Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark standing?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 holds a 71st percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V sits at the 75th percentile. The Core Ultra 5 238V also records a higher average benchmark score of 21981, compared to 17779 for the Core 7 350.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Both processors use a 1:1 core-to-thread ratio, meaning neither uses simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two?

A: The Core 7 350 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 238V has a higher base clock of 2.10 GHz but a slightly lower boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 wins both single-thread tests recorded. In Cinebench R15 single-core it scores 292 against 222, a 31.5% advantage. In PassMark single-thread it scores 4100 against 3890, a 5.4% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all multi-threaded Cinebench tests. Its strongest multi-thread win is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 15645 versus 8030, a 48.7% margin.

Q: What memory configurations do the two processors support?

A: The Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 238V uses a dual-channel memory bus, with memory support listed as dependent on the motherboard.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 7 350 and Intel Core Ultra 5 238V represent two distinct design approaches within Intel's mobile lineup. The Core 7 350 is built on the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation family. It uses a 3 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The Core Ultra 5 238V is a Lunar Lake part, belonging to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, and its 3 nm process node is fabricated by TSMC. This foundry difference is significant, as the two chips come from different production lines despite sharing the same process geometry.

Core configuration differs substantially. The Core 7 350 packs 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 238V offers 8 cores and 8 threads. Neither processor supports additional threads beyond its physical core count. The Core Ultra 5 238V therefore provides two additional physical cores, which directly contributes to its multi-threaded performance advantage.

Cache hierarchies are similar at the lower levels but diverge at the shared level. Both processors allocate 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core. The Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 7 350 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This 2 MB difference in L3 capacity gives the Core Ultra 5 238V more room for shared data across its eight cores.

The integrated graphics solutions come from different product families. The Core 7 350 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core Ultra 5 238V uses Arc 130V graphics. These represent different GPU architectures, though the database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either part.

Memory architecture differs in channel count. The Core 7 350 runs a single-channel memory bus and supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 238V runs a dual-channel memory bus, but its memory support is listed as unknown and dependent on the motherboard, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The dual-channel configuration on the Core Ultra 5 238V provides a structural bandwidth advantage, even though no numeric bandwidth value is available.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 7 350 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes. The Core Ultra 5 238V offers Gen 5 with 4 CPU-only lanes. The Core Ultra 5 238V uses a newer PCIe generation, while the Core 7 350 provides more lanes.

Socket compatibility separates these two parts entirely. The Core 7 350 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Intel BGA 2833. These sockets are not interchangeable, meaning the two processors cannot be dropped into the same motherboard. The Core 7 350 has a launch date of April 2026, while the Core Ultra 5 238V launched in September 2024. Production status for both is Active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear performance split between these two processors across 17 benchmark tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins 14 tests, while the Intel Core 7 350 wins 3 tests. The wins for the Core 7 350 are concentrated in single-threaded workloads, while the Core Ultra 5 238V dominates multi-threaded and most general compute tests.

Starting with the single-thread results, the Core 7 350 takes a decisive win in Cinebench R15 single-core. It scores 292 against 222, a 31.5% margin. This is the largest single-thread advantage for either processor in the recorded data. The PassMark single-thread test also goes to the Core 7 350, with a score of 4100 versus 3890, a 5.4% margin. These two tests appear twice in the data set (PassMark single-thread and singlethread are duplicates), so the Core 7 350 actually has three recorded wins from two unique tests.

The Core Ultra 5 238V takes the remaining single-thread tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 927 against 758, an 18.2% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2208 against 2046, a 7.3% margin. This creates an interesting picture: the Core 7 350 wins the older R15 single-thread test by a wide margin, but the Core Ultra 5 238V wins the newer R20 and R23 single-thread tests.

Multi-threaded results heavily favor the Core Ultra 5 238V. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1576 against 1220, a 22.6% margin. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 6570 against 5373, an 18.2% margin. The largest margin in the entire comparison appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 15645 against 8030, a 48.7% advantage. This near-doubling of the R23 multicore score reflects the combination of two additional cores and higher base clock.

PassMark tests also favor the Core Ultra 5 238V across the board. Data compression shows 176532 versus 143123, an 18.9% margin. Data encryption shows 13072 versus 10933, a 16.4% margin. Extended instructions show 15377 versus 12045, a 21.7% margin. Prime number finding shows 174 versus 107, a 38.5% margin. Floating point math shows 53160 versus 42809, a 19.5% margin. Integer math shows 38889 versus 33734, a 13.3% margin. Multithread shows 18407 versus 15170, a 17.6% margin. Physics shows 1546 versus 1173, a 24.1% margin. Random string sorting shows 21585 versus 17238, a 20.1% margin.

The smallest Core Ultra 5 238V win is in Cinebench R23 single-core at 7.3%, while its largest is in Cinebench R23 multicore at 48.7%. The smallest Core 7 350 win is in PassMark single-thread at 5.4%, while its largest is in Cinebench R15 single-core at 31.5%. The pattern is consistent: the Core 7 350 leads in legacy single-thread tests, while the Core Ultra 5 238V leads in essentially everything else.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specification fields. Core count differs: 6 cores for the Core 7 350 versus 8 cores for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Thread count follows the same pattern: 6 threads versus 8 threads. Base clocks differ at 1.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, while boost clocks differ in the opposite direction at 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP values are close but not identical: 15 watts for the Core 7 350 versus 17 watts for the Core Ultra 5 238V.

Socket types are different: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 7 350 and Intel BGA 2833 for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Codename differs: Wildcat Lake versus Lunar Lake. Generation differs: Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) versus Ultra 5 (Lunar Lake). The foundry differs: Intel for the Core 7 350 and TSMC for the Core Ultra 5 238V, even though both use a 3 nm process node.

L3 cache differs: 6 MB shared for the Core 7 350 versus 8 MB shared for the Core Ultra 5 238V. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 192 KB per core and 2.5 MB per core respectively. Memory support differs: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 7 350 versus unknown motherboard-dependent support for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Memory bus differs: single-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is recorded only for the Core 7 350 at 59.7 GB/s, with no figure for the Core Ultra 5 238V.

PCIe differs: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 7 350 versus Gen 5 with 4 lanes for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores versus Arc 130V. Release dates differ: April 2026 for the Core 7 350 versus September 2024 for the Core Ultra 5 238V. The launch MSRP for the Core 7 350 is $469, while the Core Ultra 5 238V has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory. Both are classified as mobile market segments.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 350 wins in scenarios that depend on the specific single-thread test used. Its 31.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core is substantial and suggests strong legacy single-thread performance. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4100 also leads, though by a smaller 5.4% margin. For workloads that rely on older single-thread benchmarks or applications that scale similarly to PassMark single-thread, the Core 7 350 holds an edge. Its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz likely contributes to these wins, as does its lower core count, which can allow more thermal headroom per core under single-thread loads.

The Core Ultra 5 238V wins in nearly every other scenario. Multi-threaded rendering in Cinebench R23 shows its strongest result, with a 48.7% advantage over the Core 7 350. This makes it the clear choice for CPU-bound rendering, video encoding, and other workloads that scale with core count. Its PassMark multithread score of 18407 versus 15170 confirms broad multi-thread superiority. The physics test, which often reflects simulation and game physics workloads, shows a 24.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V.

For data-heavy tasks, the Core Ultra 5 238V also leads. Data compression shows an 18.9% margin, data encryption shows a 16.4% margin, and random string sorting shows a 20.1% margin. These results indicate better handling of memory-intensive and I/O-oriented workloads. The dual-channel memory bus on the Core Ultra 5 238V likely supports these wins, even though the database does not record a specific bandwidth figure for it.

The Core Ultra 5 238V also wins in newer single-thread tests. Its Cinebench R20 single-core lead of 18.2% and Cinebench R23 single-core lead of 7.3% show that its architecture performs well in modern single-thread workloads, despite losing the older R15 test. The two additional cores and higher base clock of 2.10 GHz give it a structural advantage in sustained workloads.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is the stronger overall processor. Its 75th percentile ranking versus the 71st percentile of the Core 7 350, combined with an average benchmark score of 21981 versus 17779, places it clearly ahead in aggregate performance. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all multi-threaded tests and most single-threaded tests.

The Core 7 350 retains a niche for legacy single-thread performance. Its Cinebench R15 single-core win by 31.5% is the largest single-thread margin in the entire comparison. Users running applications that mirror R15 single-thread scaling, or that depend on PassMark single-thread characteristics, would see an advantage from the Core 7 350. Its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz provides a raw frequency advantage in burst workloads.

For general computing, multi-threaded rendering, data processing, and modern single-thread applications, the Core Ultra 5 238V is the better choice. Its 48.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is decisive, and its consistent 13% to 39% margins across PassMark tests indicate broad superiority in common compute tasks. The 8 cores and 8 threads provide a foundation that the 6-core Core 7 350 cannot match in parallel workloads.

The Core Ultra 5 238V also offers a more recent architecture from the Lunar Lake family, a dual-channel memory bus, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. The Core 7 350 counters with Gen 4 PCIe, a single-channel memory bus, and a later release date of April 2026. The Core 7 350 carries a launch MSRP of $469, while the Core Ultra 5 238V has no recorded launch MSRP.

The database shows a processor that wins on raw multi-thread performance and modern single-thread tests, versus one that wins only on older single-thread tests and PassMark single-thread. The Core Ultra 5 238V is the recommended choice for users who need balanced performance across a wide range of workloads. The Core 7 350 fits only where specific legacy single-thread behavior is required and multi-thread performance is secondary.