Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H

The Verdict

The benchmark data in the database presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H. The 290HX Plus is the clear choice for any workload that benefits from high core counts and sustained multithreaded performance. Its average benchmark score of 79574 places it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the 358H, with an average score of 40967, sits at the 87th percentile. The 290HX Plus is positioned among desktop-class rivals, including the Intel Core i9-14900KF (0.3% ahead) and the Intel Core i9-14900K (0.6% ahead), whereas the 358H competes with mobile processors like the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (0.6% behind) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (0.6% behind). For users requiring maximum compute throughput, the 290HX Plus is the only option between these two. The 358H, however, remains relevant for scenarios where the data shows a significantly lower power envelope and a different integrated graphics solution.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and foundries. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh architecture, with a codename of Arrow Lake-HX. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 3 nm process node, featuring 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3, using the Panther Lake architecture, specifically Panther Lake-H. This chip is also on a 3 nm process node, but it is manufactured by Intel's own foundry, not TSMC. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the 358H.

Core configuration differs substantially. The 290HX Plus contains 24 cores and 24 threads, indicating no hyper-threading. The 358H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Cache hierarchy also separates the two. Both share the same L1 cache at 192 KB per core and L2 cache at 3 MB per core. The L3 cache, however, is much larger on the 290HX Plus at 36 MB shared, compared to 18 MB shared on the 358H. The 290HX Plus supports DDR5 memory and ECC memory, while the 358H supports LPDDR5X memory and does not support ECC. The integrated graphics are different: the 290HX Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while the 358H uses Arc B390. The 290HX Plus offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, whereas the 358H offers only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The 290HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier, and the 358H does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant advantage for the 290HX Plus appears in multithreaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the 290HX Plus scores 39684 against 18747 for the 358H, a delta of 111.7%. The gap is also pronounced in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the 290HX Plus scores 5981 versus 3027, a 97.6% difference. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 76.5% lead, with scores of 21198 and 12011. PassMark multithread testing shows a 75.8% advantage, with 59439 against 33802.

Single-core performance also favors the 290HX Plus, though by a smaller margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 13.3% lead, with scores of 2356 and 2080. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 12.8% difference, at 340 versus 301.5. PassMark single-thread results show a 20.1% advantage, with scores of 4951 and 4124. The 290HX Plus also wins in Cinebench R20 single-core by 76.5%, scoring 2992 against 1695, a result that aligns closely with its multicore advantage in that test.

The 290HX Plus dominates in specialized PassMark tests. Data compression shows a 98.1% lead, with 658724 against 332508. Integer math is 98.3% higher, at 164839 versus 83147. Floating-point math is 94.3% higher, at 201773 versus 103842. Data encryption is 92% higher, at 50008 versus 26046. Extended instructions are 88.1% higher, at 51290 versus 27274. Random string sorting is 99% higher, at 80327 versus 40357. Find prime numbers is 54% higher, at 519 versus 337. The smallest win for the 290HX Plus is in PassMark physics, where it leads by 12.1%, scoring 3387 against 3021.

Specification Differences

The database records several fields where the two processors differ. The core count is 24 for the 290HX Plus and 16 for the 358H. Thread counts match core counts: 24 and 16 respectively. Base clock for the 290HX Plus is 2.70 GHz, while the 358H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz. Boost clock for the 290HX Plus is 5.50 GHz, compared to 4.80 GHz for the 358H. Thermal design power is 55 for the 290HX Plus and 25 for the 358H. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 2114 for the 290HX Plus and Intel BGA 2540 for the 358H. Codename is Arrow Lake-HX Refresh for the 290HX Plus and Panther Lake for the 358H. Generation is listed as "Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake-HX)" versus "Ultra X7 (Panther Lake-H)". Foundry differs: TSMC for the 290HX Plus, Intel for the 358H. Transistor count is 17,800 million for the 290HX Plus, with no figure for the 358H. Die size is 243 mm² for the 290HX Plus, with no figure for the 358H. L3 cache is 36 MB for the 290HX Plus and 18 MB for the 358H. Memory support is DDR5 for the 290HX Plus and LPDDR5X for the 358H. Memory bandwidth is 102.4 GB/s for the 290HX Plus and 153.6 GB/s for the 358H. ECC support is present on the 290HX Plus and absent on the 358H. PCIe lanes are 20 for the 290HX Plus and 4 for the 358H. Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for the 290HX Plus and Arc B390 for the 358H. Multiplier unlocked status is true for the 290HX Plus and false for the 358H. Release date for the 290HX Plus is 2026-03-16, and for the 358H it is 2026-01-04.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is significantly ahead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 39684 against 18747 for the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, a 111.7% difference.

Q: Is the single-core performance also better on the 290HX Plus?

A: Yes. The 290HX Plus leads in all single-core tests, including a 20.1% advantage in PassMark single-thread (4951 versus 4124) and a 13.3% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core (2356 versus 2080).

Q: What are the differences in memory support?

A: The 290HX Plus supports DDR5 memory with ECC capability, while the 358H supports LPDDR5X memory without ECC. The 358H has a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s compared to 102.4 GB/s for the 290HX Plus.

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The 358H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The 290HX Plus has a shared L3 cache of 36 MB. The 358H has a shared L3 cache of 18 MB.

Q: Are both processors on the same process node?

A: Both use a 3 nm process node, but the 290HX Plus is fabricated by TSMC, while the 358H is fabricated by Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every recorded benchmark comparison in the database. Its largest advantages are in multithreaded rendering and compute tasks. The 111.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore indicates a clear edge for CPU-intensive rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads. PassMark multithread, with a 75.8% lead, supports this conclusion for general parallel processing. The 98.3% lead in integer math and the 94.3% lead in floating-point math point to strong performance in scientific computing, financial modeling, and data processing. The 99% lead in random string sorting suggests advantages in data manipulation and database workloads. The 92% lead in encryption indicates faster cryptographic operations. The 98.1% lead in data compression makes the 290HX Plus the better choice for archiving and file compression tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has no benchmark wins to claim. Its advantages are structural rather than performance-based. The data shows a lower thermal design power of 25 compared to 55 for the 290HX Plus, which indicates a lower power draw target for the 358H. The 358H also records a higher memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s, which could benefit memory-bound tasks, though no benchmark in the database confirms this. It uses a different socket, Intel BGA 2540, which may be found in different system designs. The 358H has a different integrated graphics solution, Arc B390, compared to the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU on the 290HX Plus. The 358H also has an earlier release date of 2026-01-04 compared to 2026-03-16 for the 290HX Plus. For workloads that can rely on the integrated GPU or that operate within a tighter power budget, the 358H may be the intended part, but the recorded CPU benchmark data shows no scenario where it outperforms the 290HX Plus.