CPU Comparison

Intel Core Ultra 5 322 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 322 is a 6-core, 6-thread mainstream mobile processor from Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) family, built on the Intel 18A process and targeting thin-and-light laptops with configurable TDP from 25 W up to 55 W and integrated Intel Graphics plus a 46 TOPS NPU for AI workloads.

Intel · Core Ultra Series 3
Intel Core Ultra 5 322
6C / 6T4.4 GHz25 W
8
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core Ultra Series 3
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
12C / 12T4.7 GHz25 W
8.2
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile / Laptop
Mobile
Segment
Mainstream Mobile / Thin-and-Light Laptop
Mid-Range Mobile
Generation
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Launched
2026
2026
Status
Launched
Launched
Codename
Panther Lake
Panther Lake-H
Series
Core Ultra Series 3
Core Ultra Series 3
Family
Core Ultra
Core Ultra
Predecessor
Intel Core Ultra 5 235U / 125U (Series 2 Lunar Lake)
Intel Core Ultra 5 228V (Lunar Lake)
Successor
Unknown – likely updated Panther Lake refresh or next‑generation mobile core
TBD

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
6
12
Threads
6
12
Base Clock
1.9 GHz
1.9 GHz
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.7 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
12 MB
18 MB
TDP
25 W
25 W
Architecture
Architecture
Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3)
Panther Lake (Cougar Cove P-cores, Darkmont E-cores & LP E-cores)
Process Node
Intel 18A (compute tile) / Intel 3 (GPU tile)
Intel 18A (compute tile), TSMC N3E (graphics tile)
Memory
Memory Type
LPDDR5X / DDR5
LPDDR5X
Memory Speed
LPDDR5X-7467 / DDR5-6400
Up to 8533 MT/s
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
128 GB
96 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
FCBGA2540
FCBGA2540
PCIe Version
PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
PCIe Lanes
12
12
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core Ultra 5 32280
Intel Core Ultra 5 338HBest85

Gaming

Intel Core Ultra 5 32275
Intel Core Ultra 5 338HBest78

Virtualization

Intel Core Ultra 5 32260
Intel Core Ultra 5 338HBest70

Efficiency

Intel Core Ultra 5 322Best85
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H82

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core Ultra 5 322Good for on-device AI
  • 46 TOPS NPU supports Windows Studio Effects and Copilot+ features.
  • CPU and GPU also expose Intel DL Boost and OpenVINO/DirectML/WebNN.
  • Not intended for training large models; focused on inference and AI‑enhanced experiences.
Intel Core Ultra 5 338HGood (for local AI)
  • Dedicated NPU 5 with 47 INT8 TOPS accelerates Windows Studio Effects and local AI models.
  • CPU and GPU also support DL Boost and XMX-based AI workloads, but TOPS are lower than on higher-end Ultra 7/9 models.
  • Well suited for consumer AI features and small models, not for training or large-scale inference.

Content Creation

Intel Core Ultra 5 322Moderate
Photo Editing (Lightroom, Photoshop)Light Video Editing (1080p timelines)Casual Streaming with AI effectsStudent Creative Work
Intel Core Ultra 5 338HGood
Adobe Premiere Pro (light 4K timelines)DaVinci Resolve (basic color grading and editing)Blender (viewport rendering, light scenes)Photoshop and LightroomOBS Studio with NPU-accelerated filters

Gaming

Intel Core Ultra 5 322Good for casual 1080p
  • 2 Xe3‑core iGPU is a step up from older UHD graphics but below Arc B390 / discrete GPUs.
  • AV1 encode/decode is useful for streaming and video playback.
  • Best suited for esports and older titles at 1080p medium; modern AAA titles may need low settings or FSR/DLSS equivalents.
Intel Core Ultra 5 338HVery Good (for integrated graphics)
  • Arc B370 10 Xe3 cores at up to 2.4 GHz deliver roughly 70% more performance than Intel’s previous Arc 140V/140T iGPUs and comfortably outpace AMD’s Radeon 890M in synthetic tests.
  • At 35 W, the B370’s Time Spy Graphics score is around 5,933 points, placing it between older RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 4050 laptop GPUs in some scenarios.
  • Best suited for 1080p medium settings; more demanding AAA titles may require resolution scaling or lower presets.

Industry Impact

Gaming
Moderate
Moderate
Workstations
Low
Low
Content Creation
Moderate
Moderate
Virtualization
Low
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Everyday Office & Web
Excellent
Excellent
Light Photo Editing
Good
1080p Casual Gaming
Good
Video Conferencing & AI Effects
Excellent
Student / Schoolwork
Excellent
1080p Gaming on iGPU
Very Good
Light Photo & Video Editing
Very Good
Software Development
Good
Local AI Inference
Good

Target Audience

Gamers
Targeted
Targeted
Content Creators
Targeted
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core Ultra 5 322

Pros

  • 6‑core hybrid design balances performance and efficiency.
  • Intel 18A process improves performance per watt for a modern mobile platform.
  • 46 TOPS NPU enables Copilot+ and AI‑enhanced experiences.
  • Integrated Intel Graphics with AV1 encode/decode and DP 2.1 / HDMI 2.1 outputs.
  • Support for fast LPDDR5X and DDR5 memory.
  • 12 PCIe lanes (Gen5 + Gen4) and Thunderbolt 4 provide modern I/O.

Cons

  • Only 6 threads; weaker in heavily multi‑threaded workloads vs 8–12 core competitors.
  • iGPU is entry‑level; not a replacement for discrete GPUs for serious gaming or heavy creative work.
  • Locked multiplier; no manual overclocking headroom.
  • Platform is new; long‑term software maturity is still developing.
  • Higher‑end Panther Lake SKUs offer much more GPU and CPU performance for not much more money.
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H

Pros

  • Major leap in integrated GPU performance vs older Intel iGPUs
  • Good single-threaded performance for everyday and lightly threaded workloads
  • 12-core design provides solid multi-core throughput for the TDP
  • NPU accelerates AI features without heavily loading CPU or GPU
  • 25 W base power enables thin-and-light designs with decent battery life
  • Modern I/O: PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4, LPDDR5X, Wi-Fi 7 (platform dependent)

Cons

  • Not intended for heavy sustained multi-threaded workloads like high-end rendering
  • iGPU still falls short of low-end discrete GPUs like RTX 4050 in more demanding games
  • Locked multiplier limits overclocking headroom
  • Actual performance and thermals depend heavily on laptop OEM power tuning
  • New platform; early firmware and drivers may still be maturing

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core Ultra 5 322

Intel Core Ultra 5 338H

  • AMD Ryzen AI 7 350

    Mid-Range Mobile AI APU

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 255H

    Higher-End Panther Lake Mobile

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS

    Mainstream Mobile APU

    Rival
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100

    Premium Arm-Based Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 5 228V

    Lower-Power Lunar Lake Mobile

    Rival
  • Laptop with RTX 4050/5050 discrete GPU
    Alt

    If gaming is your priority and you can tolerate a thicker chassis, a low-end discrete GPU will outperform the Arc B370 iGPU in more demanding titles.

Our Verdict on Each

A solid mainstream mobile CPU with a modern 18A process, capable integrated graphics, and strong AI acceleration for its power envelope, though 6 threads limit heavy multi-threaded workloads.

Best for: Thin‑and‑light or mainstream laptops where you want good efficiency, modern AI features, and integrated graphics capable of light gaming and AV1 media.

Read the full review

A well-rounded mid-range mobile SoC that finally delivers competitive integrated graphics and solid multi-core CPU performance in a reasonable power envelope, though its value depends heavily on laptop design and pricing.

Best for: You want a thin-and-light laptop with strong integrated graphics and AI features for light gaming, content creation, and everyday work, and you value battery life more than maximum CPU/GPU performance.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 322 or Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.

Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core Ultra 5 322 or Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?

For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 322 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H.

Do Intel Core Ultra 5 322 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H use the same socket?

Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCBGA2540 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.

Which has more cores?

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 322 (6 cores), Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (12 cores).