CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra X9 378H vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is a 16-core, 16-thread high-end mobile SoC from Intel’s Panther Lake family, built on the Intel 18A process and featuring a 4P+8E+4LP hybrid CPU, an Arc B390 iGPU with 12 Xe3 cores, and a 50 TOPS NPU for AI workloads.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 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.
- 50 TOPS NPU plus 122 TOPS from Arc B390 GPU and CPU DL Boost provide substantial on‑device AI compute.
- Suitable for local LLM inference, image generation, and Windows Studio Effects.
- Intel’s OpenVINO, DirectML and WindowsML are supported on CPU, GPU and NPU.
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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.
- Arc B390 iGPU with 12 Xe3 cores delivers integrated graphics performance between a mobile GTX 1660 Ti and RTX 3050 in many synthetic tests.
- XeSS and frame generation are critical for high‑refresh 1080p gaming in newer AAA titles.
- Real‑world results vary with laptop TDP, memory speed, and driver maturity.
- Cyberpunk 2077 at 1200p High with XeSS can reach ~58 fps on some configurations.
- F1 2024 with XeSS 2.0 + frame gen can jump from ~34 fps to over 100 fps at 1200p in some tests.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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.
Pros
- Arc B390 iGPU is a huge leap for integrated graphics, enabling 1080p gaming without a dGPU in many titles.
- 50 TOPS NPU plus GPU AI acceleration make it a strong platform for on‑device AI and Copilot+ features.
- 25 W base power and Intel 18A deliver much better efficiency than old high‑power mobile Intel chips.
- LPDDR5X‑9600 and 96 GB support give ample memory bandwidth and capacity for integrated graphics and AI.
- Thunderbolt 4, Wi‑Fi 7, and modern I/O are welcome on a premium mobile platform.
Cons
- CPU performance gains over Arrow Lake‑H are modest; this generation is more about iGPU and AI than raw CPU speed.
- 12 PCIe lanes limit multi‑GPU or heavy NVMe configurations compared to HX‑class chips.
- Real‑world performance depends heavily on OEM power limits and cooling; some laptops may throttle under sustained load.
- Locked multiplier means no enthusiast overclocking.
- Arc B390 drivers and XeSS ecosystem are still maturing; some titles need tweaks for best results.
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
- AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395Rival
High-End Mobile APU
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 395Rival
High-End Mobile APU
- Apple M4 Pro / M4 MaxRival
High-Performance Mobile SoC
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H (Arrow Lake-H)Rival
Previous-Gen High-End Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite / X2 UltraRival
ARM-based AI PC
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HAlt
If you want strong Arrow Lake CPU performance with a dGPU and don’t need the latest iGPU or NPU.
- Apple MacBook Pro 14/16 M4 ProAlt
If you prefer macOS, best‑in‑class efficiency, and don’t need x86 or Windows‑only software.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 356H / 366H (Panther Lake)Alt
If you like Panther Lake’s features but don’t need the full X9 iGPU and want a lower price point.
- Previous‑gen Intel HX‑series laptop with dGPUAlt
If you need maximum CPU + dGPU performance and don’t care as much about battery life or AI features.
Our Verdict on Each
A 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 reviewA flagship mobile APU that finally makes integrated graphics viable for 1080p gaming and serious creative work, with strong AI acceleration and good efficiency – but CPU generational gains over Arrow Lake are modest and sustained performance depends on OEM power limits.
Best for: Thin‑and‑light laptop where you want strong integrated graphics, AI features, and good battery life without a discrete GPU.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra X9 378H or Intel Core Ultra X9 388H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H comes out ahead with a score of 8.6/10. 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 X9 378H or Intel Core Ultra X9 388H?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H leads with a gaming performance score of 84/100 among Intel Core Ultra X9 378H and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H.
Do Intel Core Ultra X9 378H and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCBGA2540 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core Ultra X9 378H (0), Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (17,687). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.