Intel Core i9-12950HX vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core i9-12950HX wins 5 of the 17 recorded tests, while the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H takes 12. The margin of victory, however, tells the real story. The Ultra X7 358H dominates in single-threaded and specialized workloads, while the i9-12950HX holds ground in specific multi-core and integer tasks.

Starting with Cinebench, the results are mixed. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i9-12950HX edges ahead with a score of 3107 versus 3027, a 2.6% advantage. The Ultra X7 358H counters in Cinebench R20 multicore with 12011 against 11061, a 7.9% lead. The R23 multicore test flips back to the i9-12950HX, where it scores 20263 versus 18747, an 8.1% win. This back-and-forth suggests the two chips respond differently to workload scaling. The i9-12950HX has 24 threads to the Ultra X7 358H's 16 threads, which helps in the R23 test, but the newer Panther Lake architecture compensates elsewhere.

Single-core performance is not close. The Ultra X7 358H wins Cinebench R15 singlecore with 301.5 versus 274, a 9.1% margin. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, it scores 1695 against 1561, again 7.9% ahead. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows the largest single-thread gap: 2080 versus 1885, a 9.4% advantage. The PassMark single-thread test confirms the trend, with the Ultra X7 358H scoring 4124 against 3778, an 8.4% lead. The newer 3 nm process node and higher per-core cache clearly benefit the Ultra X7 358H in latency-sensitive tasks.

The PassMark suite reveals where each chip excels. The i9-12950HX wins PassMark integer math decisively: 109586 versus 83147, a 31.8% advantage. This is the largest margin in either direction. Data compression also favors the i9-12950HX, with 367930 against 332508, a 10.7% lead. Random string sorting is closer, with the i9-12950HX ahead by 2.1% (41209 versus 40357). These wins align with the i9-12950HX's higher thread count and larger shared L3 cache of 30 MB.

The Ultra X7 358H wins the remaining PassMark tests by wide margins. Data encryption shows a 17.9% lead (26046 versus 21395). Extended instructions go to the Ultra X7 358H by 18.7% (27274 versus 22163). Floating point math is 22.6% ahead (103842 versus 80402). The biggest single-test gap is find prime numbers, where the Ultra X7 358H scores 337 against 135, a 59.9% advantage. Physics testing also favors the newer chip, with 3021 versus 2084, a 31% lead. PassMark multithread goes to the Ultra X7 358H at 33802 versus 31673, a 6.3% margin.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i9-12950HX has an average score of 42487, while the Ultra X7 358H averages 40967. Both sit in the same percentile range, with the i9-12950HX at the 88th percentile and the Ultra X7 358H at the 87th. The nearest rivals for the i9-12950HX include the Intel Core i9-12900K at 0.4% ahead and the Core i9-12900KF at 0.8% behind. The Ultra X7 358H's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 0.6% ahead. The two chips are close in overall standing, but their workload profiles diverge sharply.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-12950HX is the choice for integer-heavy workloads and high-thread-count tasks that scale beyond 16 threads. Its 31.8% lead in PassMark integer math is the standout result. Data compression at 10.7% ahead reinforces this pattern. The Cinebench R23 multicore win of 8.1% shows that the 24-thread configuration extracts more performance from certain rendering workloads. Random string sorting, while a narrow 2.1% win, still favors the older chip.

The Ultra X7 358H wins where single-thread efficiency and specialized instruction throughput matter. The 59.9% lead in find prime numbers indicates a major advantage in integer-heavy algorithmic loops despite losing the broader integer math test. Floating point math at 22.6% ahead and physics at 31% ahead point to strong computational throughput per clock. Data encryption at 17.9% and extended instructions at 18.7% show the newer architecture handles cryptographic and SIMD workloads with greater efficiency. The 6.3% PassMark multithread win, despite having 8 fewer threads, suggests the Ultra X7 358H's per-core performance compensates for the thread deficit.

For single-threaded applications, the Ultra X7 358H is clearly superior across all recorded Cinebench and PassMark tests. The 9.4% Cinebench R23 singlecore lead and 8.4% PassMark single-thread lead are consistent. Users running lightly threaded software, such as older games or productivity apps with limited parallelism, would see tangible benefits from the newer chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and foundry nodes. The i9-12950HX uses Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². The Ultra X7 358H uses Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm process. The process node difference explains much of the single-thread performance gap, as the newer node allows higher efficiency and lower latency.

Core and thread counts differ despite both having 16 cores. The i9-12950HX supports 24 threads, while the Ultra X7 358H supports 16 threads. This means the i9-12950HX relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 24 threads, while the Ultra X7 358H runs one thread per core. The i9-12950HX has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost of 5.00 GHz. The Ultra X7 358H has a base of 1.90 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, the Ultra X7 358H wins most single-threaded tests, indicating higher instructions per clock.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i9-12950HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Ultra X7 358H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the Ultra X7 358H likely drive its single-thread wins, while the i9-12950HX's larger L3 helps in multi-threaded shared-data workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The i9-12950HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration and includes ECC memory support. The Ultra X7 358H supports only LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s and no ECC. The i9-12950HX has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Ultra X7 358H has 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i9-12950HX pairs with UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra X7 358H includes Arc B390.

The i9-12950HX uses socket Intel BGA 1964 and launched in May 2022 with a launch MSRP of $590. The Ultra X7 358H uses Intel BGA 2540 and launched in January 2026. The i9-12950HX has a TDP of 55, while the Ultra X7 358H has a TDP of 25. Both are locked multipliers and both are listed as active production. The part numbers are SRLGG for the i9-12950HX and SA4RAQ9ET for the Ultra X7 358H.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-12950HX boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H boosts to 4.80 GHz. Despite the lower boost, the Ultra X7 358H wins all recorded single-thread benchmarks.

Q: How do the thread counts compare?

A: The i9-12950HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra X7 358H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The i9-12950HX uses simultaneous multithreading to gain 8 additional threads.

Q: Which chip is better for data compression?

A: The i9-12950HX wins PassMark data compression with a score of 367930 versus 332508, a 10.7% advantage. This aligns with its larger shared L3 cache of 30 MB.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the Ultra X7 358H ahead by 59.9%, scoring 337 against 135 for the i9-12950HX. This is the most lopsided result in the head-to-head data.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The i9-12950HX supports ECC memory, while the Ultra X7 358H does not. The Ultra X7 358H also only supports LPDDR5X, whereas the i9-12950HX supports DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The Ultra X7 358H includes Arc B390 integrated graphics, while the i9-12950HX uses UHD Graphics 770. The database records no graphics benchmarks, so the comparison is limited to the listed specifications.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. The Intel Core i9-12950HX suits workloads that leverage high thread counts and integer math. Its 31.8% lead in PassMark integer math and 10.7% lead in data compression are decisive. The 8.1% win in Cinebench R23 multicore confirms it handles rendering tasks with many parallel threads. Users running compression tools, database workloads, or multi-threaded rendering should favor the i9-12950HX.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H is the better choice for single-threaded performance and specialized computational tasks. Its wins span Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 singlecore tests, plus PassMark single-thread, floating point math, physics, encryption, extended instructions, and find prime numbers. The 59.9% margin in prime number finding and 31% lead in physics show exceptional per-core throughput. The lower TDP of 25 versus 55 also suggests it fits in more power-constrained designs.

The average benchmark scores are close, with the i9-12950HX at 42487 and the Ultra X7 358H at 40967. The i9-12950HX sits at the 88th percentile, the Ultra X7 358H at the 87th. Neither chip is a clear overall winner. The choice depends entirely on workload. For integer-heavy, high-thread-count tasks, the i9-12950HX leads. For single-thread and specialized instruction workloads, the Ultra X7 358H is the stronger option.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-12950HX | Intel Core Ultra X7 358H |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Series | Core 12th Gen | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Cores | 16 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 55 | 25 |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-HX | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 153.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc B390 |

| Release Date | 2022-05-09 | 2026-01-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $590 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SRLGG | SA4RAQ9ET |

The two processors share the same core count and both use Intel foundries, but nearly every other specification differs. The i9-12950HX offers more threads, higher clocks, larger L3 cache, ECC support, more PCIe lanes, and a broader memory compatibility range. The Ultra X7 358H counters with a smaller process node, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, higher memory bandwidth, newer integrated graphics, and a significantly lower TDP.