Intel Core Ultra 5 245K vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H shows a decisive result: the 245K wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The largest margin appears in PassMark data compression, where the 245K scores 458817 against 276539, a 65.9% advantage. Random string sorting follows closely at 61.7%, with scores of 55098 and 34082 respectively. Extended instructions show a 57.4% gap (37617 versus 23906), and data encryption shows 55.8% (33286 versus 21367).

Multi-threaded rendering workloads reveal a similar pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 245K posts 3850 versus 2504, a 53.8% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 15368 against 10213, a 50.5% gap, while Cinebench R23 multicore records 25066 versus 16331, a 53.5% difference. Floating point math also favors the desktop part heavily: 130678 against 84067, or 55.4%. Integer math shows 98524 versus 64934, a 51.7% advantage. PassMark multithread scores 43047 versus 28717, a 49.9% lead.

The single-thread results are closer but still favor the 245K. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows 322 versus 305, a 5.6% edge. Cinebench R23 singlecore records 2132 against 2044, a 4.3% difference. The largest single-thread gap appears in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the 245K scores 2169 against 1441, a 50.5% margin. PassMark single thread shows 4714 versus 4180, a 12.8% lead. PassMark physics posts 3081 versus 2697, a 14.2% gap, and find prime numbers records 414 against 304, a 36.2% difference.

The overall average benchmark score confirms the separation: the 245K averages 54053, while the 338H averages 33989. The desktop chip sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, whereas the mobile chip sits at the 84th percentile. In the nearest rival comparison, the 245K is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6505P, 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700F, and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Phi 7290, while trailing the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D by 1.3%. The 338H is 0.3% behind the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12800HX, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6353P, and 0.7% behind the AMD EPYC 4244P.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different series and generations. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is part of Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, and belongs to the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is part of Core Ultra Series 3, built on the Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake codename, and belongs to the Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H) generation. Both use a 3 nm process node, but the foundries differ: TSMC produces the 245K, while Intel produces the 338H.

Core counts differ as well. The 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. Neither part uses simultaneous multithreading. The desktop chip has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost for the mobile chip. The 245K carries a 125 W TDP, while the 338H is rated at 25 W. The desktop part has an unlocked multiplier; the mobile part does not.

Cache configurations also differ. The L1 cache is identical at 192 KB per core for both. The L2 cache is 3 MB per core on the 245K and 2.5 MB per core on the 338H. Shared L3 cache totals 24 MB on the desktop chip and 18 MB on the mobile chip. The 245K also has a larger transistor count at 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the 338H has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Memory support splits along platform lines. The 245K uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The 338H uses LPDDR5X with dual-channel support and a higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, but no ECC support. PCIe lanes also differ: the 245K provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 338H provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the 245K uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU, while the 338H uses Arc B370.

The sockets are incompatible. The 245K uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets the desktop market segment, while the 338H uses Intel BGA 2540 and targets mobile. Release dates also differ: the 245K launched on 2024-10-23, and the 338H launched on 2026-01-04. The 245K has a launch MSRP of $319, while the 338H has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers are SRQCT for the 245K and SA4REQ9EW for the 338H. Both parts are marked as active in production status.

Where Each One Wins

The data consistently favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K across every measured workload. For multi-threaded rendering, the 245K leads by margins between 49.9% and 53.8% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. This makes the desktop part the stronger choice for CPU-bound rendering tasks, compilation workloads, and any application that scales across all cores. The 14-core configuration with 3 MB L2 per core and 24 MB shared L3 supports this advantage.

In data-heavy workloads, the 245K shows its largest leads. Data compression at 65.9% and random string sorting at 61.7% are the two biggest gaps in the entire comparison. Encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, and integer math all show margins above 51%. These results indicate that the desktop chip handles bulk data processing, cryptographic operations, and math-heavy simulations with substantially more throughput.

The 338H does not win any benchmark, but its smaller deficits in single-thread tests are notable. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the gap is only 5.6%, and in Cinebench R23 singlecore it is 4.3%. PassMark single thread shows a 12.8% difference. These are the closest results in the entire comparison, suggesting that the Panther Lake architecture, despite its lower clocks and reduced core count, retains competitive per-core efficiency. The 338H also delivers higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s, which could benefit memory-bound mobile workloads even though the overall benchmark results favor the larger desktop part.

The 338H operates at a 25 W TDP, which is one-fifth of the 245K's 125 W rating. The mobile chip's lower power envelope and BGA socket indicate a design intended for thin-and-light systems, while the desktop chip's higher power budget allows sustained performance in tower systems with adequate cooling. The 338H's Arc B370 integrated graphics also differ from the 245K's Arc Xe-LPG 64EU solution, though neither is benchmarked in the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The 245K leads in PassMark single thread by 12.8% (4714 versus 4180). In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the lead narrows to 4.3% (2132 versus 2044).

Q: How do the TDP ratings compare?

A: The 245K is rated at 125 W, while the 338H is rated at 25 W.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The 245K supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and ECC, while the 338H supports LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and no ECC.

Q: Do both processors use the same manufacturing node?

A: Both use a 3 nm process node, but the 245K is manufactured by TSMC and the 338H by Intel.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The 245K provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 338H provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What are the L3 cache sizes?

A: The 245K has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 338H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear split by platform and workload type. For desktop users running multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, or math-heavy applications, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is the stronger part. It wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with most multi-threaded margins above 50%. Its 14 cores, 24 MB L3 cache, 5.20 GHz boost clock, and 125 W power budget support sustained high throughput. The 245K also holds a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 54053.

For mobile systems, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H offers a different trade-off. It delivers 84th percentile ranking and an average score of 33989, with its closest rival comparisons grouped within 0.7% of its score. The 338H uses a 25 W TDP, LPDDR5X memory, and a BGA socket, which positions it for portable devices where power efficiency matters more than absolute performance. Its single-thread results are within 4.3% to 12.8% of the desktop chip, which keeps everyday responsive tasks competitive despite the large multi-thread gap.

The choice depends on whether the workload runs on a desktop platform or a mobile platform. The 245K requires Intel Socket 1851 and supports DDR5 with ECC, while the 338H requires Intel BGA 2540 and supports LPDDR5X without ECC. The 245K also has an unlocked multiplier, while the 338H does not. No recorded benchmark shows the 338H ahead, so the data does not support selecting it for raw compute performance. Its role is defined by the mobile form factor and lower power envelope.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 245K | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

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

| Series | Core Ultra Series 2 | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Cores | 14 | 12 |

| Threads | 14 | 12 |

| Base clock | 4.20 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1851 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Arrow Lake-S | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) | Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 17,800 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 243 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 cache | 3 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 24 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU | Arc B370 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2024-10-23 | 2026-01-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $319 | Not recorded |

| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |

| Part number | SRQCT | SA4REQ9EW |