Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Intel Core 5 315 and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H are both active mobile processors from Intel, built on the same 3 nm process node by Intel. The Core 5 315 is a 6-core, 6-thread part from the Wildcat Lake family, while the Core Ultra 7 356H is a 16-core, 16-thread Panther Lake-H chip. The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Core Ultra 7 356H winning every single recorded test. The Core 5 315 ranks at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 356H sits at the 87th percentile, placing it in a notably higher performance tier.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows zero benchmark wins for the Intel Core 5 315. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H takes the victory in every instance. This is not a case of one processor excelling in specific workloads; the Core Ultra 7 356H dominates the entire test suite, from single-threaded tasks to heavily parallel workloads.

The Core 5 315 does have one meaningful distinction: it is the more power-efficient option in terms of rated thermal design power. Its TDP is 15 W, compared to 25 W for the Core Ultra 7 356H. The Core 5 315 also uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, whereas the Core Ultra 7 356H uses dual-channel memory with 115.2 GB/s. These differences suggest the Core 5 315 is positioned for lighter, more power-conscious mobile designs, while the Core Ultra 7 356H targets performance-oriented laptops where higher power draw is acceptable.

For users whose workloads rely on single-core speed, the Core Ultra 7 356H still wins, but the margin is much smaller. The PassMark single-thread score shows only a 1.3% difference, with the Core Ultra 7 356H scoring 4072 against 4021 for the Core 5 315. That narrow gap means the Core 5 315 is competitive in lightly threaded applications that depend on per-core performance. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a larger 10.2% gap, but the PassMark result indicates that in at least one common single-thread metric, the two processors are nearly equivalent.

The Core Ultra 7 356H delivers its largest advantages in multi-threaded and math-heavy workloads. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Core Ultra 7 356H scoring 3055 against 1308 for the Core 5 315, a 57.2% difference. PassMark integer math shows a 61.9% gap, and floating-point math shows a 58.8% gap. The Core Ultra 7 356H also dominates in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, and random string sorting, with delta percentages ranging from 52.9% to 65.7%. This makes the Core Ultra 7 356H the clear choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that scales with core count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families. The Core 5 315 is built on the Wildcat Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Panther Lake, specifically the Panther Lake-H variant. Both are manufactured on a 3 nm process at Intel. The core count difference is substantial: the Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading, as thread counts equal core counts for both.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache difference is especially notable: the Core Ultra 7 356H offers three times the shared L3 capacity of the Core 5 315.

Memory support is similar in terms of supported types, as both accept DDR5 and LPDDR5X. However, the memory bus differs. The Core 5 315 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses a dual-channel bus with 115.2 GB/s. That is a doubling of memory bandwidth, which helps explain the Core Ultra 7 356H's advantage in memory-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

PCIe support also differs. The Core 5 315 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 7 356H offers PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The Core Ultra 7 356H provides both a newer PCIe generation and double the lane count, which matters for high-speed storage and discrete GPUs. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics without a specified Xe core count in the data.

The Core 5 315 uses an Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Intel BGA 2540. This means the two processors are not drop-in interchangeable at the motherboard level. The Core 5 315 was released on 2026-04-15 with a launch MSRP of $340. The Core Ultra 7 356H has an earlier release date of 2026-01-04 and no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Core Ultra 7 356H comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Core Ultra 7 356H scores 327 against 112 for the Core 5 315, a 65.7% difference. This workload is heavily dependent on integer arithmetic and core count, and the 16-core processor crushes the 6-core part.

PassMark integer math shows a similar pattern. The Core Ultra 7 356H scores 83111, while the Core 5 315 scores 31690, a 61.9% gap. Floating-point math follows at 58.8%, with scores of 103128 and 42441 respectively. PassMark physics shows a 59.8% gap, with the Core Ultra 7 356H scoring 2895 against 1163. Data encryption shows a 57.8% gap, with scores of 26345 and 11119.

Data compression favors the Core Ultra 7 356H by 56.5%, scoring 336177 against 146143. Random string sorting shows a 57.2% gap, with scores of 40990 and 17551. Extended instructions show a 52.9% gap, with scores of 27898 and 13143.

Cinebench results follow the same direction. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Core Ultra 7 356H at 3055 against 1308 for the Core 5 315, a 57.2% gap. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 12153 against 5452, a 55.1% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 18395 against 12981, a 29.4% gap. The R23 multicore gap is the smallest multicore difference in the suite, which indicates that the Core 5 315 scales reasonably well in this specific rendering workload despite its core deficit.

Single-core results are much closer. PassMark single-thread shows the Core Ultra 7 356H at 4072 against 4021 for the Core 5 315, a 1.3% gap. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 2040 against 1832, a 10.2% gap. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1715 against 769, a 55.2% gap, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 303 against 184, a 39.3% gap. The wide variance in single-core deltas across different Cinebench versions is notable; newer versions show smaller gaps, suggesting that the Core 5 315's Wildcat Lake architecture handles the newer instruction mix more efficiently.

The PassMark multithread test shows the Core Ultra 7 356H scoring 33978 against 15272 for the Core 5 315, a 55.1% gap. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: the Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215, while the Core 5 315 averages 18188. That is roughly 2.27 times the average score, which aligns with the doubling of core count and the higher boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 315 and 1.90 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 356H. Boost clocks are 4.40 GHz for the Core 5 315 and 4.70 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 356H. The Core Ultra 7 356H holds a 0.3 GHz advantage in both base and boost clocks.

TDP ratings differ, with the Core 5 315 at 15 W and the Core Ultra 7 356H at 25 W. The sockets are different, with the Core 5 315 using Intel BGA 1516 and the Core Ultra 7 356H using Intel BGA 2540. Cache layouts differ: the Core 5 315 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3.

Memory bus width differs, with the Core 5 315 using single-channel and the Core Ultra 7 356H using dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s for the Core 5 315 and 115.2 GB/s for the Core Ultra 7 356H. PCIe support differs, with the Core 5 315 offering Gen 4 with 6 lanes and the Core Ultra 7 356H offering Gen 5 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 5 315 featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) and the Core Ultra 7 356H featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics without a listed Xe count.

The Core 5 315 has a recorded launch MSRP of $340, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has no launch MSRP recorded. The release dates differ, with the Core Ultra 7 356H releasing on 2026-01-04 and the Core 5 315 releasing on 2026-04-15. Part numbers also differ: SAEFC for the Core 5 315 and SA4RGQ9EU for the Core Ultra 7 356H.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 7 356H in single-threaded performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 4072 against 4021 for the Core 5 315, a 1.3% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is 10.2%, with scores of 2040 and 1832.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 327 against 112 for the Core 5 315, a 65.7% difference.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Core 5 315 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Intel BGA 2540.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core 5 315 has a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 356H has a dual-channel bus with 115.2 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors built on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are manufactured on a 3 nm process by Intel, despite using different architectures: Wildcat Lake for the Core 5 315 and Panther Lake for the Core Ultra 7 356H.