Intel Core i7-13700HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits this comparison cleanly by workload type. The Intel Core i7-13700HX wins 11 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H takes 6. The i7-13700HX is the clear choice for heavily threaded productivity, content creation, and any task that scales across many cores. Its wins include massive margins in integer math (79.6% ahead), data compression (42% ahead), and Cinebench R23 multi-core (25.4% ahead). The Ultra 5 338H, however, is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness and specific physics-based workloads. It wins all single-thread tests by 8.3% to 10.8%, plus a dominant 59.2% lead in prime number finding and a 29.3% lead in physics. If your daily driver is office work, web browsing, or lightly threaded apps, the Ultra 5 338H delivers better per-core performance with a dramatically lower 25W TDP versus 55W. If you render, compile, or batch-process, the i7-13700HX is the stronger tool despite its higher power draw. Both sit at the 84th percentile among all CPUs, so neither is a slouch.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700HX. It leads in every multi-threaded benchmark in the head-to-head data: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 20479 versus 16331 (25.4% ahead), Cinebench R20 multi-core scores 11290 versus 10213 (10.5% ahead), and PassMark multi-thread scores 32637 versus 28717 (13.7% ahead).

Q: Which CPU wins in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core (2044 versus 1875, 8.3% ahead), Cinebench R15 single-core (305 versus 272, 10.8% ahead), and PassMark single-thread (4180 versus 3819, 8.6% ahead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-13700HX has an average benchmark score of 34554, while the Ultra 5 338H scores 33989. The i7-13700HX's nearest rival is the Core Ultra 5 336H with a 0.2% delta, and the Ultra 5 338H's nearest rival is the Core Ultra 7 165H with a -0.3% delta. Both CPUs sit at the 84th percentile overall.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i7-13700HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. The i7-13700HX also has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-13700HX supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H does not list ECC support.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i7-13700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X only, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design eras. The i7-13700HX is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX variant, using Intel's 10 nm process node with a die size of 257 mm². It uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket. The Ultra 5 338H is a Panther Lake part, specifically Panther Lake-H, built on Intel's 3 nm process node. It uses the newer Intel BGA 2540 socket. The process node difference is substantial: 10 nm versus 3 nm, which explains the Ultra 5 338H's lower 25W TDP versus 55W for the i7-13700HX.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The i7-13700HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 on the i7-13700HX helps in multi-core workloads with shared data. The per-core L1 and L2 caches on the Ultra 5 338H are larger, which boosts single-threaded performance.

Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-13700HX uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 338H uses Arc B370. PCIe lanes also differ: the i7-13700HX has Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 338H has Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. The i7-13700HX has an unlocked multiplier, the Ultra 5 338H does not. Release dates are also far apart: January 2023 for the i7-13700HX versus January 2026 for the Ultra 5 338H.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: 16 cores and 24 threads on the i7-13700HX versus 12 cores and 12 threads on the Ultra 5 338H. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz versus 1.90 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: 55W versus 25W. The i7-13700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X only. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the Ultra 5 338H at 136.5 GB/s. ECC memory support is present on the i7-13700HX, absent on the Ultra 5 338H. PCIe lanes are 20 on the i7-13700HX versus 4 on the Ultra 5 338H. The i7-13700HX is unlocked, the Ultra 5 338H is locked. The i7-13700HX has a launch MSRP of $485; no launch MSRP is listed for the Ultra 5 338H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-13700HX dominates multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 3277 versus 2504, a 30.9% lead. In R20 multi-core, it scores 11290 versus 10213, a 10.5% lead. In R23 multi-core, it scores 20479 versus 16331, a 25.4% lead. The single-core Cinebench results flip: the Ultra 5 338H wins R15 single-core 305 versus 272 (10.8% ahead) and R23 single-core 2044 versus 1875 (8.3% ahead), but the i7-13700HX wins R20 single-core 1593 versus 1441 (10.5% ahead).

PassMark results show a clear split. The i7-13700HX wins integer math by a massive 79.6% (116617 versus 64934), data compression by 42% (392725 versus 276539), random string sorting by 22.4% (41717 versus 34082), multi-thread by 13.7% (32637 versus 28717), data encryption by 4.8% (22386 versus 21367), floating point math by 2.1% (85863 versus 84067), and extended instructions by a slim 0.9% (24127 versus 23906). The Ultra 5 338H wins prime number finding by 59.2% (304 versus 124), physics by 29.3% (2697 versus 1908), and single-thread by 8.6% (4180 versus 3819).

Where Each One Wins

Choose the Intel Core i7-13700HX for any workload that uses many threads. The 16 cores and 24 threads give it a decisive edge in integer-heavy calculations, compression, and rendering. The 79.6% lead in integer math and 42% lead in data compression make it the obvious pick for developers, data analysts, and anyone working with large datasets. The 30.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 25.4% lead in R23 multi-core show it is better suited for 3D rendering and video encoding. The larger 30 MB L3 cache and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes also make it more capable for systems with discrete GPUs and heavy I/O. Its 55W TDP is higher, but it buys real multi-threaded performance.

Choose the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H for single-threaded responsiveness and efficiency. It wins every single-thread benchmark, with an 8.6% lead in PassMark single-thread and 10.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The 59.2% win in prime number finding and 29.3% win in physics suggest it handles specialized math workloads and physics simulations better. The 3 nm process node and 25W TDP make it far more power-efficient, which matters for thin-and-light laptops where battery life is critical. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (192 KB and 2.5 MB versus 80 KB and 2 MB) support its single-thread advantage. The Arc B370 integrated graphics also outclass the UHD Graphics 770, though the data does not include graphics benchmarks. For a compact notebook with modest cooling, the Ultra 5 338H is the practical choice. For a performance laptop with a dGPU and robust cooling, the i7-13700HX is the stronger option.