Intel Core 7 253PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 7 253PE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is decisively lopsided. Across 17 recorded tests, the Core 7 253PE claims 16 wins, while the Core Ultra 5 238V manages a single victory. The overall average benchmark score for the Core 7 253PE is 40557, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 238V averages 21981, sitting in the 75th percentile.

The largest margin of victory for the Core 7 253PE comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 114158 against 38889, a delta of 193.5%. This is a massive gap that reflects the desktop processor's higher thread count and sustained power delivery. Data compression also shows a wide divide: the Core 7 253PE scores 339133 versus 176532, a 92.1% advantage. Extended instructions follow with a 41.8% lead (21806 versus 15377), and data encryption shows a 40.6% edge (18385 versus 13072).

In the Cinebench suite, the Core 7 253PE maintains a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 24880 against 15645, a 59% advantage. Single-core R23 shows 3512 versus 2208, a 59.1% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 10449 versus 6570 (59%), and R20 single-core shows 1475 versus 927 (59.1%). Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core follow the same pattern: 2507 versus 1576 (59.1%) and 354 versus 222 (59.5%), respectively. The consistency of these deltas across all three Cinebench generations indicates a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark multi-thread scoring puts the Core 7 253PE at 29271 against 18407, a 59% lead. Floating point math shows 80870 versus 53160, a 52.1% advantage, and random string sorting delivers 32777 versus 21585, a 51.9% edge. Physics simulation is closer but still favors the Core 7 253PE: 1845 versus 1546, a 19.3% lead.

The single-thread comparison is the tightest result between the two. PassMark single-thread scores are 3955 for the Core 7 253PE and 3890 for the Core Ultra 5 238V, a marginal 1.7% difference. This narrow margin suggests that per-core efficiency is comparable, and the Core Ultra 5 238V's architecture is competitive when only one thread is active.

The Core Ultra 5 238V's only win comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 174 against 138, a 20.7% advantage. This is a specialized integer workload that appears to favor the newer architecture's instruction handling, but it does not offset the broader pattern of defeats. The nearest rivals for each processor further contextualize their standings. The Core 7 253PE sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H and within 0.1% of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H. The Core Ultra 5 238V matches the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X with 0% delta, and sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has an average benchmark score of 40557, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V scores 21981. The Core 7 253PE also holds the 87th percentile ranking versus the 75th percentile for the Core Ultra 5 238V.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The PassMark single-thread scores are 3955 for the Core 7 253PE and 3890 for the Core Ultra 5 238V, a 1.7% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger gap: 3512 versus 2208, a 59.1% advantage for the Core 7 253PE.

Q: Is there any workload where the Core Ultra 5 238V wins?

A: Yes, the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Core Ultra 5 238V scores 174 against 138 for the Core 7 253PE, a 20.7% advantage. This is the only test among the 17 recorded where the Core Ultra 5 238V leads.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: For the Core 7 253PE, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core 5 223PE (40585, -0.1% delta), Intel Core Ultra X7 368H (40518, +0.1%), Intel Xeon 6357P (40630, -0.2%), and AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431, +0.3%). For the Core Ultra 5 238V, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-11700F (21988, 0%), AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (21992, 0%), Intel Core Ultra 5 236V (21952, +0.1%), and AMD EPYC 9534 (21900, +0.4%).

Q: How does the multi-threaded performance gap compare across different benchmarks?

A: The gap is consistent. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show roughly 59% advantages for the Core 7 253PE. PassMark multi-thread also shows 59%. Data compression shows a larger 92.1% gap, while integer math shows 193.5%.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V boosts to 4.70 GHz.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 7 253PE for any workload that benefits from parallel processing or sustained throughput. It wins 16 of 17 benchmark tests, with multi-core deltas consistently around 59% and reaching as high as 193.5% in integer math. Its average benchmark score of 40557 places it in the 87th percentile, while the Core Ultra 5 238V sits at 21981 and the 75th percentile. Anyone selecting between these two for rendering, compilation, or data processing should choose the Core 7 253PE based on the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is the choice only when the single specialized workload of prime number finding matters more than everything else, or when the platform constraints of a mobile segment processor are a requirement. Its single-thread PassMark score of 3890 is close to the Core 7 253PE's 3955, but the Cinebench single-core tests show a 59.1% deficit. The Core Ultra 5 238V's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, both with 0% delta, which places it in a performance class far below the Core 7 253PE's peer group of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H and Intel Core Ultra X7 368H.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Core 7 253PE uses 10 cores with 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses 8 cores with 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Core 7 253PE is rated at 65 W, while the Core Ultra 5 238V is rated at 17 W.

The Core 7 253PE uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Intel BGA 2833. Memory support varies: the Core 7 253PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core Ultra 5 238V's memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard. ECC memory is supported on the Core 7 253PE but not on the Core Ultra 5 238V. PCIe lanes differ as well: the Core 7 253PE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 238V provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ: the Core 7 253PE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Arc 130V. The market segment classification also differs: the Core 7 253PE is a desktop processor, and the Core Ultra 5 238V is a mobile processor. The Core 7 253PE has a launch MSRP of $384. The release dates differ: the Core 7 253PE was released on 2026-03-08, and the Core Ultra 5 238V on 2024-09-23.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The Core 7 253PE is based on the Bartlett Lake codename under the Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Core Ultra 5 238V is based on the Lunar Lake architecture, under the Ultra 5 (Lunar Lake) generation, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. This process node advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V explains its lower power draw, but it does not translate into benchmark superiority in the recorded data.

Cache configurations reveal different design philosophies. The Core 7 253PE has L1 cache of 80 KB per core, L2 cache of 2 MB per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 238V has larger per-core caches: 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 on the Core 7 253PE likely contributes to its strong multi-threaded performance, while the Core Ultra 5 238V's larger per-core caches may explain its competitive single-thread PassMark score.

The core and thread counts are the most consequential difference. The Core 7 253PE offers 10 cores and 20 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 5 238V offers 8 cores and 8 threads with no multithreading. This directly explains the consistent 59% multi-core deltas across the Cinebench suite, as the Core 7 253PE can process roughly twice as many threads concurrently.

The production status for both is Active. Both have locked multipliers. The part numbers are SA4QE for the Core 7 253PE and SRPN5SRPN4 for the Core Ultra 5 238V.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 253PE wins in every category except one specialized test. Its strengths are most pronounced in integer-heavy workloads, where the 193.5% advantage in PassMark integer math shows the benefit of 20 threads over 8. Data compression favors it by 92.1%, and extended instructions by 41.8%. The consistent 59% margins across all three Cinebench generations and PassMark multi-thread indicate that any multi-core rendering, video encoding, or compilation workload will see near-uniform gains.

The Core 7 253PE also wins in single-threaded Cinebench tests by 59.1%, despite the Core Ultra 5 238V's higher per-core cache and newer process node. This is the more surprising result, as single-thread performance typically benefits from architectural efficiency. The 5.50 GHz boost clock likely plays a decisive role here, overcoming the architectural advantages of the 3 nm process.

The Core Ultra 5 238V wins only in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 174 versus 138. This workload appears to respond well to the Lunar Lake architecture's specific instruction handling. Its 17 W TDP, compared to 65 W for the Core 7 253PE, also gives it a clear advantage in power-constrained mobile scenarios, though the database does not record battery life or thermal measurements.

For desktop users with access to standard power delivery and cooling, the Core 7 253PE is the superior processor in every measured benchmark except one. For mobile users where the 17 W power envelope of the Core Ultra 5 238V is a requirement, the lower performance is the trade-off. The 87th percentile versus 75th percentile ranking summarizes the overall hierarchy: the Core 7 253PE belongs in a higher performance class, while the Core Ultra 5 238V competes with the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X.