Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX vs Intel Xeon Gold 6338T Comparison

Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX vs Intel Xeon Gold 6338T is a comparison between a 2025 mobile processor built on a 3 nm TSMC process and a 2021 server chip on Intel's 10 nm node. The data shows one clear winner in most workloads, but the Xeon Gold 6338T holds specific advantages where its extra cores and memory bandwidth matter. Below is a breakdown of the recorded benchmark results, architectural differences, and where each part is best suited.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6338T has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265HX scores 4500 in PassMark single-thread, which is 91.7% higher than the Xeon Gold 6338T's 2348.

Q: Which chip is more power-efficient based on TDP?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265HX has a 55 W TDP, versus 165 W for the Xeon Gold 6338T, making the mobile part far more efficient per watt.

Q: Does the Xeon Gold 6338T support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon Gold 6338T supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 265HX does not.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Xeon Gold 6338T has 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth due to its eight-channel DDR4 support, compared to 102.4 GB/s on the Core Ultra 7 265HX with dual-channel DDR5.

Q: What is the overall benchmark percentile for each?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265HX sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Xeon Gold 6338T sits at the 92nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The Core Ultra 7 265HX belongs to the Arrow Lake-HX family, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It uses 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Xeon Gold 6338T is from the Ice Lake-SP generation, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm node. The mobile chip has 20 cores and 20 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, whereas the server chip has 24 cores and 48 threads. The cache layout differs: the Core Ultra 7 265HX has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, plus 30 MB shared L3. The Xeon Gold 6338T has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, plus 36 MB shared L3.

The Core Ultra 7 265HX uses a dual-channel DDR5 memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Xeon Gold 6338T uses an eight-channel DDR4 bus, doubling the bandwidth to 204.8 GB/s. The mobile processor includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units; the server chip has no integrated graphics. PCIe support also differs: the Core Ultra 7 265HX offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Xeon Gold 6338T offers Gen 4 with 64 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 7 265HX has an unlocked multiplier, but the Xeon Gold 6338T is locked. The mobile part is marked as Active production, and so is the server part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 7 265HX wins 13 of the 17 recorded benchmarks. The most decisive victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 406 versus 118, a 244.1% advantage. PassMark physics shows a 156.7% lead (2978 vs 1160). Floating point math also heavily favors the mobile chip: 161605 vs 90584, which is 78.4% higher. Single-thread results are consistently strong, with the Core Ultra 7 265HX leading by 91.7% in both PassMark single-thread tests.

In Cinebench tests, the Core Ultra 7 265HX wins every round. R15 multicore is 4096 vs 3067 (33.6% higher), R20 multicore is 17069 vs 12780 (33.6% higher), and R23 multicore is 40642 vs 30430 (33.6% higher). Single-core Cinebench results also favor the mobile chip by 33.5% to 33.8% across R15, R20, and R23. PassMark multithread gives the Core Ultra 7 265HX a 34% advantage (47985 vs 35801). Data encryption shows a 60% lead (39472 vs 24677).

The Xeon Gold 6338T wins four tests. PassMark data compression is its biggest, 557816 vs 511817, an 8.2% margin. Integer math scores 152275 vs 126954, a 16.6% advantage. Extended instructions are 43292 vs 40741, a 5.9% lead. Random string sorting is 66495 vs 62458, 6.1% higher. These wins are concentrated in integer-heavy and compression workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core Ultra 7 265HX has 20 cores with 20 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338T has 24 cores with 48 threads. Base clock speeds are 2.60 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.30 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. The TDP is 55 W for the mobile chip and 165 W for the server chip.

The process node is 3 nm TSMC for the Core Ultra 7 265HX, versus 10 nm Intel for the Xeon Gold 6338T. The Core Ultra 7 265HX has a measured transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the Xeon Gold 6338T has no recorded transistors or die size. L1 and L2 caches are larger per core on the mobile part: 192 KB and 3 MB, versus 64 KB and 1 MB. L3 cache is smaller at 30 MB, versus 36 MB for the Xeon.

Memory support is DDR5 for the Core Ultra 7 265HX and DDR4 for the Xeon Gold 6338T. Memory bus width is dual-channel versus eight-channel, and bandwidth is 102.4 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported on the Core Ultra 7 265HX but is supported on the Xeon Gold 6338T. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 5 with 20 lanes versus Gen 4 with 64 lanes. The Core Ultra 7 265HX has integrated graphics; the Xeon Gold 6338T does not. The mobile part has an unlocked multiplier; the server part is locked. The release date is 2025-01-12 for the Core Ultra 7 265HX and 2021-04-05 for the Xeon Gold 6338T.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 265HX dominates in all Cinebench workloads, both multi-core and single-core. It wins every rendering test by roughly one-third, which makes it the clear choice for 3D rendering and other CPU-bound creative tasks. The PassMark physics test shows a 156.7% lead, indicating a strong advantage in simulation and gaming physics. Floating point math is 78.4% higher, which helps in scientific and engineering calculations. Data encryption is also 60% faster, so it handles security-heavy tasks better. The massive lead in find prime numbers (244.1%) points to an advantage in integer-heavy logic and prime-number searches.

The Xeon Gold 6338T wins in workloads that depend on raw integer throughput and compression. Integer math is 16.6% higher, and data compression is 8.2% higher. Extended instructions are 5.9% faster, and random string sorting is 6.1% faster. These results indicate that the Xeon Gold 6338T is better suited for database operations, file compression, and string manipulation tasks. Its 48 threads and eight-channel memory bandwidth also suggest that very high thread-count workloads with large memory pools could benefit from its architecture, although the recorded benchmarks show only these four wins.

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is the stronger performer for most applications. It wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with the largest margins in single-thread, physics, and floating-point math. Its 93rd percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 63173 place it above the Xeon Gold 6338T's 92nd percentile and average score of 60572. The Core Ultra 7 265HX is the better choice for creative work, simulation, and general high-performance mobile computing, as long as ECC memory and massive memory bandwidth are not required.

The Intel Xeon Gold 6338T is the right choice for specific server and workstation scenarios. Its 48 threads and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth are essential for heavy multi-threaded server loads. The data shows it wins in integer math, data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting, which are typical of database and compression workloads. Its support for ECC memory and 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes makes it suitable for reliable, expandable server environments. The 165 W TDP is a trade-off for that capability, but the benchmark results show it is the better part for those specific tasks.