Intel Core 7 253PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The Intel Core 7 253PE and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are two actively produced processors from Intel, aimed at different market segments. The Core 7 253PE is a desktop chip built on the Bartlett Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra 5 338H is a mobile processor using the Panther Lake architecture. The recorded benchmark data shows a close contest, with the Core 7 253PE winning 9 head-to-head tests and the Core Ultra 5 338H winning 8, yet the overall average benchmark score differs significantly. This analysis walks through the architecture, specification, and benchmark differences to clarify where each processor excels.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has an average benchmark score of 40557, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33989.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE is manufactured on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses a 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is higher than the 4.70 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H does not.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The largest gap is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Intel Core 7 253PE leads by 71.8% with a score of 3512 compared to 2044 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from distinct architectural lineages. The Intel Core 7 253PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 7 generation, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is based on the Panther Lake architecture and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3.

The manufacturing process differs sharply. The Core 7 253PE uses a 10 nm node, whereas the Core Ultra 5 338H is built on a 3 nm node, both produced by Intel. This process difference likely contributes to the mobile chip's lower power envelope, but the recorded data does not quantify the transistor density or die size.

The core layouts are fundamentally different. The Core 7 253PE presents 10 cores with 20 threads, a typical multi-threaded configuration for a desktop part. The Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores but only 12 threads, indicating a design without Hyper-Threading or with a different core composition. Cache structures also diverge: the Core 7 253PE has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 2 MB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 33 MB. The Core Ultra 5 338H has a larger L1 cache at 192 KB per core and a larger L2 cache at 2.5 MB per core, but a much smaller shared L3 cache of 18 MB.

Memory support further separates them. The desktop part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the mobile part exclusively supports LPDDR5X. The memory bandwidth is higher on the Core Ultra 5 338H, with 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 7 253PE. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Core 7 253PE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 338H offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics are another point of divergence. The Core 7 253PE includes UHD Graphics 730, whereas the Core Ultra 5 338H includes Arc B370. The market segments are clear: the Core 7 253PE is a Desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 5 338H is a Mobile processor on Intel BGA 2540.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate a clear split in strengths. The Intel Core 7 253PE dominates in multi-core rendering workloads and integer math. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24880 is significantly ahead, and its Passmark integer math score of 114158 is a major win. It also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core, data compression, and Passmark multithread tests. This processor appears best suited for tasks that rely on sustained multi-threaded performance, such as rendering, video encoding, and complex simulations.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in a different set of tests. It takes the Passmark data encryption test with a score of 21367, extended instructions with 23906, find prime numbers with 304, floating point math with 84067, physics with 2697, random string sorting with 34082, and single-thread with 4180. These wins cover encryption, physics simulation, and certain single-threaded operations. The mobile chip also holds a slight edge in Passmark single-thread performance, indicating that its architecture handles specific instruction-level workloads efficiently despite the lower overall clock speeds.

The data suggests the Core 7 253PE is a stronger choice for heavy parallel compute tasks, while the Core Ultra 5 338H offers advantages in specialized instruction execution and physics workloads. The difference in wins is narrow at 9 versus 8, but the magnitude of wins heavily favors the desktop chip in the larger multi-core tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly all core specification fields. The Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the desktop part and 1.90 GHz for the mobile part. Boost clocks are 5.50 GHz and 4.70 GHz, respectively. The TDP is 65 W for the Core 7 253PE and 25 W for the Core Ultra 5 338H.

The socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop chip and Intel BGA 2540 for the mobile chip. The process node is 10 nm versus 3 nm. Cache configurations differ in all levels: L1 is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core, and L3 is 33 MB shared versus 18 MB shared.

Memory support lists DDR4, DDR5 for the Core 7 253PE and LPDDR5X for the Core Ultra 5 338H. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus 136.5 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Core 7 253PE. PCIe lanes are 16 on the desktop part and 4 on the mobile part, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc B370. The release dates are recorded as 2026-03-08 for the Core 7 253PE and 2026-01-04 for the Core Ultra 5 338H. The Core 7 253PE has a launch MSRP of $384, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core Ultra 5 338H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite reveals the most dramatic performance differences. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 7 253PE scores 24880 against 16331 for the Core Ultra 5 338H, a delta of 52.3%. The single-core R23 test shows an even larger gap of 71.8%, with scores of 3512 and 2044. Cinebench R15 multi-core is nearly tied, with the Core 7 253PE ahead by only 0.1%, while R15 single-core favors the desktop chip by 16.1% (354 versus 305). Cinebench R20 results follow a similar pattern, with the Core 7 253PE ahead by 2.3% in multi-core and 2.4% in single-core.

The Passmark tests show a more balanced distribution. The Core 7 253PE wins integer math by a massive 75.8% (114158 versus 64934) and data compression by 22.6% (339133 versus 276539). It also edges out the mobile chip in multithread by 1.9% (29271 versus 28717). The Core Ultra 5 338H counters with a 54.6% win in find prime numbers (304 versus 138), a 31.6% win in physics (2697 versus 1845), and a 14% win in data encryption (21367 versus 18385). It also leads in extended instructions by 8.8%, floating point math by 3.8%, random string sorting by 3.8%, and single-thread by 5.4% (4180 versus 3955).

The pattern is consistent: the Core 7 253PE wins overwhelmingly in tests that scale with core count and multi-threading, while the Core Ultra 5 338H wins in tests that favor its architectural efficiency and per-core capabilities, despite having a lower boost clock. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is particularly striking, as the 71.8% delta suggests a major architectural advantage for the desktop chip in that specific workload.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear selection based on workload type. The Intel Core 7 253PE is the stronger processor for multi-threaded desktop workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (52.3% ahead), integer math (75.8% ahead), and data compression (22.6% ahead) make it the better choice for rendering, scientific computing, and other parallel tasks. Its higher TDP of 65 W and desktop socket align with a system designed for sustained performance. The 33 MB L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory also provide flexibility for desktop builders.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is better suited for tasks that leverage its specific strengths. Its wins in physics (31.6% ahead), find prime numbers (54.6% ahead), and data encryption (14% ahead) indicate an edge in certain analytical and security-related workloads. Its lower TDP of 25 W and mobile BGA 2540 socket make it appropriate for portable systems. The 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth and Arc B370 integrated graphics also give it a platform advantage for mobile use cases, even if its L3 cache is smaller at 18 MB.

The overall average benchmark score of 40557 for the Core 7 253PE versus 33989 for the Core Ultra 5 338H reflects the desktop chip's broader strength in the recorded tests. However, the mobile chip's wins in 8 out of 17 tests, including the single-thread Passmark test, show that it is not without merit. For users prioritizing multi-core compute and desktop expansion, the Core 7 253PE is the clear pick. For those needing a mobile processor with specific instruction-level advantages and lower power consumption, the Core Ultra 5 338H is the relevant option. The percentileVsAllCpus data places the Core 7 253PE at 87 and the Core Ultra 5 338H at 84, confirming the desktop part holds a slightly higher overall ranking.