CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 325 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 332
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 325 is an 8-core, 8-thread mainstream mobile SoC from Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) family, built on the Intel 18A process. It combines four Cougar Cove performance cores with four Darkmont low‑power efficient cores, 12 MB of shared Smart Cache, and an integrated 4‑core Xe3‑class GPU with 40 GPU TOPS and a 47 TOPS NPU, targeting thin‑and‑light AI PCs with a 25–55 W configurable TDP.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 47 TOPS NPU supports Windows Studio Effects and on‑device inference
- 40 TOPS GPU AI compute complements NPU for hybrid workloads
- Total CPU+GPU+NPU TOPS competitive for mainstream thin‑and‑light AI PCs
- 46 TOPS NPU5 for efficient on‑device AI
- Good for Windows Studio Effects and local AI assistants
- Not aimed at large‑scale model training
Content Creation
Gaming
- 4‑core Xe3 iGPU suitable for 1080p low/medium in many titles
- Much faster than older 11th‑gen Xe but slower than 8‑core Xe or Arc B‑series iGPUs
- Best for light and casual gaming rather than high‑refresh or high‑detail AAA
- 2‑core Xe3 iGPU is entry‑level for gaming
- Suitable for eSports and older titles at 1080p
- Not intended for AAA gaming at high settings
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Strong single‑thread and responsiveness for everyday tasks
- Meaningful AI compute with 47 TOPS NPU and 40 TOPS GPU
- Good efficiency on Intel 18A at 25 W base power
- Capable 4‑core Xe3 iGPU with AV1 and modern display outputs
- 12 MB Smart Cache improves gaming and threaded workloads
- Supports DDR5‑6400 and LPDDR5X‑7467 with up to 128 GB RAM
Cons
- Only 8 threads with no SMT; weaker in heavily threaded workloads than higher‑core SKUs
- Locked multiplier limits overclocking headroom
- 12 PCIe lanes may constrain expansion in some designs
- Only four P‑cores; not ideal for sustained all‑core workloads compared to 6+ core rivals
- OEM‑dependent GPU branding (Intel Graphics vs Arc) can be confusing
Pros
- Strong AI capabilities with 46 TOPS NPU5
- vPro enterprise security and manageability
- Efficient 18A process for good battery life
- Modern I/O including PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4, Wi‑Fi 7
- Full AV1 encode/decode and modern display outputs
Cons
- Only 6 cores / 6 threads limits heavy multi‑tasking and rendering
- 2‑core Xe3 iGPU is entry‑level for gaming and GPU compute
- No overclocking headroom
- Higher‑core Panther Lake SKUs offer significantly more multi‑threaded performance
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra 5 325
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Mainstream Mobile AI APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 332Rival
Mainstream Mobile / Thin-and-Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 355Rival
Mainstream Mobile / Premium Thin-and-Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 322Rival
Entry-Level Mobile / Value
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125HAlt
Older Meteor Lake part with 14 cores/18 threads; more threaded performance but lower efficiency and weaker NPU/GPU AI features.
Intel Core Ultra 5 332
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSRival
Mainstream Mobile (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 335Rival
Mainstream Mobile (4P+4LP‑E, 8 cores)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 325Rival
Mainstream Mobile (4P+4LP‑E, 8 cores, higher clocks)
- AMD Ryzen 5 8640HSRival
Mainstream Mobile (Zen 4, 6 cores / 12 threads)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 PlusRival
Arm‑based Always Connected PC
- Intel Core Ultra 7 355HAlt
Higher‑end Panther Lake SKU with more cores and a stronger iGPU if you need better creator or gaming performance.
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225UAlt
Lower‑power Lunar Lake alternative if you prioritize maximum battery life over AI TOPS and vPro features.
Our Verdict on Each
A solid mainstream mobile SoC that delivers meaningful CPU and NPU upgrades over prior Ultra 5 generations, with good efficiency and capable integrated graphics—best for users who want AI features and balanced performance in a thin laptop rather than outright compute headroom.
Best for: Thin‑and‑light AI PC where you want strong efficiency, modern AI features, and better integrated graphics than older Ultra 5 chips, but don’t need the extra cores or GPU power of Core Ultra 7 or X7 SKUs.
Read the full reviewA capable, efficiency‑focused mobile chip for business and mainstream laptops, offering strong AI and security features via NPU5 and vPro, but not aimed at heavy creators or gamers who need more cores and a stronger iGPU.
Best for: Business or mainstream laptop with vPro, where AI features, security, and battery life matter more than heavy multi‑thread performance or high‑end gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core Ultra 5 325 or Intel Core Ultra 5 332?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 325 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 325 and Intel Core Ultra 5 332.
Do Intel Core Ultra 5 325 and Intel Core Ultra 5 332 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 5 325 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 325 (8 cores), Intel Core Ultra 5 332 (6 cores).