 33989 places it near the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, a high-tier mobile processor. The Core 3 100U, with an average score of 16148, sits near older desktop parts like the Intel Core i5-10600KF, which is a less capable chip by comparison.

For a user choosing between these two, the Core Ultra 5 338H is the clear choice for any performance-sensitive workload. The only reason to select the Core 3 100U would be a preference for a lower power envelope or the specific BGA 1744 socket, but the recorded data shows it loses every single comparison. The Core Ultra 5 338H is the better processor by every measurable metric in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores, while the Intel Core 3 100U has 6 cores.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 2044 versus 1499 for the Intel Core 3 100U, a delta of -26.7% from the Core 3 100U’s perspective. In the PassMark single-thread test, the Core Ultra 5 338H scores 4180 versus 3506, a -16.1% delta.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 16331, which is 5707 points higher than the Intel Core 3 100U’s 10624. This represents a -34.9% delta.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Core 3 100U uses Intel BGA 1744, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Intel BGA 2540.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?

A: The recorded memory bandwidth is 136.5 GB/s, which is not available for the Intel Core 3 100U.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33989, compared to 16148 for the Intel Core 3 100U. The Core Ultra 5 338H places in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 100U places in the 70th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 100U | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1.20 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 | 25 |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 10 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 136.5 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | Arc B370 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | Not recorded |