Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison
Intel Core 3 201E
Core Ultra 7 356H
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H
The Verdict
The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the superior processor in every single measured test. It records 17 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the largest margins appearing in multi-threaded and specialized workloads. The Core Ultra 7 356H also holds a higher overall percentile ranking (87 versus 73), placing it firmly ahead in the database's global CPU performance distribution. The Intel Core 3 201E, by contrast, is a lower-tier desktop part that trails the mobile processor across the board, even in single-core tests where desktop chips typically hold an advantage. Any workload that benefits from parallel execution, encryption, compression, or floating-point arithmetic will see a decisive benefit from the Core Ultra 7 356H. The Core 3 201E remains a functional entry-level desktop option, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms its rival.
Architecture Differences
The two processors occupy different market segments and use fundamentally different silicon. The Intel Core 3 201E is a desktop part built on Intel's 10 nm process node, using the Bartlett Lake codename and fitting into Intel Socket 1700. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its thermal design power is 60 watts. The Core Ultra 7 356H is a mobile processor on the Panther Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 3 nm node, and mounted in Intel BGA 2540. It has 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its thermal design power is only 25 watts, which is notably lower than the desktop chip's 60 watts.
Cache configurations differ substantially. The Core 3 201E provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size of the Core 3 201E is 163 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Core Ultra 7 356H. Memory support also diverges: the Core 3 201E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth figures differ, with the Core 3 201E at 76.8 GB/s and the Core Ultra 7 356H at 115.2 GB/s. The Core 3 201E supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 356H does not. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 201E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The Core 3 201E offers Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Core Ultra 7 356H offers Gen 5 PCIe with 12 lanes (CPU only). Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.
Where Each One Wins
The head-to-head data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. It wins all 17 benchmark comparisons, meaning there is no measured workload where the Intel Core 3 201E comes out ahead. The largest margin is in the passmark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 7 356H is 82.6% ahead. The smallest margin is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Core Ultra 7 356H leads by 12.7%. The Core 3 201E's best relative performance appears in single-threaded workloads, such as Cinebench R23 single-core (1780 versus 2040) and passmark single-thread (3482 versus 4072), but even there it loses by double digits.
The Core Ultra 7 356H excels in multi-threaded and specialized instruction workloads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 3055 versus 1271, a 58.4% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 12153 versus 5297, a 56.4% advantage. The passmark data encryption test shows a 66.1% lead (26345 versus 8931), and the floating point math test shows a 67.7% lead (103128 versus 33260). The data compression test reveals a 51.2% lead (336177 versus 164160). The Core 3 201E, having only 4 cores and 8 threads, simply cannot compete with the 16-core, 16-thread mobile processor in parallel workloads.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.
Q: What is the thermal design power of each chip?
A: The Intel Core 3 201E has a TDP of 60 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts.
Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?
A: The Intel Core 3 201E supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H does not.
Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2040 versus 1780, a 12.7% lead. In passmark single-thread, it scores 4072 versus 3482, a 14.5% lead.
Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 76.8 GB/s.
Q: What is the production status of both processors?
A: Both the Intel Core 3 201E and the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H are listed as Active in production status.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 3055 against the Core 3 201E's 1271, a 58.4% difference. The R20 multicore test shows 12153 versus 5297, a 56.4% margin. The R23 multicore test is closer in relative terms but still decisive: 18395 versus 12613, a 31.4% lead. Single-core results follow the same pattern. In R15 single-core, the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 303 versus 179, a 40.9% advantage. In R20 single-core, it scores 1715 versus 747, a 56.4% margin. In R23 single-core, the smallest gap of the entire comparison appears: 2040 versus 1780, a 12.7% lead.
The Passmark suite reinforces the mobile chip's superiority across a wide range of workloads. The data compression test shows 336177 versus 164160, a 51.2% lead. Data encryption shows 26345 versus 8931, a 66.1% margin. Extended instructions score 27898 versus 11035, a 60.4% difference. The find prime numbers test is the most lopsided: 327 versus 57, an 82.6% lead. Floating point math shows 103128 versus 33260, a 67.7% margin. Integer math shows 83111 versus 43894, a 47.2% lead. The multithread test shows 33978 versus 14839, a 56.3% margin. Physics scores 2895 versus 1141, a 60.6% lead. Random string sorting shows 40990 versus 17783, a 56.6% difference. The single-thread test shows 4072 versus 3482, a 14.5% lead. The singlethread test (a duplicate naming in the database) shows the same result.
No benchmark in the recorded data favors the Core 3 201E. The closest contest is the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Core Ultra 7 356H still wins by 12.7%. The average benchmark score confirms the gulf: the Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215 across all tests, while the Core 3 201E averages 19056. The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 7 356H include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (delta 0%), the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (delta -0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (delta -0.4%). The Core 3 201E's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (delta 0%), the Intel Core i5-12400F (delta 0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-1335U (delta 0.4%).
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification. The Core 3 201E is a desktop chip with 4 cores and 8 threads; the Core Ultra 7 356H is a mobile chip with 16 cores and 16 threads. The base clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 1.90 GHz, and the boost clocks are 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP is 60 watts versus 25 watts. The sockets are Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel BGA 2540. The codenames are Bartlett Lake versus Panther Lake. The process nodes are 10 nm versus 3 nm. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared versus 18 MB shared. The die size for the Core 3 201E is 163 mm²; no die size is recorded for the Core Ultra 7 356H. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. ECC support is true for the Core 3 201E and false for the Core Ultra 7 356H. PCIe lanes are Gen 5, 16 lanes versus Gen 5, 12 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus Intel Xe3 Graphics. The release dates are 2025-01-12 for the Core 3 201E and 2026-01-04 for the Core Ultra 7 356H. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 201E is $134; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core Ultra 7 356H. The part numbers are SRVTR and SA4RGQ9EU, respectively.