Intel Core 7 360 vs Intel Core Ultra 3 205 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a one-sided comparison. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 7 360 does not win a single benchmark in the database. The largest margins appear in PassMark workloads, while the smallest gap shows up in single-threaded tests.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 3 205 scores 19,856 against the Core 7 360's 13,634, a delta of -31.3%. The single-core result in the same test shows 2,803 versus 1,924, also -31.4%. The pattern holds across Cinebench R15 and R20, with multi-core deltas of -31.3% and single-core deltas of -31.6% and -31.4% respectively.

PassMark results widen the gap further. Data compression shows the Core Ultra 3 205 at 260,651 versus 142,877, a -45.2% delta. Extended instructions follow closely at 22,578 versus 12,390, a -45.1% delta. The largest single margin is in find prime numbers: 268 versus 120, a -55.2% delta. Floating point math records 75,136 against 44,963, a -40.2% delta. Integer math delivers 54,755 versus 34,238, a -37.5% delta. Multi-threaded PassMark sees 26,167 versus 15,544, a -40.6% delta.

The closest result in the entire dataset is PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 3 205 scores 4,575 versus 4,274, a -6.6% delta. This suggests the per-core architecture advantage of the Core 7 360 narrows the gap in lightly threaded work, but it does not overcome the Core Ultra 3 205's advantage. Physics, random string sorting, and data encryption all fall in the -39.8% to -43.3% range.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 3 205 wins every measured category, but the magnitude of its advantage varies by workload type. In heavily threaded and memory-intensive tasks, the Core Ultra 3 205 dominates. The data compression result at -45.2% and the extended instructions result at -45.1% indicate a substantial lead in workloads that scale with cores, cache, and memory bandwidth.

The Core 7 360 comes closest in single-threaded performance. The -6.6% delta in PassMark single-thread demonstrates that its architecture, despite fewer cores and lower power envelope, competes respectably in tasks that depend on one core's efficiency. However, even this is a loss, not a win.

For integer and floating point math, the Core Ultra 3 205 holds a clear but smaller edge than in compression or encryption. Integer math at -37.5% and floating point at -40.2% still represent major performance gaps, but they are less severe than the -55.2% seen in prime number finding. The Core 7 360's 6 cores and 6 threads simply cannot match the 8 cores and 8 threads of the Core Ultra 3 205 in parallel workloads.

The average benchmark score confirms the hierarchy: the Core Ultra 3 205 averages 31,473, while the Core 7 360 averages 18,374. The Core Ultra 3 205 sits at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, the Core 7 360 at the 72nd. Neither processor appears outside its nearest rival cluster, but the Core Ultra 3 205's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 7 240H, AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX, Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, and Intel Core i5-13500, all scoring within 0.1% of each other. The Core 7 360's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-13100, Intel Core 5 330, Intel Core i3-14100, and Intel Core 3 305, all within 0.4% of its score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different silicon designs. The Intel Core 7 360 is built on the Wildcat Lake codename, part of the "Core 5 (Wildcat Lake)" generation. It uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 uses Arrow Lake architecture with the "Ultra 3 (Arrow Lake)" generation, also on a 3 nm node, but fabricated by TSMC. The Core Ultra 3 205 has a reported transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm²; the Core 7 360's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Core counts differ: the Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Neither processor uses hyper-threading, so thread counts equal core counts. L1 cache is identical at 192 KB per core. L2 cache differs: 2.5 MB per core on the Core 7 360, 3 MB per core on the Core Ultra 3 205. L3 cache shows a larger gap: 6 MB shared on the Core 7 360 versus 15 MB shared on the Core Ultra 3 205.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 3 205 supports only DDR5 but uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs substantially: the Core 7 360 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 3 205 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 7 360 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core Ultra 3 205 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 EU. The sockets are different: the Core 7 360 uses Intel BGA 1516, the Core Ultra 3 205 uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core 7 360 is a mobile part, while the Core Ultra 3 205 is a desktop part.

Specification Differences

Clock speeds show a notable difference. The Core 7 360 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 3 205 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The higher base clock of the Core Ultra 3 205 contributes to its sustained performance, while the boost clocks are close.

TDP differs significantly: 15 watts for the Core 7 360 versus 57 watts for the Core Ultra 3 205. This reflects their intended market segments and cooling requirements. The Core 7 360's lower power envelope suits mobile use, while the Core Ultra 3 205's higher TDP supports desktop operation.

Release dates and launch MSRP also differ. The Core 7 360 has a listed release date of 2026-04-15 and a launch MSRP of $426. The Core Ultra 3 205 has a release date of 2025-07-31 and a launch MSRP of $140. Both have active production status and locked multipliers. Part numbers are SAE3E for the Core 7 360 and SRVFC for the Core Ultra 3 205.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Core Ultra 3 205?

A: The Core Ultra 3 205 has 15 MB shared L3 cache, while the Core 7 360 has 6 MB shared L3 cache, a difference of 9 MB.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 3 205 has 102.4 GB/s bandwidth via a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Core 7 360 has 59.7 GB/s via a single-channel bus.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 3 205 scores 268 versus 120, a -55.2% delta.

Q: What is the smallest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 3 205 scores 4,575 versus 4,274, a -6.6% delta.

Q: Do both processors use the same process node?

A: Both use a 3 nm process node, but the Core 7 360 is fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 3 205 is fabricated by TSMC.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear choice for users who prioritize raw performance. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 wins every benchmark in the database, with advantages ranging from -6.6% to -55.2%. Its 8 cores, 15 MB L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and 57-watt TDP deliver consistently higher scores across Cinebench and PassMark workloads. The 82nd percentile placement versus the 72nd percentile reinforces its position.

The Intel Core 7 360 offers no benchmark wins. Its closest result is single-thread performance, trailing by only -6.6%, which indicates a competent core design. Its 15-watt TDP and mobile BGA 1516 socket make it suitable for low-power laptops, where the Core Ultra 3 205's desktop Socket 1851 and 57-watt TDP would not apply. The database shows that the Core 7 360's nearest rivals are lower-tier desktop chips like the Core i3-13100 and Core i3-14100, placing its performance in that range.

Users building a desktop system should select the Core Ultra 3 205 based on the recorded data. Users constrained to a mobile platform with a BGA 1516 socket have only the Core 7 360 as an option in this comparison, but they should expect lower scores across all measured tests. The Core Ultra 3 205's launch MSRP of $140 also appears in the database, though the comparison does not require price analysis. The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Core Ultra 3 205 is the faster processor in every recorded metric.