CPU Comparison

Intel Core Ultra 5 332 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 365

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 332 is a 6‑core, 6‑thread mainstream mobile SoC from Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) family, built on the Intel 18A process and designed primarily for business and professional laptops with integrated Xe3 graphics, NPU5 AI acceleration, and vPro manageability.

Intel · Core Ultra Series 3
Intel Core Ultra 5 332
6C / 6T4.4 GHz25 W
8.2
Full review
Intel · Core Ultra 7
Intel Core Ultra 7 365
8C / 8T4.8 GHz25 W
8.2
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile (Business / Mainstream Laptops)
Mobile / AI PC
Segment
Mainstream Mobile / Business AI PC
Mobile (U-series)
Generation
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Launched
2026
2026
Status
Launched
Launched
Codename
Panther Lake
Panther Lake 8C (4 P‑cores + 4 LP‑E cores)
Series
Core Ultra Series 3
Core Ultra 7
Family
Core Ultra 5
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Predecessor
Intel Core Ultra 5 225U / 125U (Meteor Lake / Lunar Lake era)
Intel Core Ultra 7 258V

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
6
8
Threads
6
8
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
2.4 GHz
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.8 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
12 MB
12 MB
L2 Cache
10 MB
TDP
25 W
25 W
Architecture
Architecture
Panther Lake (Cougar Cove P‑cores + Darkmont LP‑E cores)
Panther Lake (Cougar Cove P‑cores, Darkmont LP‑E cores)
Process Node
Intel 18A (compute tile)
Intel 18A (≈2 nm class)
Memory
Memory Type
LPDDR5X / DDR5
LPDDR5X / DDR5
Memory Speed
LPDDR5X‑7467; DDR5‑6400
LPDDR5X‑7467, DDR5‑6400
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
128 GB
128 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
FCBGA2540
FCBGA2540
PCIe Version
PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
12
12
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core Ultra 5 33282
Intel Core Ultra 7 365Best85

Gaming

Intel Core Ultra 5 33260
Intel Core Ultra 7 365Best70

Virtualization

Intel Core Ultra 5 332Best70
Intel Core Ultra 7 36565

Efficiency

Intel Core Ultra 5 33288
Intel Core Ultra 7 365Best90

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core Ultra 5 332Very Good
  • 46 TOPS NPU5 for efficient on‑device AI
  • Good for Windows Studio Effects and local AI assistants
  • Not aimed at large‑scale model training
Intel Core Ultra 7 365Strong (for client AI)
  • 49 TOPS NPU5 enables local Copilot+ PC class experiences and efficient on‑device inference.
  • Combined CPU + iGPU + NPU AI performance is competitive for client AI but not targeted at training or heavy server workloads.

Content Creation

Intel Core Ultra 5 332Limited
Photo Editing in Photoshop / LightroomLight 1080p Video EditingCasual Streaming with AI Effects
Intel Core Ultra 7 365Moderate
Photo Editing (Lightroom, Photoshop)Light Video Editing (1080p timelines)Streaming & Video ConferencingAudio Production (moderate track counts)

Gaming

Intel Core Ultra 5 332Fair
  • 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
Intel Core Ultra 7 365Good (iGPU‑class)
  • Xe3 4‑core iGPU significantly faster than older Iris Xe but slower than Arc 140V or higher Xe3 configurations.
  • Suitable for 1080p low/medium settings in many titles; some modern AAA games will require reduced settings or FSR/XeSS.
  • Better for e‑sports and casual titles than for high‑refresh competitive gaming.

Industry Impact

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

Best CPU by Use Case

Office & Productivity
Excellent
Excellent
AI‑Assisted Collaboration
Excellent
Light Coding & Compiles
Very Good
Casual Gaming
Fair
4K Video Editing
Limited
Web Browsing & Multitasking
Excellent
Light Photo & Video Editing
Very Good
Casual Gaming at 1080p
Good
AI‑Enhanced Apps (Copilot+ PC, Studio Effects)
Very Good

Target Audience

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core Ultra 5 332

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
Intel Core Ultra 7 365

Pros

  • Strong single‑thread performance for everyday tasks
  • Intel 18A process delivers excellent efficiency at 15–25 W
  • 49 TOPS NPU5 for local AI and Copilot+ PC features
  • Xe3 iGPU with ray tracing and AV1 support is a big step over older Intel iGPUs
  • Support for up to 128 GB LPDDR5X‑7467 or DDR5‑6400
  • 12 PCIe 5.0 lanes for fast NVMe and peripherals

Cons

  • Only 8 CPU threads; weaker multi‑core than 12–16 core H‑series chips
  • No unlocked multiplier; no manual overclocking
  • iGPU still slower than higher Xe3 configurations or Arc 140V
  • Not intended for sustained high‑power workloads beyond 25 W PL1
  • Early benchmarks show only modest gains versus prior Lunar Lake parts in some CPU tests

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core Ultra 5 332

  • AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS

    Mainstream Mobile (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads)

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 5 335

    Mainstream Mobile (4P+4LP‑E, 8 cores)

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Core Ultra 5 325

    Mainstream Mobile (4P+4LP‑E, 8 cores, higher clocks)

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS

    Mainstream Mobile (Zen 4, 6 cores / 12 threads)

    Rival
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus

    Arm‑based Always Connected PC

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 355H
    Alt

    Higher‑end Panther Lake SKU with more cores and a stronger iGPU if you need better creator or gaming performance.

  • Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
    Alt

    Lower‑power Lunar Lake alternative if you prioritize maximum battery life over AI TOPS and vPro features.

Intel Core Ultra 7 365

Our Verdict on Each

A 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 review

A balanced, efficient mobile SoC with strong single‑thread performance, a capable Xe3 iGPU, and serious NPU headroom for AI features, though multi‑core headroom is limited by its 8 cores and 25 W PL1 ceiling.

Best for: Thin‑and‑light business or premium consumer laptops where you want strong single‑thread performance, good efficiency, and modern AI capabilities without needing a discrete GPU.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core Ultra 5 332 or Intel Core Ultra 7 365?

For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 7 365 leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 332 and Intel Core Ultra 7 365.

Do Intel Core Ultra 5 332 and Intel Core Ultra 7 365 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 7 365 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 332 (6 cores), Intel Core Ultra 7 365 (8 cores).