CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is a 12-core, 12-thread mid-range mobile SoC from Intel’s Panther Lake family, combining four Cougar Cove performance cores, four Darkmont efficient cores, and four low-power efficient cores with integrated Arc B370 Xe3 graphics and a dedicated NPU, aimed at thin-but-powerful laptops that need strong AI and GPU performance without excessive power draw.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Single-threaded performance is competitive with other mid-range mobile CPUs, and the 12 cores provide solid multi-core throughput for typical productivity workloads.
Snappy application performance and strong multi-core scaling for a 28W chip.
Gaming
Arc B370 iGPU is a major improvement over older Intel graphics, enabling 1080p gaming at medium settings in many titles, but still behind low-end discrete GPUs like the RTX 4050 in more demanding games.
Arc 140T graphics allow for respectable 1080p gaming at medium settings without a discrete GPU.
Virtualization
Capable of running light VMs and containers, but not designed for heavy workstation-class virtualization; memory and core counts are modest for that use case.
Capable of running light VMs, though limited by 16 threads.
Efficiency
At 25 W base power, Panther Lake is far more efficient than older Intel H-series chips; real-world battery life will depend heavily on OEM power tuning.
Excellent efficiency thanks to LP E-Cores and mixed TSMC nodes.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 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.
- NPU provides 13 TOPS
- Arc GPU provides 74 TOPS
- Total platform AI reaches 96 TOPS
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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.
- Arc 140T is a massive leap over previous iGPUs
- Can handle esports titles at high framerates
- Supports XeSS upscaling for better performance
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Massive 96 TOPS AI performance
- Powerful Arc 140T integrated graphics
- Excellent 28W power efficiency
- Includes LP E-Cores for battery life
- 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- L3 cache reduced to 24 MB compared to HX
- Max memory limited to 64 GB
- Cannot match discrete GPU performance
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Mid-Range Mobile AI APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 255HRival
Higher-End Panther Lake Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSRival
Mainstream Mobile APU
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100Rival
Premium Arm-Based Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 228VRival
Lower-Power Lunar Lake Mobile
- Laptop with RTX 4050/5050 discrete GPUAlt
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.
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 365Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M4Rival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 7 258VRival
Mobile
Next generation with better AI performance and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Excellent alternative for macOS users seeking efficiency.
Compare head-to-head Budget-friendly alternative with similar architecture.
Compare head-to-head- Qualcomm Snapdragon X PlusAlt
Alternative for ARM-based efficiency and battery life.
Our Verdict on Each
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 reviewAn exceptionally well-rounded mobile CPU that perfectly balances power, efficiency, and integrated graphics capabilities for premium laptops.
Best for: Premium ultrabook or thin-and-light creator laptop
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 338H or Intel Core Ultra 7 255H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H comes out ahead with a score of 8.7/10. 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 338H or Intel Core Ultra 7 255H?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and Intel Core Ultra 7 255H.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (25 W), Intel Core Ultra 7 255H (28 W).
Do Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and Intel Core Ultra 7 255H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core Ultra 5 338H: FCBGA2540, Intel Core Ultra 7 255H: Intel BGA 2049), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (12 cores), Intel Core Ultra 7 255H (16 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.