Intel Core 7 253PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record splits these two processors nearly evenly, with the Intel Core 7 253PE taking 9 wins and the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H taking 8. The split is not random; it follows a clear pattern tied to workload type. The Core 7 253PE dominates in integer-heavy and multi-threaded rendering tasks. Its largest victory comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 114158 against 62070, a 83.9% advantage. It also wins every Cinebench test by a consistent 3.7% to 3.8% margin, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core modes.

The Core Ultra 5 336H answers in different categories. It wins PassMark data encryption by 13.6%, extended instructions by 11.1%, and prime number finding by a massive 53.8%. It also takes floating point math, physics simulation, random string sorting, and the PassMark single-thread test, though by smaller margins. The physics result is notable: 2682 versus 1845, a 31.2% gap in favor of the mobile chip. This distribution suggests the Ultra 5 336H handles encryption, cryptography, and scientific workloads with greater efficiency, while the Core 7 253PE is built for raw integer throughput and sustained rendering performance.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design schools. The Core 7 253PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. It is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, using the Intel Socket 1700. The Core Ultra 5 336H belongs to the Panther Lake family, specifically Panther Lake-H, fabricated on a 3 nm node, also at Intel's foundry. It is a mobile processor with a 25 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket.

Core counts differ substantially. The 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the 336H has 16 cores but only 16 threads. This means the desktop chip relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 20 threads, whereas the mobile chip has more physical cores but no thread doubling. Cache layouts also diverge. The 253PE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The 336H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3. The desktop part's larger L3 pool helps explain its multi-core rendering wins.

Memory support differs as well. The 253PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel access and a measured bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The 336H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a higher bandwidth figure of 115.2 GB/s. The 253PE supports ECC memory; the 336H does not. PCIe lanes also differ: the 253PE provides 16 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the 336H provides 12 Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics are different too, with the 253PE using UHD Graphics 730 and the 336H using Intel Xe3 Graphics.

Clock speeds favor the desktop chip. The 253PE has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The 336H runs at 1.90 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. This clock advantage, combined with the larger L3 cache, underpins the 253PE's consistent Cinebench lead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a uniform pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 253PE scores 2507 against 2418, a 3.7% lead. The single-core R15 result is 354 versus 341, a 3.8% lead. R20 multi-core brings 10449 versus 10076, again 3.7%. R20 single-core is 1475 versus 1422, another 3.7%. R23 multi-core shows 24880 versus 23991, and R23 single-core shows 3512 versus 3387, both at 3.7%. The consistency of this margin across every Cinebench iteration indicates a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark multi-thread shows a smaller win for the 253PE at 29271 versus 28545, a 2.5% edge. The integer math result is the headline: 114158 versus 62070, a 83.9% blowout. Data compression also goes to the 253PE, with 339133 versus 280340, a 21% advantage. These three wins suggest the desktop chip excels when the workload is highly parallel and integer-oriented.

The 336H claims the remaining PassMark tests. Data encryption shows 21291 versus 18385, a 13.6% win. Extended instructions deliver 24542 versus 21806, an 11.1% margin. Prime number finding is the largest mobile win: 299 versus 138, a 53.8% difference. Floating point math is close, 82415 versus 80870, a 1.9% edge. Physics simulation shows 2682 versus 1845, a 31.2% gap. Random string sorting goes 34402 versus 32777, a 4.7% margin. The PassMark single-thread test gives the 336H a slim 4013 versus 3955 win, a 1.4% edge.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect different testing pools. The 253PE has an average score of 40557 and sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The 336H has an average score of 34485 and sits at the 84th percentile. The nearest rivals for the 253PE include the Intel Core 5 223PE at 40585, the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H at 40518, the Intel Xeon 6357P at 40630, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40431, all within 0.3% of its average. The 336H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700HX at 34554, the Intel Core i5-13450HX at 34333, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X at 34260, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 at 34222, all within 0.8%.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by use case. The Intel Core 7 253PE is the choice for sustained multi-core rendering, integer math, and data compression workloads. Its Cinebench wins across R15, R20, and R23, combined with the 83.9% integer math advantage and 21% data compression lead, make it the stronger processor for content creation and number-crunching tasks that rely on thread parallelism. The 33 MB shared L3 cache and 5.50 GHz boost clock support this profile.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is the better option for encryption, scientific simulation, and workloads that use extended instructions. Its 13.6% data encryption win, 11.1% extended instructions win, and 53.8% prime number finding win indicate a specialized execution engine for these tasks. The 31.2% physics simulation lead and the higher memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s also point to strengths in certain computation styles. The 16 physical cores without hyperthreading, combined with the 3 nm process, give it a different compute character.

For desktop users who render or compile, the 253PE is the data-backed pick. For mobile users or those running encryption and scientific code, the 336H shows superior results in those specific domains. The overall percentile ranking favors the 253PE at 87th versus 84th, but the per-test breakdown shows the 336H is not a general downgrade, it is a specialized alternative.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE wins 9 tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins 8 tests.

Q: How large is the integer math performance gap?

A: The Core 7 253PE scores 114158 in PassMark integer math versus 62070 for the Core Ultra 5 336H, a 83.9% advantage.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 336H win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread test with 4013 versus 3955, a 1.4% margin. The Core 7 253PE wins all Cinebench single-core tests instead.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core 7 253PE has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core Ultra 5 336H has 115.2 GB/s.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Core 7 253PE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 336H has 18 MB.

Q: How do the core counts differ?

A: The Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 253PE | Intel Core Ultra 5 336H |

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

| Cores | 10 | 16 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | True | False |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | Not available |