Intel Core 7 360 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V, which wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The single exception is PassMark single-thread testing, where the Intel Core 7 360 takes the win. The magnitude of the Ultra 7 266V's victories varies substantially across workloads, ranging from a narrow single-digit gap to a swing of more than a third in one test.

In Cinebench rendering workloads, the Ultra 7 266V leads by a consistent margin. The R15 multicore test shows 1374 points for the Core 7 360 versus 1667 points for the Ultra 7 266V, a delta of 17.6 percent. R15 single-core follows the same pattern: 193 versus 235, also 17.9 percent in favor of the Ultra 7 266V. The R20 suite repeats this exactly, with multicore at 5726 versus 6948 and single-core at 808 versus 980, both showing a 17.6 percent gap. R23 multicore delivers 13634 versus 16544, and R23 single-core delivers 1924 versus 2335, again a 17.6 percent difference.

The PassMark integer math test also lands at a 17.6 percent delta, with 34238 for the Core 7 360 and 41558 for the Ultra 7 266V. This consistency suggests the performance difference scales evenly across several CPU-bound workloads. The data encryption test shows 11164 versus 13822, a 19.2 percent gap. Floating point math is 44963 versus 56923, a 21 percent spread. Extended instructions show 12390 versus 15928, a 22.2 percent difference.

The largest single delta appears in the prime number test. The Core 7 360 scores 120, while the Ultra 7 266V scores 191, a 37.2 percent difference. This workload appears to respond strongly to the Ultra 7 266V's architectural advantages. Random string sorting shows 17636 versus 22905, a 23 percent gap. Data compression is 142877 versus 187050, a 23.6 percent difference. The multithread PassMark score is 15544 versus 19461, a 20.1 percent gap, while the physics test shows 1213 versus 1608, a 24.6 percent difference.

The Core 7 360 does claim the PassMark single-thread test. Its score of 4274 beats the Ultra 7 266V's 3943, an 8.4 percent advantage. This is the only benchmark where the Core 7 360 leads, and it appears twice in the data (both as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, with identical scores). This single-thread win suggests the Core 7 360's per-core performance is competitive in light, latency-sensitive tasks, even though the Ultra 7 266V dominates in every other measured category.

The average benchmark score reinforces the gap. The Core 7 360 posts an average of 18374, placing it in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The Ultra 7 266V averages 23297, placing it in the 76th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 7 360 include the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18380 (0 percent delta), the Intel Core 5 330 at 18345 (0.2 percent), the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18318 (0.3 percent), and the Intel Core 3 305 at 18302 (0.4 percent). The Ultra 7 266V's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H at 23277 (0.1 percent), the Intel Core i9-11900F at 23254 (0.2 percent), the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V at 23219 (0.3 percent), and the AMD EPYC 4124P at 23167 (0.6 percent). These rival clusters confirm that the two processors compete in different performance tiers despite both being mobile parts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share several foundational characteristics but diverge on key design choices. Both use a 3 nm process node, but the foundries differ: the Core 7 360 is fabricated by Intel, while the Ultra 7 266V is fabricated by TSMC. Both have identical L1 cache at 192 KB per core and identical L2 cache at 2.5 MB per core. The L3 cache, however, is a clear point of separation. The Core 7 360 has 6 MB shared L3, while the Ultra 7 266V has 12 MB shared L3, double the capacity.

Core counts also differ. The Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. This two-core advantage directly explains much of the multicore benchmark gap, though the single-core Cinebench delta shows architectural efficiency also matters.

The Core 7 360 is built on the Wildcat Lake codename, with its generation listed as Core 5 (Wildcat Lake). The Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, with its generation listed as Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake). The Ultra 7 266V has a higher base clock at 2.20 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, and a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power differs slightly: 15 watts for the Core 7 360 versus 17 watts for the Ultra 7 266V.

Memory architecture shows a major divergence. The Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X (capacity depending on motherboard) with a dual-channel memory bus, delivering 136.5 GB/s. That is more than double the memory bandwidth, a factor that likely contributes to the wide gaps in memory-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The Core 7 360 uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 266V uses Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are distinct: the Core 7 360 carries Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 7 266V carries Arc 140V. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The sockets are different as well. The Core 7 360 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Ultra 7 266V uses Intel BGA 2833. This means the two processors are not interchangeable in a given motherboard design. The release dates are separated by roughly 19 months, with the Ultra 7 266V released on 2024-09-23 and the Core 7 360 released on 2026-04-15. The Core 7 360 has a launch MSRP of $426, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 7 266V. The part numbers are SAE3E for the Core 7 360 and SRPMMSRPMY for the Ultra 7 266V. Both are listed as active production and target the mobile market segment.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V as the stronger processor in nearly every measured workload. Its 15 wins out of 17 benchmarks, higher average score (23297 versus 18374), and higher percentile ranking (76th versus 72nd) indicate a clear overall performance advantage. The Cinebench results, all showing a 17.6 to 17.9 percent gap, confirm that the Ultra 7 266V delivers consistently higher rendering throughput and single-core responsiveness in that suite.

The Core 7 360 is not without merit. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4274 tops the Ultra 7 266V's 3943 by 8.4 percent. For workloads that depend on a single thread and are not memory-bandwidth limited, the Core 7 360 may be the preferable part. Its lower TDP of 15 watts versus 17 watts also indicates a slightly lower thermal envelope, which could matter in compact mobile designs.

The nearest-rival data places each processor in a different competitive bracket. The Core 7 360 sits alongside desktop-class i3 parts like the Intel Core i3-13100 and Core i3-14100. The Ultra 7 266V sits alongside higher-tier parts such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and Intel Core i9-11900F. That positioning reinforces the benchmark results: the Ultra 7 266V is the higher-performing mobile chip, while the Core 7 360 is a more modest mobile offering.

Buyers should select based on workload priorities. The Ultra 7 266V excels in multithreaded rendering, data compression, encryption, physics, and prime number calculations, with deltas ranging from 17.6 percent to 37.2 percent. The Core 7 360 wins only in single-thread PassMark testing. The Ultra 7 266V also doubles the L3 cache and more than doubles memory bandwidth, which explains its strength in data-heavy tasks. The Core 7 360's advantages are limited to a higher single-thread PassMark score, a lower TDP, and a later release date.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: 6 for the Core 7 360, 8 for the Ultra 7 266V
• Threads: 6 for the Core 7 360, 8 for the Ultra 7 266V
• Base clock: 1.50 GHz for the Core 7 360, 2.20 GHz for the Ultra 7 266V
• Boost clock: 4.80 GHz for the Core 7 360, 5.00 GHz for the Ultra 7 266V
• TDP: 15 watts for the Core 7 360, 17 watts for the Ultra 7 266V
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 7 360, Intel BGA 2833 for the Ultra 7 266V
• Architecture: Wildcat Lake for the Core 7 360, Lunar Lake for the Ultra 7 266V
• Codename: Wildcat Lake for the Core 7 360, Lunar Lake for the Ultra 7 266V
• Generation: Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) for the Core 7 360, Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake) for the Ultra 7 266V
• Process node foundry: Intel for the Core 7 360, TSMC for the Ultra 7 266V
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared for the Core 7 360, 12 MB shared for the Ultra 7 266V
• Memory support: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 7 360, LPDDR5X (depends on motherboard) for the Ultra 7 266V
• Memory bus: Single-channel for the Core 7 360, dual-channel for the Ultra 7 266V
• Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s for the Core 7 360, 136.5 GB/s for the Ultra 7 266V
• PCIe: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 7 360, Gen 5 with 4 lanes for the Ultra 7 266V
• Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for the Core 7 360, Arc 140V for the Ultra 7 266V
• Release date: 2026-04-15 for the Core 7 360, 2024-09-23 for the Ultra 7 266V
• Launch MSRP: $426 for the Core 7 360, none recorded for the Ultra 7 266V
• Part number: SAE3E for the Core 7 360, SRPMMSRPMY for the Ultra 7 266V

Fields that match include L1 cache (192 KB per core), L2 cache (2.5 MB per core), ECC support (false for both), multiplier unlock status (false for both), market segment (mobile for both), production status (active for both), and process node (3 nm for both).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core 7 360 wins only the two PassMark single-thread tests.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Core 7 360 scores 13634, while the Ultra 7 266V scores 16544, a 17.6 percent difference in favor of the Ultra 7 266V.

Q: In which test does the Core 7 360 outperform the Ultra 7 266V?

A: The Core 7 360 scores 4274 in the PassMark single-thread test, beating the Ultra 7 266V's 3943 by 8.4 percent.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The Core 7 360 has 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the Ultra 7 266V has 12 MB shared L3 cache, double the amount.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Core 7 360 delivers 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus, while the Ultra 7 266V delivers 136.5 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads.