Intel Core 7 360 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is the dominant processor in this comparison, winning every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core 7 360. The data is unequivocal: the 245HX delivers massively higher multi-threaded performance, significantly faster single-core results, and a commanding lead in every PassMark workload. The Core 7 360, while a capable and efficient mobile chip, is outclassed in almost every measurable way. The 245HX is the clear choice for any workload that demands raw processing power, while the Core 7 360 may be considered only in scenarios where its lower power envelope is the absolute priority.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate a complete victory for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX. It wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Core 7 360 failing to take a single test. The average benchmark score difference is stark: the 245HX records an average score of 48287, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 360 averages 18374, sitting in the 72nd percentile. This places the 245HX in competition with the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 and the Intel Core i5-14600K, while the Core 7 360 is comparable to the Intel Core i3-13100 and Intel Core i3-14100. The data suggests that the 245HX belongs to a higher performance tier entirely. For users who need maximum compute capability in a mobile platform, the 245HX is the unequivocal choice. The Core 7 360, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, is a fundamentally less capable part for demanding tasks, though its 15 W TDP does indicate a focus on efficiency rather than outright performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture, codenamed Wildcat Lake, and is part of the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. In contrast, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is based on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-HX, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. It is also built on a 3 nm process, but the foundry is TSMC. This difference in foundry is a key distinction, though the performance impact is best measured by the benchmark results.

The core configurations differ drastically. The Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without multithreading, but with over twice the physical core count. This explains the massive multi-threaded benchmark advantage of the 245HX. The cache hierarchy also differs. Both have a 192 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 2.5 MB per core on the Core 7 360 versus 3 MB per core on the Ultra 5 245HX. The shared L3 cache is significantly larger on the 245HX at 24 MB, compared to just 6 MB on the Core 7 360. The integrated graphics are different as well: the Core 7 360 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the 245HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units. The 245HX also has a larger transistor count of 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die, whereas the transistor count and die size for the Core 7 360 are not recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The performance gap is most pronounced in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 32358, while the Core 7 360 scores 13634, a delta of -57.9% for the 360. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (13590 vs 5726, -57.9%) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (3261 vs 1374, -57.9%). The 245HX is consistently around 57.9% faster in these multi-threaded tests, which aligns with its 14-core versus 6-core advantage.

Single-core performance also favors the 245HX, though the margin is smaller. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 245HX scores 4568 against 1924 for the 360, a -57.9% delta. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows 1918 vs 808 (-57.9%), and R15 single-core shows 460 vs 193 (-58%). These results indicate that the 245HX has a significantly stronger single-core capability, despite the higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. The PassMark single-thread test shows a closer result, with the 245HX scoring 4481 against 4274, a smaller -4.6% delta, suggesting that in this specific test, the architectures are more comparable.

The PassMark suite reveals the breadth of the 245HX's dominance. In data compression, it scores 393071 versus 142877 (-63.7%). In data encryption, it scores 30022 versus 11164 (-62.8%). Extended instructions show 31212 vs 12390 (-60.3%). Floating point math shows 120735 vs 44963 (-62.8%), and integer math shows 92150 vs 34238 (-62.8%). The largest delta is in find prime numbers, where the 245HX scores 359 against 120, a -66.6% difference. The multithread test shows 38069 vs 15544 (-59.2%), and physics shows 2526 vs 1213 (-52%). Random string sorting completes the sweep with 47616 vs 17636 (-63%). The data confirms that the 245HX is faster in every single measured category.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets highlight the different design goals of these two processors. The Core 7 360 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The 245HX has a much higher TDP of 55 W, compared to 15 W for the Core 7 360. The Core 7 360 uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the 245HX uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket. Memory support differs: the Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the 245HX supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The PCIe configuration also differs, with the Core 7 360 offering Gen 4 with 6 lanes, while the 245HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The multiplier is unlocked on the 245HX, but locked on the Core 7 360. The release dates are different, with the 245HX released earlier on 2025-01-12 and the Core 7 360 on 2026-04-15. The Core 7 360 has a launch MSRP of $426, while no MSRP is recorded for the 245HX. The part numbers are SRVFM for the 245HX and SAE3E for the 360.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245HX has a shared L3 cache of 24 MB, while the Core 7 360 has a shared L3 cache of 6 MB.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 7 360 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX has a TDP of 55 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245HX has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to 4.80 GHz for the Core 7 360.

Q: Which processor supports faster PCIe?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245HX supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the Core 7 360 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245HX has an average benchmark score of 48287, while the Core 7 360 has an average score of 18374.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX wins in every single benchmark category recorded in the database. Its victories span all Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests, and all PassMark workloads including data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithreading, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. The smallest margin of victory is in the PassMark single-thread test, where it is only 4.6% faster, but it still wins. This processor is the superior choice for any application that benefits from high core counts, high memory bandwidth, and fast single-core execution. The data shows no workload where the Core 7 360 comes out ahead.

The Intel Core 7 360 does not win any of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks. Its only potential advantage lies in its power profile. With a TDP of 15 W versus 55 W for the 245HX, it is designed for a much lower power envelope. This suggests it may be suited for fanless or ultra-portable designs where battery life is prioritized over sustained performance. However, the benchmark data does not include any power efficiency metrics, so this cannot be quantified here. Based strictly on the recorded performance scores, the Core 7 360 is the weaker processor in all measured aspects.