Intel Core 7 360 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Core 7 360 also has a lower base clock at 1.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for the Ultra 5 226V.

Q: How do the two processors differ in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Both have a 192 KB L1 cache per core and a 2.5 MB L2 cache per core, but the Ultra 5 226V has a larger 8 MB shared L3 cache compared to 6 MB on the Core 7 360.

Q: Which processor wins in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 wins with a score of 13634, which is 38.4% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V's score of 9848. This is the largest performance gap between the two processors in any benchmark.

Q: What is the difference in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 scores 4274 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 13.9% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V's score of 3754. The Core 7 360 also wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with a 10.3% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has an average benchmark score of 19368, while the Intel Core 7 360 has an average of 18374. The Ultra 5 226V also sits at the 73rd percentile versus the 72nd percentile for the Core 7 360.

Q: How do the memory channels differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 uses a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V uses a dual-channel memory bus. The memory bandwidth for the Ultra 5 226V is not recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core 7 360 wins only 4. However, the magnitude of the wins matters more than the count.

The Intel Core 7 360 dominates in long-form rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13634 is 38.4% higher than the Ultra 5 226V's 9848, which represents the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison. The Core 7 360 also wins the R23 single-core test by 10.3% and the PassMark single-thread test by 13.9%. This pattern suggests the Core 7 360 delivers stronger sustained performance per thread, particularly in workloads that scale with cache and clock speed.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, by contrast, wins across the older Cinebench versions and nearly every PassMark workload. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it leads by 8.5%, and in R20 multi-core it leads by 10.3%. The Ultra 5 226V also wins all PassMark sub-tests except single-thread, with margins ranging from 11.4% in integer math to 27.7% in both prime number finding and Cinebench R15 single-core. Its 8-core configuration appears to provide an advantage in parallel workloads that do not stress the memory bus as heavily as modern renderers.

The data indicates a trade-off: the Core 7 360 excels in newer, more complex rendering tasks and single-threaded performance, while the Ultra 5 226V shows broader strength across legacy benchmarks and general compute tasks. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is particularly notable, as it shows the Core 7 360 overcoming its 2-core deficit, likely due to higher boost clocks and a more efficient architecture for that specific workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages within Intel's mobile lineup. The Intel Core 7 360 is based on the Wildcat Lake architecture, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V uses the Lunar Lake architecture. Both are manufactured on a 3 nm process node, but the Core 7 360 is fabricated by Intel, whereas the Ultra 5 226V is fabricated by TSMC.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyperthreading support. The Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads, also without hyperthreading. Both processors share the same L1 cache per core at 192 KB and the same L2 cache per core at 2.5 MB, but the shared L3 cache differs: 6 MB for the Core 7 360 versus 8 MB for the Ultra 5 226V.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Ultra 5 226V supports memory that depends on the motherboard and uses a dual-channel bus, though its bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 7 360 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 5 226V provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU. This gives the Core 7 360 more PCIe lanes but at a lower generation, while the Ultra 5 226V offers a faster interface with fewer lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Core 7 360 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 5 226V uses the Arc 130V. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are marked as active production parts. The release dates show the Ultra 5 226V launched earlier, on 2024-09-23, while the Core 7 360 launched on 2026-04-15.

Specification Differences

The table of recorded specifications shows the following differences between the Intel Core 7 360 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V:

• Cores: 6 for the Core 7 360 versus 8 for the Ultra 5 226V
• Threads: 6 for the Core 7 360 versus 8 for the Ultra 5 226V
• Base clock: 1.50 GHz for the Core 7 360 versus 2.10 GHz for the Ultra 5 226V
• Boost clock: 4.80 GHz for the Core 7 360 versus 4.50 GHz for the Ultra 5 226V
• TDP: 15 W for the Core 7 360 versus 17 W for the Ultra 5 226V
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 7 360 versus Intel BGA 2833 for the Ultra 5 226V
• Codename: Wildcat Lake for the Core 7 360 versus Lunar Lake for the Ultra 5 226V
• Foundry: Intel for the Core 7 360 versus TSMC for the Ultra 5 226V
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared for the Core 7 360 versus 8 MB shared for the Ultra 5 226V
• Memory bus: Single-channel for the Core 7 360 versus dual-channel for the Ultra 5 226V
• Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s for the Core 7 360 versus null for the Ultra 5 226V
• PCIe: Gen 4, 6 lanes for the Core 7 360 versus Gen 5, 4 lanes for the Ultra 5 226V
• Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for the Core 7 360 versus Arc 130V for the Ultra 5 226V
• Release date: 2026-04-15 for the Core 7 360 versus 2024-09-23 for the Ultra 5 226V
• Launch MSRP: The Core 7 360 has a launch MSRP of $426; the Ultra 5 226V has no recorded launch MSRP

Both processors share the same process node (3 nm), L1 cache per core (192 KB), L2 cache per core (2.5 MB), lack of ECC memory support, and production status (Active). Both also have locked multipliers and target the mobile market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a nuanced performance relationship. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V claims victory in the majority of tests, but the Intel Core 7 360 secures the most significant individual win.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the results are mixed. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 226V scores 1501 versus 1374 for the Core 7 360, a margin of 8.5%. The R15 single-core test shows a larger gap, with the Ultra 5 226V scoring 267 versus 193, a 27.7% advantage. The R20 tests follow a similar pattern: multi-core shows 6381 versus 5726 (10.3% for the Ultra 5 226V), and single-core shows 900 versus 808 (10.2% for the Ultra 5 226V).

The trend reverses in Cinebench R23. The Core 7 360 scores 13634 in multi-core, which is 38.4% higher than the Ultra 5 226V's 9848. This is the largest delta in either direction across all benchmarks. The R23 single-core test also favors the Core 7 360, which scores 1924 versus 1744, a 10.3% lead. The data suggests the R23 workload stresses the Core 7 360's higher boost clock and larger per-core cache efficiency more effectively than the older Cinebench versions.

In the PassMark suite, the Ultra 5 226V dominates nearly every category. Data compression shows 170687 versus 142877, a 16.3% lead. Data encryption shows 12710 versus 11164, a 12.2% lead. Extended instructions show 14724 versus 12390, a 15.9% lead. Prime number finding shows 166 versus 120, a 27.7% lead. Floating point math shows 52270 versus 44963, a 14% lead. Integer math shows 38647 versus 34238, an 11.4% lead. Multithread shows 17850 versus 15544, a 12.9% lead. Physics shows 1449 versus 1213, a 16.3% lead. Random string sorting shows 20813 versus 17636, a 15.3% lead.

The only PassMark test the Core 7 360 wins is single-thread, where it scores 4274 versus 3754, a 13.9% advantage. This result is consistent with its Cinebench R23 single-core win and reinforces the pattern that the Core 7 360 has superior per-thread performance, while the Ultra 5 226V benefits from its additional two cores in most multi-threaded PassMark workloads.

The overall win count stands at 13 for the Ultra 5 226V and 4 for the Core 7 360. However, the Core 7 360's Cinebench R23 multi-core victory is substantial enough to indicate that in modern rendering workloads, it can overcome the Ultra 5 226V's core advantage. The average benchmark scores reflect this balance: the Ultra 5 226V averages 19368, while the Core 7 360 averages 18374, a difference of roughly 5%. Both processors sit near the 72nd and 73rd percentiles respectively, confirming they occupy a similar performance tier overall.