Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two Intel processors is decisive and instructive. The Intel Core 7 251TE wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H takes 5. The pattern is clear: the desktop-oriented Core 7 dominates sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the mobile Ultra 5 counters in specific single-thread and specialized instruction tests.

The Core 7 251TE's largest victories come in integer math, where it scores 125739 versus 64934, a 93.6% advantage. This reflects its 24-core, 32-thread configuration. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 56.3% lead, 25518 against 16331. Data compression also favors the Core 7 decisively, with 334399 versus 276539, a 20.9% margin. These results indicate heavy parallel workloads, rendering tasks, and database operations are squarely in the Core 7's territory.

The Ultra 5 338H, despite having only 12 cores and 12 threads, wins in categories that reward architectural efficiency rather than raw core counts. Its passmark single-thread score of 4180 beats the Core 7's 3568 by 14.6%. Extended instructions show a 29% advantage, 23906 versus 16974. Find prime numbers is another clear win, 304 versus 140, a 53.9% gap. Physics simulation also favors the Ultra 5, 2697 against 1938, a 28.1% margin.

The use-case split is straightforward. The Core 7 251TE suits desktops where sustained throughput across many threads matters, including content creation, compilation, and server-like workloads. The Ultra 5 338H targets mobile systems where single-thread responsiveness, instruction throughput per clock, and efficiency under lower power constraints are priorities. Notably, the Ultra 5 wins both passmark single-thread entries, confirming its per-core strength.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, built on a 10 nm process node. The Ultra 5 338H belongs to the Panther Lake architecture, specifically Panther Lake-H, on Intel BGA 2540 with a 3 nm process node. The process node difference is substantial: 3 nm versus 10 nm indicates a generational leap in transistor density and power efficiency for the mobile part.

Core counts differ sharply. The Core 7 251TE provides 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Ultra 5 338H offers 12 cores and 12 threads. The Core 7 has no hyperthreading benefit on the Ultra 5, which is a pure 12-core, 12-thread design. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 7 uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 uses larger per-core caches: 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, but only 18 MB shared L3. The die size for the Core 7 is 215 mm², while the Ultra 5's die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory support separates the two further. The Core 7 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 5 338H uses LPDDR5X only, also dual-channel, but with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth, a 52% higher figure. ECC memory is available on the Core 7 but not on the Ultra 5. PCIe lanes differ: the Core 7 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 provides Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes, reflecting the mobile form factor's stricter I/O limits.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 7 251TE carries UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 338H uses Arc B370. The Ultra 5's graphics solution is newer and likely more capable, but the database does not record graphics benchmark scores. The Core 7's market segment is Desktop, the Ultra 5's is Mobile. Their sockets are incompatible: Socket 1700 versus BGA 2540.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single-core win for the Core 7 251TE appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3602 against 2044, a 76.2% advantage. This is an outlier, since the Ultra 5 wins the passmark single-thread tests. The discrepancy suggests the Cinebench R23 version may favor the Core 7's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus the Ultra 5's 4.70 GHz. Cinebench R15 single-core also goes to the Core 7, 362 versus 305, an 18.7% margin.

In multicore tests, the Core 7 leads across all Cinebench versions. R15 multicore shows 2572 versus 2504, a narrow 2.7% gap. R20 multicore shows 10717 versus 10213, a 4.9% lead. R23 multicore is the standout, 25518 versus 16331, a 56.3% advantage. The gap widens as the workload duration increases, indicating the Core 7's sustained multi-core performance holds up better.

The Ultra 5 338H's wins are concentrated in passmark subtests. Extended instructions: 23906 versus 16974, a 29% lead. Find prime numbers: 304 versus 140, a 53.9% lead. Physics: 2697 versus 1938, a 28.1% lead. Single-thread: 4180 versus 3568, a 14.6% lead in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries. These results suggest the Ultra 5's newer architecture executes certain instruction patterns and single-threaded algorithms more efficiently.

Mixed results appear in floating-point math, where the Core 7 wins narrowly, 85607 versus 84067, a 1.8% margin. Data encryption also goes to the Core 7, 22176 versus 21367, a 3.8% lead. Random string sorting favors the Core 7, 39643 versus 34082, a 16.3% lead. Multithreaded passmark goes to the Core 7 with 30022 versus 28717, a 4.5% margin.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE wins with a score of 25518 versus 16331, a 56.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins passmark extended instructions (23906 versus 16974), find prime numbers (304 versus 140), physics (2697 versus 1938), and both passmark single-thread tests (4180 versus 3568).

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 7 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same socket?

A: No. The Core 7 251TE uses Intel Socket 1700. The Ultra 5 338H uses Intel BGA 2540.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates the Intel Core 7 251TE is the stronger choice for desktop users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput. Its 24-core configuration, combined with a 5.40 GHz boost clock and 36 MB shared L3, delivers commanding leads in Cinebench R23 multicore (56.3%), integer math (93.6%), and data compression (20.9%). The 88th percentile ranking versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41650, places it just above rivals like the Core Ultra 7 265H and Core i7-14650HX. Its nearest rival, the Core i7-12850HX, is only 0.3% ahead, indicating tight competition at the top.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, with its 84th percentile ranking and average score of 33989, is positioned differently. It trades raw core count for architectural efficiency, winning single-thread tests by 14.6% and extended instructions by 29%. Its 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth and 3 nm process node make it the appropriate pick for mobile systems where power efficiency and per-core performance matter more than thread count. Its nearest rivals include the Core Ultra 7 165H and Core i7-12800HX, with the Ultra 5 trailing the former by only 0.3%.

The verdict depends on workload and platform. For desktop rendering, compilation, or any heavily parallel task, the Core 7 251TE is the data-backed winner. For mobile computing with lighter multi-threaded demands but a premium on single-thread speed and instruction efficiency, the Ultra 5 338H is the logical selection. The two processors serve distinct market segments, and the benchmark results confirm that neither is a universal substitute for the other.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 7 251TE | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

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

| Cores | 24 | 12 |

| Threads | 32 | 12 |

| Base clock | 1.40 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) | Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Die size | 215 mm² | Not recorded |

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

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 36 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc B370 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2025-01-12 | 2026-01-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | Not recorded |