Intel Core 7 150U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H across every recorded test. The Core Ultra 7 356H wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core 7 150U failing to secure a single victory. The margin of difference varies substantially by workload, ranging from a modest 8.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core to a commanding 82.3% advantage in PassMark find prime numbers.

The largest single-core gap appears in Cinebench R20, where the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 1715 against 740 for the Core 7 150U, a difference of 56.9%. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a smaller but still clear gap of 16.2%, with scores of 303 and 254 respectively. PassMark single-thread results follow the same pattern: 4072 versus 3508, a 13.9% advantage for the newer processor.

Multi-core workloads amplify the separation considerably. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 7 356H posts 18395 against 8883, a 51.7% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows an even larger spread: 12153 versus 5248, or 56.8%. The R15 multi-core test records 3055 against 1505.5, a 50.7% gap.

PassMark integer math favors the Core Ultra 7 356H by 38.6%, with scores of 83111 and 51057. Floating point math shows a much steeper divide: 103128 versus 34405, a 66.6% advantage. Extended instructions produce one of the larger deltas at 68.6% (27898 versus 8748). Data encryption shows a 61.9% gap (26345 versus 10025), while data compression records a 52.8% difference (336177 versus 158622).

The PassMark multi-thread score for the Core Ultra 7 356H is 33978, compared to 14700 for the Core 7 150U, a 56.7% advantage. Physics simulation shows a 65% gap (2895 versus 1012). Random string sorting favors the Core Ultra 7 356H by 55.4% (40990 versus 18269). The largest relative difference anywhere in the dataset is find prime numbers: 327 versus 58, an 82.3% edge.

The aggregate benchmark score confirms the hierarchy. The Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215 across all tests, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 150U averages 17395, sitting in the 71st percentile. The Core Ultra 7 356H's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 with a 0% delta, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H at -0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at -0.4%. The Core 7 150U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 at 0.4%, the AMD Ryzen 3 210 at 0.4%, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE at -0.5%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G at -0.6%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has an average benchmark score of 41215, while the Intel Core 7 150U averages 17395. The Core Ultra 7 356H also ranks higher overall, in the 87th percentile of all CPUs versus the 71st percentile for the Core 7 150U.

Q: How large is the performance gap in single-core workloads?

A: Single-core gaps range from 8.1% in Cinebench R23 (2040 versus 1875.5) to 56.9% in Cinebench R20 (1715 versus 740). PassMark single-thread shows a 13.9% difference (4072 versus 3508), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 16.2% (303 versus 254).

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core tests?

A: The Core Ultra 7 356H wins every multi-core test. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 18395 versus 8883 (a 51.7% gap), Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 12153 versus 5248 (56.8%), and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 3055 versus 1505.5 (50.7%). PassMark multi-thread shows 33978 versus 14700 (56.7%).

Q: What are the largest and smallest recorded deltas between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 356H leads by 82.3% (327 versus 58). The smallest delta is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core Ultra 7 356H leads by 8.1% (2040 versus 1875.5).

Q: How does the Core Ultra 7 356H compare to its own nearest rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 7 356H is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (0% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (-0.1%). It trails the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X by 0.4% and leads the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H by 0.6%.

Q: How does the Core 7 150U compare to its own nearest rivals?

A: The Core 7 150U is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and AMD Ryzen 3 210, both at a 0.4% delta. It trails the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE by 0.5% and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G by 0.6%.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data offers no workload category where the Intel Core 7 150U outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. Every benchmark, from single-thread integer operations to heavily parallel multi-core rendering, favors the Core Ultra 7 356H. The closest contest is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core Ultra 7 356H leads by only 8.1%, suggesting that lightly threaded applications are the relative strength of the Core 7 150U, even though it still trails.

The Core Ultra 7 356H is strongest in workloads that stress parallel execution and complex instruction throughput. Its 82.3% lead in find prime numbers indicates a major advantage in integer-heavy algorithmic loops. Floating point math shows a 66.6% edge, and extended instructions show 68.6%, making the Core Ultra 7 356H the clear choice for scientific computing, media encoding, and simulation workloads.

The Core 7 150U remains competitive only in the sense that its single-core deficits are smaller than its multi-core deficits. Single-core gaps of 8.1% to 16.2% are far narrower than multi-core gaps of 50.7% to 56.8%. This pattern suggests the Core 7 150U can handle everyday responsiveness tasks, but its 10-core, 12-thread configuration cannot match the 16-core, 16-thread Core Ultra 7 356H when all cores are active.

For users prioritizing maximum throughput in Cinebench, PassMark multi-thread, or data compression, the Core Ultra 7 356H delivers between 50% and 57% more performance. For encryption and extended instruction workloads, the advantage grows to roughly 62% and 69% respectively. The Core 7 150U's best case is a workload dominated by a single thread, where the gap shrinks to single digits in Cinebench R23.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core 7 150U uses 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses 16 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 7 356H has a higher base clock of 1.90 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for the Core 7 150U, but the Core 7 150U has a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.70 GHz.

Thermal design power differs substantially: the Core 7 150U is rated at 15 W, while the Core Ultra 7 356H is rated at 25 W. The two use different sockets, with the Core 7 150U on Intel BGA 1744 and the Core Ultra 7 356H on Intel BGA 2540. Memory support also diverges: the Core 7 150U supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 7 356H lists a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s; the Core 7 150U has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Core 7 150U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 7 356H provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: the Core 7 150U uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The Core Ultra 7 356H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3, while the Core 7 150U has no series designation. The Core 7 150U has a part number of SRMYP, and the Core Ultra 7 356H has a part number of SA4RGQ9EU.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The Core 7 150U is built on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake codename. The Core 7 150U is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses a 3 nm process, also at Intel. The generation labels reflect this gap: the Core 7 150U is listed as Core 7 (Raptor Lake-U), and the Core Ultra 7 356H is listed as Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H).

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core 7 150U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache. That represents a 140% larger L1 allocation per core, a 100% larger L2 allocation per core, and a 50% larger L3 pool overall.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. Both target the mobile market segment and are currently marked as Active in production. The Core 7 150U was released on January 7, 2024, while the Core Ultra 7 356H carries a release date of January 4, 2026. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. The Core Ultra 7 356H's larger core count, larger caches, newer process node, and higher memory bandwidth explain its consistent benchmark dominance, while the Core 7 150U's higher boost clock offers a nominal clock-speed advantage that the recorded data does not translate into any single-core win.