CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra X7 368H vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core mobile SoC from the Panther Lake family, combining four Cougar Cove P‑cores, eight Skymont E‑cores and four Crestmont LP E‑cores with a 12‑core Arc B390 iGPU and a 50 TOPS NPU, aimed at high‑end laptops and mobile workstations.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 50 TOPS NPU for INT8 inference, suitable for local LLMs and image generation.
- GPU contributes additional AI performance via Xe Matrix Extensions (XMX).
- Well‑positioned for Copilot+ PC and on‑device AI workloads.
- 50 TOPS NPU enables local AI features like Windows Studio Effects and lightweight LLM inference.
- Combined CPU + GPU + NPU acceleration benefits OpenVINO, DirectML and ONNX workflows.
- Not aimed at heavy datacenter‑style training, but strong for client‑side AI PC experiences.
Content Creation
Gaming
- 12‑core Arc B390 iGPU significantly faster than typical Intel integrated graphics.
- Suitable for 1080p medium/high and some 1440p gaming at reduced settings.
- Best experience in GPU‑bound titles; CPU‑heavy or high‑refresh‑rate games still favor higher‑TDP HX‑class CPUs.
- Arc B390 iGPU is a major upgrade over earlier Intel mobile iGPUs.
- Suitable for 1080p gaming in many esports and AAA titles at medium–high settings.
- Ray tracing is supported but best used selectively due to iGPU limitations.
- Discrete GPUs still preferred for high‑refresh 1440p+ gaming.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 16 hybrid cores with strong ST and MT performance for 25 W base power.
- Arc B390 iGPU with 12 Xe3 cores delivers best‑in‑class integrated graphics and compute.
- 50 TOPS NPU enables serious on‑device AI and Copilot+ experiences.
- LPDDR5X‑9600 support provides high memory bandwidth in a low‑power envelope.
- Full vPro enterprise manageability and security features.
Cons
- No Hyper‑Threading; 16 threads may limit some heavily threaded workloads vs 24‑thread HX parts.
- Max 96 GB non‑ECC memory may be restrictive for large workstations.
- Locked multiplier and OEM‑dependent power limits reduce tuning flexibility.
- Absolute CPU performance still below higher‑TDP gaming CPUs and Apple M5 Pro/Max in some scenarios.
- New architecture and 18A node still have limited long‑term field data.
Pros
- 16 hybrid cores with strong single‑thread and multi‑thread performance.
- Arc B390 iGPU is a big step up for integrated gaming and content workloads.
- 50 TOPS NPU enables serious AI PC experiences without a discrete GPU.
- Intel 18A and advanced packaging bring good efficiency for the performance level.
- 25–80 W configurable TDP fits a wide range of laptop designs.
Cons
- Confusing X9 vs 9 branding and near‑identical specs to X7 368H make positioning unclear.
- No vPro or embedded support limits use in business and industrial designs.
- iGPU still can’t replace a discrete GPU for high‑refresh 1440p/4K gaming.
- Locked multiplier offers limited overclocking fun.
- Real‑world laptop performance depends heavily on OEM power and thermal tuning.
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra X7 368H
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HSRival
High‑End Mobile
- Apple M5 Pro (12‑core)Rival
High‑End Mobile / Workstation
- Intel Core Ultra 9 388HRival
High‑End Mobile Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 366HRival
High‑End Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HXRival
High‑End Gaming / DTR
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265HXAlt
Higher‑power Arrow Lake‑HX part with more threads and often higher sustained CPU performance for gaming/DTR rigs.
Intel Core Ultra X9 378H
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 365Rival
High-End Mobile / AI PC
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370Rival
High-End Mobile / Creator + Gaming
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra X7 368HRival
High-End Mobile / Business + Creator
- Apple M4 Pro (12‑core CPU)Rival
Premium Thin-and-Light / Creator
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 9 386HRival
High-End Mobile / vPro Business
- Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 268V (Lunar Lake)Alt
Lower power and very good efficiency for lighter thin‑and‑light designs where 16 cores are overkill.
Our Verdict on Each
A very capable mobile workstation and AI‑oriented SoC with strong multi‑threaded CPU performance, a potent integrated GPU and best‑in‑class NPU for its power envelope, though absolute CPU performance still trails higher‑TDP gaming chips and Apple’s latest Pro silicion.
Best for: High‑end laptop or mobile workstation where AI, GPU and efficiency matter more than extreme CPU multi‑thread performance.
Read the full reviewA very capable high-end mobile SoC that brings strong multi-threaded performance, a potent integrated GPU and serious AI acceleration to thin laptops, though its confusing naming and near-identical specs to the X7 368H make it hard to justify on price alone.
Best for: Premium thin‑and‑light laptops where strong iGPU, AI features and multi‑threaded performance matter more than ultra‑low price or maximum gaming FPS.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Do Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and Intel Core Ultra X9 378H use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCBGA2540 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.