Intel Core 5 320 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V records an average benchmark score of 21981, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 320 scores 18023 on average, sitting in the 72nd percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V leads with a score of 2208, which is 12.8% ahead of the Intel Core 5 320's 1926. However, the Core 5 320 wins the PassMark single-thread test 4045 to 3890, a 4% advantage.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the boost clock differences?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 320 boosts to 4.60 GHz. The Ultra 5 also has a higher base clock at 2.10 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V uses Intel BGA 2833. They are not interchangeable.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V uses a dual-channel bus, though its bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, and its wins are frequently large. In multi-core Cinebench R23, it scores 15645 against the Core 5 320's 6197, a 60.4% advantage. It also leads in PassMark multithread (18407 vs 15450, 16.1% ahead), data compression (176532 vs 148779, 15.7% ahead), and floating-point math (53160 vs 42440, 20.2% ahead).

The Intel Core 5 320 wins only three tests: Cinebench R15 single-core (276 vs 222, 24.3% ahead), PassMark single-thread (4045 vs 3890, 4% ahead), and the duplicate PassMark singlethread entry. That single-core edge in one rendering test does not offset the Ultra 5's dominance across the rest of the suite.

The average scores reinforce this: the Ultra 5 sits at 21981 in the 75th percentile, while the Core 5 320 sits at 18023 in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 include the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, both with an average score delta of 0%. The Core 5 320's closest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (0.2% ahead) and Intel Core i5-1334U (0.7% ahead).

For workloads that stress all cores, rendering, encryption, or physics simulation, the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is the stronger choice by a wide margin. The data shows no scenario where the Core 5 320's extra single-thread score in PassMark compensates for its multi-core deficit. The Core 5 320 is only preferable in the narrow case where a specific application relies on the older Cinebench R15 single-core measurement, where it holds a 24.3% lead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win belongs to the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its 15645 score is 60.4% above the Core 5 320's 6197, the biggest delta in the entire comparison. This gap reflects the Ultra 5's 8 cores versus 6, plus its higher boost clock. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar pattern: 1576 vs 1054, a 33.1% lead for the Ultra 5.

The Ultra 5 also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 16.9% (6570 vs 5462) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 16.8% (927 vs 771). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 leads 2208 to 1926, a 12.8% margin. The only Cinebench single-core test the Core 5 320 wins is R15, where it scores 276 against 222, a 24.3% advantage.

PassMark results follow the same trend. The Ultra 5 wins data compression by 15.7% (176532 vs 148779), data encryption by 16% (13072 vs 10984), extended instructions by 13.8% (15377 vs 13262), prime numbers by 36.8% (174 vs 110), floating-point math by 20.2% (53160 vs 42440), integer math by 16.9% (38889 vs 32323), multithread by 16.1% (18407 vs 15450), physics by 21% (1546 vs 1221), and random string sorting by 16.4% (21585 vs 18038).

The Core 5 320's PassMark single-thread score of 4045 beats the Ultra 5's 3890 by 4%. That is its only PassMark win, and it is the smallest margin among the three tests it claims.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 320 | Intel Core Ultra 5 238V |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 6 | 8 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | Depends on motherboard |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | Arc 130V |

| Release date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $340 | None recorded |

Both chips use a 3 nm process. The Core 5 320 is fabricated by Intel, while the Ultra 5 238V is fabricated by TSMC. The Ultra 5 has a larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) and a dual-channel memory bus versus the Core 5 320's single-channel bus. The Core 5 320 offers more PCIe lanes (6 Gen 4) versus the Ultra 5's 4 Gen 5 lanes. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier or ECC support.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 320 is built on the Wildcat Lake architecture, part of the Core 5 generation. It uses 6 cores and 6 threads with no hyperthreading. Its L1 cache is 192 KB total, L2 is 2.5 MB, and L3 is 6 MB shared. The integrated graphics is Intel Xe3 with 2 Xe cores. The chip connects via a single-channel memory bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X, with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 6 lanes available from the CPU.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It has 8 cores and 8 threads. L1 cache is listed as 192 KB per core, L2 as 2.5 MB per core, and L3 as 8 MB shared. The integrated graphics is Arc 130V. Memory support is marked as dependent on the motherboard, with a dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure recorded. PCIe is Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU.

The foundry difference is notable: Intel fabricates the Wildcat Lake chip, while TSMC fabricates Lunar Lake. Both are on 3 nm nodes. The Ultra 5's per-core L2 allocation suggests a different cache topology, and its dual-channel memory interface gives it a structural advantage for memory-heavy workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins in nearly every multi-threaded and sustained workload. Cinebench R23 multi-core is its strongest result at 60.4% ahead, making it the clear pick for rendering, video encoding, or any task that scales across cores. It also leads in PassMark multithread (16.1%), physics (21%), and prime number finding (36.8%), which indicates strength in calculation-heavy and simulation workloads. Data compression (15.7% ahead) and encryption (16% ahead) point to advantages in archiving and secure data handling. Floating-point math (20.2% ahead) and integer math (16.9% ahead) confirm broad arithmetic superiority.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins three specific tests. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 276 is 24.3% above the Ultra 5's 222, a significant margin in that legacy benchmark. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4045 is 4% higher than the Ultra 5's 3890. These wins suggest the Core 5 320 has a slight edge in certain lightly threaded legacy workloads, but the margin is small in PassMark and the R15 result is an outlier against the newer R20 and R23 single-core tests, where the Ultra 5 leads by 16.8% and 12.8% respectively.

For a builder choosing between these two mobile processors, the data points overwhelmingly to the Ultra 5 238V for modern multi-core workloads. The Core 5 320's single-thread wins do not translate into a broader performance advantage. The Ultra 5's 75th percentile placement versus the Core 5 320's 72nd, combined with a 21981 average score against 18023, confirms that the Ultra 5 is the faster chip in the database's measurements.