Intel Core Ultra 5 225 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H represent two distinct approaches within Intel's lineup: a desktop part with high sustained clocks versus a mobile part with a lower power envelope. The benchmark data shows a clear split in performance depending on the workload, with the desktop chip winning most tests but the mobile chip taking specific victories.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 25,891 in the multicore test, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 16,331. That is a 58.5% lead for the desktop processor. The single-core gap is even larger: 3,655 versus 2,044, a 78.8% advantage. These are the largest swings in the entire comparison, indicating that the Ultra 5 225 has substantially higher sustained single-thread performance when measured by this renderer.

However, the Cinebench R20 results tell a different story. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins both tests decisively. In the multicore test, it scores 10,213 against 6,317, a 38.1% margin. The single-core test shows 1,441 versus 891, also a 38.2% margin. This reversal between R20 and R23 is striking. The data suggests the two processors respond very differently to the workload characteristics of each benchmark version.

The Cinebench R15 results favor the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, but by smaller margins. The multicore score is 2,609 versus 2,504, a 4.2% lead. The single-core score is 368 versus 305, a 20.7% lead. These are modest wins compared to the R23 results, showing that the desktop chip does not dominate every legacy renderer test.

PassMark tests show a consistent pattern of wins for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225. The largest PassMark victory is in the find prime numbers test, where it scores 358 versus 304, a 17.8% lead. The extended instructions test shows a 13.6% advantage (27,162 versus 23,906). Data compression and floating point math each show a 9.5% lead. Data encryption shows a 4.3% edge (22,285 versus 21,367). Integer math is nearly identical: 65,345 versus 64,934, a 0.6% difference. Random string sorting shows a 7.4% lead, and the multithread test shows a 6.1% lead.

The passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread scores are identical for each processor, at 4,412 for the Ultra 5 225 and 4,180 for the Ultra 5 338H, a 5.6% advantage for the desktop part.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins only three of the seventeen head-to-head tests. Beyond the two Cinebench R20 tests, it wins the PassMark physics test with a score of 2,697 versus 2,342, a 13.2% lead. That physics result is notable because it is a clear win for the mobile chip in a compute-heavy workload.

Overall, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 14 of the 17 recorded tests. The average benchmark score reflects this: 36,938 for the desktop chip versus 33,989 for the mobile chip. The desktop part sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the mobile part sits at the 84th percentile.

The Verdict

The data indicates the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the stronger overall processor for most compute tasks. Its wins span a wide range of tests, from rendering to integer math to data compression. The 58.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and the 78.8% lead in R23 single-core are the most decisive results in the comparison. The desktop chip also holds a 5.6% lead in PassMark single-thread performance, which matters for everyday responsiveness.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is not a weak chip, but its wins are narrower. The 38.1% and 38.2% margins in Cinebench R20 are substantial, but they are isolated to that specific benchmark version. The 13.2% lead in PassMark physics is a genuine strength, but it does not offset the losses elsewhere.

For users who prioritize rendering workloads as measured by Cinebench R23, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the clear choice. For users who rely on Cinebench R20 for validation, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H would appear superior, but that result does not carry over to other tests. The recorded data shows the desktop chip wins the majority of comparisons, so it takes the overall recommendation.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins in rendering (Cinebench R15 and R23), all PassMark tests except physics, and single-threaded performance. Its strengths are most pronounced in Cinebench R23, where it leads by 58.5% multicore and 78.8% single-core. It also wins data compression by 9.5%, which benefits file archiving and database workloads. The extended instructions lead of 13.6% suggests an advantage in encryption or compression algorithms that use those instructions.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in Cinebench R20 (both multicore and single-core) and PassMark physics. The physics win of 13.2% is its best PassMark result, indicating a capability in physics simulation or gaming physics calculations. The Cinebench R20 wins are the largest margins the mobile chip achieves, but they are not replicated in the other Cinebench versions.

The use-case split is clear. The desktop chip is better for general compute, rendering in most benchmarks, and single-threaded tasks. The mobile chip is better for specific workloads that match the Cinebench R20 pattern and the PassMark physics test. The mobile chip also has a lower TDP of 25 watts versus 65 watts, which matters for power-constrained systems.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 3,655, which is 78.8% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H's score of 2,044.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H win any test by a large margin?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R20 multicore by 38.1% (10,213 versus 6,317) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 38.2% (1,441 versus 891).

Q: How does the PassMark physics test compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins that test with a score of 2,697, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 2,342, a 13.2% lead for the mobile chip.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average score of 36,938, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average score of 33,989.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 14 of the 17 recorded tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 3.

Q: How close are the integer math scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 65,345 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 64,934, a difference of only 0.6%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 3.

Both are built on a 3 nm process node, but they use different foundries. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is fabricated by TSMC, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is fabricated by Intel. The desktop chip has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The mobile chip does not have recorded transistor or die size data.

The core configurations differ. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. Neither supports simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts. The L1 cache is the same at 192 KB per core for both. The L2 cache differs: 3 MB per core for the desktop chip versus 2.5 MB per core for the mobile chip. The L3 cache also differs, with 20 MB shared for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and 18 MB shared for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H.

The integrated graphics are different. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Arc B370 graphics. This is a notable difference for systems that rely on the integrated GPU.

The PCIe lane counts differ significantly. The desktop chip supports Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The mobile chip supports Gen 5 with only 4 lanes from the CPU. This affects expansion options for add-in cards and storage.

Memory support also differs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 supports DDR5 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X memory. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the memory bandwidth is different: 102.4 GB/s for the desktop chip versus 136.5 GB/s for the mobile chip. The mobile chip has higher memory bandwidth despite its smaller memory bus lane configuration.

Specification Differences

The base and boost clocks differ. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The desktop chip has a higher base clock by 1.40 GHz and a higher boost clock by 0.20 GHz.

The thermal design power is very different. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a TDP of 25 watts. The mobile chip uses less than half the power budget of the desktop chip.

The socket types are incompatible. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Intel BGA 2540, a ball-grid array for mobile systems. This means they are not interchangeable in any motherboard.

The market segments confirm the intended use. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is a mobile part. The release dates differ, with the desktop chip releasing on 2025-01-06 and the mobile chip releasing on 2026-01-04.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a launch MSRP of $246. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Neither supports ECC memory.

The part numbers are different: SRQCZSRVF7 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and SA4REQ9EW for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H. Both are currently marked as Active in production status.