Intel Core 7 251E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data available for this comparison is one-sided, as the Intel Core 7 251E has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has a full set of results. The Core Ultra 5 238V reaches an average benchmark score of 21981, placing it at the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 7 251E currently sits at the 50th percentile with an average benchmark score of zero, indicating that no measured performance data has been logged for it yet.

The Core Ultra 5 238V delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15645 and a single-core score of 2208. In Cinebench R20, it records 6570 multi-core and 927 single-core points, while in the older Cinebench R15 test it scores 1576 multi-core and 222 single-core. These results establish a solid baseline for a low-power mobile processor, but without any recorded scores for the Core 7 251E, direct head-to-head comparisons cannot be made from the database. The absence of data for the 251E means the only measurable wins belong to the Ultra 5 238V, simply because it is the only part with logged performance numbers.

PassMark results for the Ultra 5 238V further quantify its capabilities. It scores 18407 in the multithread test and 3890 in single-thread. Integer math reaches 38889, floating point math hits 53160, and extended instructions score 15377. Data encryption records 13072 points, while data compression reaches 176532. The find prime numbers test returns 174, random string sorting scores 21585, and physics simulation scores 1546. These numbers describe a mobile processor that handles everyday productivity and light content creation tasks competently, but they do not answer how the 251E would perform in the same tests.

The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 238V provide context for its standing. The Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X both score within 0% delta, meaning the Ultra 5 238V matches them closely. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V trails by only 0.1%, and the AMD EPYC 9534 trails by 0.4%. This places the Ultra 5 238V in a performance band comparable to older desktop processors, a notable result for a 17-watt mobile chip. The Core 7 251E has no rivals listed in the database, so its relative position cannot be established.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel product lines with fundamentally different design goals. The Intel Core 7 251E is a desktop part based on Bartlett Lake, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Lunar Lake architecture, and is fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process. It uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket, which is a mobile platform. The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 3 nm reflects two different generations of manufacturing and two different foundries, Intel for the 251E and TSMC for the 238V.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 7 251E packs 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The 251E supports simultaneous multithreading, giving it 32 threads from 24 cores, whereas the 238V has a one-to-one thread-to-core ratio. This structural difference suggests the 251E is designed for heavily parallel workloads, while the 238V prioritizes efficiency and battery life in mobile systems.

Cache layouts also differ. The Core 7 251E uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 238V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3. Despite having fewer cores, the 238V carries more L1 and L2 per core, which helps feed its cores with data more quickly. The 251E compensates with a much larger L3 pool, 36 MB versus 8 MB, which benefits multi-core workloads that share data.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 7 251E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 238V also uses dual-channel memory, but its bandwidth is not recorded in the database, and its memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard. The 238V does not support ECC memory. The 251E provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the 238V provides only 4 Gen 5 lanes, reflecting the desktop part's expansion capability versus the mobile part's constrained footprint.

Integrated graphics differ between the two. The Core 7 251E includes Intel UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Arc 130V. The Arc 130V is a newer integrated GPU architecture, and in the mobile segment it targets better media and light gaming performance than the older UHD 770. The 251E is a desktop processor with a 65-watt TDP, while the 238V is a mobile processor with a 17-watt TDP. The release dates also differ: the 251E launched in January 2025, while the 238V launched in September 2024.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The 251E provides four times the thread count.

Q: How do their process nodes compare?

A: The Core 7 251E uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses TSMC's 3 nm process. The 238V is built on a more advanced manufacturing node.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 7 251E has a TDP of 65 watts, and the Core Ultra 5 238V has a TDP of 17 watts. The mobile chip consumes far less power.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 7 251E supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 238V does not.

Q: What integrated graphics do they use?

A: The Core 7 251E uses Intel UHD Graphics 770, and the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Arc 130V.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core 7 251E boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 238V boosts to 4.70 GHz. Their base clocks are identical at 2.10 GHz.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Core 7 251E?

A: The launch MSRP is $384. The Core Ultra 5 238V has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is the only one of the two processors with measured benchmark results, so any performance assessment must rely entirely on its scores. It sits at the 75th percentile of all CPUs and matches the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X in average score, which is an impressive result for a 17-watt mobile chip. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15645 and single-core score of 2208 show that it can handle modern productivity workloads despite its low power envelope.

The Intel Core 7 251E, by contrast, has no benchmark data in the database. Its specifications tell a clear story: 24 cores, 32 threads, a 5.60 GHz boost clock, 65 watts TDP, and 36 MB of L3 cache. These figures point to a desktop processor built for multi-threaded throughput. The 238V offers 8 cores, 8 threads, a 4.70 GHz boost clock, 17 watts TDP, and 8 MB of L3 cache. The 251E should be expected to dominate in multi-core rendering, compilation, and simulation workloads based on its core count and cache size, but the database does not yet contain scores to confirm this.

The Core Ultra 5 238V is the clear choice for mobile systems where power draw and thermal output matter. Its 17-watt TDP makes it suitable for thin laptops, and its performance rivals older desktop processors like the Core i7-11700F and Ryzen 5 3600X. The Core 7 251E is the desktop part, and its 65-watt TDP, ECC support, and DDR4/DDR5 compatibility position it for workstation and server-adjacent builds. Without recorded benchmarks for the 251E, the verdict must remain provisional: the 238V is the measured performer, while the 251E is the specification-driven performer awaiting data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 251E | Intel Core Ultra 5 238V |

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

| Series | None | Core Ultra Series 2 |

| Cores | 24 | 8 |

| Threads | 32 | 8 |

| Boost clock | 5.60 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Bartlett Lake | Lunar Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 257 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 2 MB per core | 2.5 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 36 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | Depends on motherboard |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc 130V |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | January 2025 | September 2024 |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SRQDUQ657 | SRPN5SRPN4 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251E wins on raw core and thread counts, offering 24 cores and 32 threads against the 238V's 8 cores and 8 threads. It also has a higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, a larger 36 MB L3 cache versus 8 MB, and a higher 65-watt TDP, which indicates a design capable of sustaining heavy loads. The 251E supports ECC memory, which the 238V does not, and it offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes compared to 4, making it the more expandable platform. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the 238V's memory support depends on the motherboard. Its launch MSRP is $384, and it was released in January 2025.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins on efficiency and measured performance. Its 17-watt TDP is a fraction of the 251E's 65 watts, making it far better suited for battery-powered laptops. It is built on a 3 nm process from TSMC, a more advanced node than the 251E's 10 nm Intel process. Its per-core cache allocation is larger, with 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, compared to 80 KB and 2 MB on the 251E. It carries the newer Arc 130V integrated graphics. The 238V has a recorded average benchmark score of 21981 and sits at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, with no recorded scores for the 251E. Its nearest rivals include the Core i7-11700F and Ryzen 5 3600X, both at a 0% delta, which shows it competes with older desktop processors despite being a mobile chip. It was released in September 2024 and has no launch MSRP on record.

For workloads such as multi-threaded rendering, server-style tasks, or memory-heavy applications that benefit from ECC and large shared cache, the 251E's specification sheet suggests it holds the advantage. For portable computing, reduced power draw, and verified performance against a known set of benchmarks, the 238V is the measured leader. The database currently confirms wins for the 238V only because it has data; the 251E remains an unverified contender.