Intel Core i5-13450HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the stronger mobile processor for the vast majority of workloads, winning 14 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i5-13450HX is not obsolete, however, as it retains decisive victories in integer math, data compression, and one multi-core rendering test, making it a viable pick for specific tasks. The data indicates the Ultra 5 338H is the better choice for users prioritizing raw speed in most applications, while the i5-13450HX suits workloads that depend on high throughput in integer-heavy and compression-based tasks.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are clear: the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H should be the default pick for most buyers. It wins 14 of the 17 direct comparisons, including every single-threaded test and the majority of multi-threaded workloads. Its single-core dominance is particularly pronounced, with a 15% lead in Passmark single-thread and a 14.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. For users running typical productivity software, web browsing, or gaming, the Ultra 5 338H offers a tangible performance advantage that will be felt in day-to-day responsiveness.

Choose the Intel Core i5-13450HX only if your primary workload is specifically integer math or data compression. It leads by 28.1% in Passmark integer math and by 10.6% in Passmark data compression. It also narrowly wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 2.9%, a notable result given that the Ultra 5 338H wins the other two Cinebench multi-core tests. The i5-13450HX also has the advantage of a lower average benchmark score gap, trailing by only 1% in overall average score (34333 vs 33989), which suggests that for some mixed workloads, the two are far closer than the head-to-head tally implies.

The Ultra 5 338H is the more efficient and modern option, with a 25W TDP compared to the i5-13450HX's 55W TDP, and it delivers higher performance in most tests. The i5-13450HX is a legacy part from a previous generation, but its specific strengths in integer and compression workloads make it a niche but valid alternative. The verdict is straightforward: the Ultra 5 338H for general excellence, the i5-13450HX for integer-heavy and data-compression tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies from Intel. The i5-13450HX is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10nm process node, and features a hybrid core layout with 10 cores and 16 threads. The Ultra 5 338H uses the newer Panther Lake architecture on a 3nm process node, with 12 cores and 12 threads. The core counts differ significantly: the i5-13450HX has fewer physical cores but more threads, indicating support for hyper-threading, while the Ultra 5 338H has more cores but no threading, resulting in a 1:1 core-to-thread ratio.

Cache configurations also diverge. The i5-13450HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core cache on the Ultra 5 338H likely contributes to its significant single-thread performance advantage. The i5-13450HX compensates with a larger total L3 pool.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The i5-13450HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X. The Ultra 5 also specifies a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-13450HX. The i5-13450HX supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 338H does not. Both are dual-channel designs.

The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i5-13450HX featuring UHD Graphics 710 and the Ultra 5 338H featuring the newer Arc B370. The i5-13450HX has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Ultra 5 338H is locked. The i5-13450HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the Ultra 5 338H uses the newer Intel BGA 2540. The i5-13450HX offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 4, both Gen 5), which is a notable difference for users planning to connect multiple high-speed devices. The i5-13450HX has a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus 1.90 GHz, but the Ultra 5 338H has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins across nearly every category of benchmark, making it the superior all-rounder. Its single-thread performance is consistently higher, with wins in Cinebench R15 (305 vs 248), R20 (1441 vs 1232), R23 (2044 vs 1746), and Passmark single-thread (4180 vs 3553). This translates to better responsiveness in single-threaded applications like legacy software, many games, and everyday tasks. The Ultra 5 338H also wins multi-threaded tests in Cinebench R15 (2504 vs 2503) and R20 (10213 vs 8728), as well as Passmark multithread (28717 vs 25084). It excels in floating-point math (84067 vs 61776), data encryption (21367 vs 16632), extended instructions (23906 vs 19083), physics (2697 vs 1504), and random string sorting (34082 vs 31940).

The i5-13450HX wins in three specific areas. Its most decisive victory is in Passmark integer math, scoring 83209 versus 64934, a 28.1% lead. This indicates superior performance in integer-heavy calculations, which are common in certain types of scientific computing, financial modeling, and data processing. It also wins Passmark data compression (305990 vs 276539) with a 10.6% lead, making it the better choice for file archiving, database compression, and similar storage-heavy tasks. Finally, it wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (16797 vs 16331) by 2.9%, a narrow but notable margin that suggests it can still hold its own in some long-duration rendering workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins every single-threaded benchmark. It leads by 15% in Passmark single-thread (4180 vs 3553), by 14.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2044 vs 1746), and by 18.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core (305 vs 248).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13450HX better for any multi-core workload?

A: Yes, the i5-13450HX wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 2.9% (16797 vs 16331). It also leads in Passmark integer math by 28.1% (83209 vs 64934) and data compression by 10.6% (305990 vs 276539), though these are not strictly multi-core tests.

Q: How do the two compare in terms of power consumption?

A: The Ultra 5 338H has a significantly lower TDP of 25W, compared to the i5-13450HX's 55W. This suggests the Ultra 5 338H is more power-efficient, which is critical for mobile devices.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores, while the i5-13450HX has 10 cores. However, the i5-13450HX has 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 338H has 12 threads, meaning the i5-13450HX supports hyper-threading.

Q: What are the major architectural differences?

A: The i5-13450HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10nm process, while the Ultra 5 338H uses the newer Panther Lake architecture on a 3nm process. The Ultra 5 338H has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but the i5-13450HX has a larger shared L3 cache (20 MB vs 18 MB).

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The Ultra 5 338H features the Arc B370 integrated GPU, which is a newer and more advanced part than the UHD Graphics 710 found in the i5-13450HX.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a clear pattern of the Ultra 5 338H dominating in most tests, with the i5-13450HX claiming a few specific victories. The largest win for the Ultra 5 338H is in Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 304 versus 83, a massive 72.7% lead. This is a pure single-threaded integer test, highlighting the Ultra 5's superior per-core performance. In Passmark physics, the Ultra 5 338H scores 2697 versus 1504, a 44.2% lead, showing a significant advantage in physics calculations. Floating-point math also goes decisively to the Ultra 5 338H, with a score of 84067 versus 61776, a 26.5% lead. Data encryption is another strong win for the Ultra 5 338H, scoring 21367 versus 16632, a 22.2% lead, and extended instructions see a 20.2% lead (23906 vs 19083).

The i5-13450HX's biggest win is in Passmark integer math, where it scores 83209 versus 64934, a 28.1% lead. This is the only test where the i5-13450HX wins by a larger margin than the Ultra 5 338H does in any single test. In data compression, the i5-13450HX scores 305990 versus 276539, a 10.6% lead. The i5-13450HX also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 16797 versus 16331, a 2.9% margin. The remaining wins for the Ultra 5 338H are consistent: Cinebench R20 multi-core (10213 vs 8728, 14.5% lead), Cinebench R20 single-core (1441 vs 1232, 14.5% lead), Cinebench R23 single-core (2044 vs 1746, 14.6% lead), Passmark multithread (28717 vs 25084, 12.7% lead), Passmark single-thread (4180 vs 3553, 15% lead), random string sorting (34082 vs 31940, 6.3% lead), and Cinebench R15 multi-core (2504 vs 2503, negligible margin).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The most obvious difference is core and thread count: the i5-13450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. The i5-13450HX has a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz, but the Ultra 5 338H has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The TDP is vastly different, with the i5-13450HX rated at 55W and the Ultra 5 338H at 25W. The i5-13450HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the Ultra 5 338H uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket. The process node differs significantly: the i5-13450HX is on 10nm, while the Ultra 5 338H is on 3nm.

Cache hierarchies are distinct: the i5-13450HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of L3 shared, while the Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of L3 shared. The memory support differs, with the i5-13450HX supporting DDR4 and DDR5, and the Ultra 5 338H supporting LPDDR5X. The Ultra 5 338H specifies a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while the i5-13450HX does not list this figure. ECC memory is supported by the i5-13450HX but not by the Ultra 5 338H. The i5-13450HX has an unlocked multiplier and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Ultra 5 338H is locked and has 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 710 for the i5-13450HX and Arc B370 for the Ultra 5 338H. The release dates are also different, with the i5-13450HX releasing in early 2023 and the Ultra 5 338H releasing in early 2026.