Quick Verdict
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.
Overview
Launch
2026
Status
LaunchedGeneration
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Market
Mobile
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.
Intel’s Core Ultra 5 338H sits in the middle of the Panther Lake lineup, offering four performance cores, four efficient cores, and four low-power efficient cores alongside an Arc B370 Xe3 iGPU and a 47 TOPS NPU. With a 25 W base power and up to 65 W turbo, it targets thin-and-light laptops that need more GPU and AI headroom than typical U-series chips, without going full gamer workstation. In practice, it delivers competitive single-thread performance and notably better integrated graphics than older Intel iGPUs, making it suitable for light content creation, 1080p gaming, and everyday productivity in a power-efficient design.
Specifications
Performance
Single-threaded performance is competitive with other mid-range mobile CPUs, and the 12 cores provide solid multi-core throughput for typical productivity workloads.
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.
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.
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.
- •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.
- •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.
Architecture
Intel 18A (compute tile), TSMC N3E (graphics tile)
Process Node
Panther Lake-H
Codename
12C / 12T
Core Config
18 MB
L3 Cache
25 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
Panther Lake is Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 mobile architecture, designed as a scalable successor to Lunar Lake. It uses a tiled design where the CPU compute tile is built on Intel’s in-house 18A process, while the graphics and SoC tiles use TSMC N3E, allowing Intel to mix and match advanced nodes for different functions.
CPU Design
The 338H implements a 4+4+4 hybrid layout: four Cougar Cove performance cores for bursty and single-threaded work, four Darkmont efficient cores for background tasks, and four low-power efficient cores for offloading light threads to save power. All 12 cores share a 18 MB Intel Smart Cache, and the CPU supports Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.7 GHz on the P-cores.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel LPDDR5X support up to 8533 MT/s with a maximum capacity of 96 GB provides high bandwidth for the iGPU and CPU cores, which is especially important for integrated graphics workloads.
PCIe & I/O
12 PCIe lanes from the CPU are split between PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 configurations, enabling one fast NVMe SSD and a few other peripherals, while the PCH provides additional I/O and Thunderbolt 4 support.
Overclocking
The 338H has a locked multiplier and is not intended for enthusiast overclocking; OEMs can tune power limits and turbo behavior, but users cannot freely adjust the CPU ratio.
- Move from 8 to 12 cores, adding more E-cores and LP-cores for multi-threaded workloads.
- New Arc B370 Xe3 iGPU instead of Arc 130V/140V, with roughly double the Xe cores and much higher performance.
- Dedicated NPU 5 with 47 TOPS versus no dedicated NPU on most Lunar Lake U/V chips.
- Higher maximum memory support (96 GB vs 32/64 GB) and faster LPDDR5X speeds.
Key Highlights
- 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)
- 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
History
Panther Lake emerged as Intel’s answer to the growing demand for AI and graphics performance in thin-and-light laptops, following the low-power Lunar Lake and high-power Arrow Lake designs. Announced at CES 2026 and launched through 2026, Core Ultra Series 3 introduced a tiled architecture where the CPU compute tile uses Intel’s 18A process while the graphics tile relies on TSMC N3E, allowing Intel to balance advanced node availability and cost. The Core Ultra 5 338H slots into the mid-range of this family, replacing Lunar Lake U/V chips with more cores and a much faster integrated GPU, and filling the gap between thin-and-light designs and full-performance H-series laptops.
Early reviews highlight major gains in integrated graphics and efficiency, positioning the 338H as a credible option for users who want a single SoC that can handle everyday work, light content creation, and 1080p gaming without needing a discrete GPU.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Move from 8 to 12 cores, adding more E-cores and LP-cores for multi-threaded workloads.
- New Arc B370 Xe3 iGPU instead of Arc 130V/140V, with roughly double the Xe cores and much higher performance.
- Dedicated NPU 5 with 47 TOPS versus no dedicated NPU on most Lunar Lake U/V chips.
- Higher maximum memory support (96 GB vs 32/64 GB) and faster LPDDR5X speeds.
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Recommended for the right buyer
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.
Avoid if…
- You need a true workstation-class CPU for heavy rendering or VM workloads.
- You plan to play only the latest AAA games at high refresh rates and are willing to carry a discrete GPU.
- You want an upgrade-friendly socketed desktop CPU; this is a BGA mobile chip with no socket swap.
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The CPU compute tile is manufactured on Intel’s 18A process, one of Intel’s most advanced in-house nodes, while the GPU tile uses TSMC N3E.
Panther Lake is the first Intel client architecture to use a dedicated NPU 5 block across the mainstream Core Ultra lineup.
The Arc B370 iGPU in the 338H is only about 6% behind the Arc B390 at 35 W in Time Spy Graphics, despite having two fewer Xe cores.
Even though it’s a 12-core chip, the 338H has only 12 threads because it does not use Hyper-Threading on any core type.
The chip supports Intel vPro, making it suitable for business laptops that need remote management and security features.
Max memory support is 96 GB LPDDR5X, which is high for a mainstream mobile SoC and benefits memory-hungry workloads and iGPU performance.
The NPU can handle up to 47 INT8 TOPS, enough for many local AI features and small models, though far below the TOPS on high-end Ultra 9 parts.
Panther Lake-H models like the 338H are designed to scale from thin-and-lights up to higher-performance laptops using the same basic silicon.
The 338H’s LP E-cores run at the same 1.5 GHz base as the regular E-cores, but with lower voltage and smaller cache, optimized for background tasks.
Early benchmarks show the 338H’s CPU performance roughly on par with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 465 at similar TDPs in combined single+multi-core workloads.
People Also Ask
Is Intel Core Ultra 5 338H good for gaming?
It is very good for integrated graphics. The Arc B370 iGPU delivers a big step up over older Intel iGPUs and is competitive with some low-end discrete GPUs, making 1080p gaming at medium settings viable in many titles, but it is not a replacement for a dedicated gaming GPU in more demanding games.
What is the TDP of Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?
Intel specifies a Processor Base Power of 25 W and a Maximum Turbo Power of 65 W, with a Minimum Assured Power of 15 W. Actual power limits in laptops are set by the OEM.
How much memory does Core Ultra 5 338H support?
It supports up to 96 GB of LPDDR5X memory at up to 8533 MT/s on two channels.
Does Core Ultra 5 338H have a dedicated NPU?
Yes. It integrates Intel NPU 5 with up to 47 INT8 TOPS, suitable for local AI features like background blur, noise suppression, and light inference workloads.
Is Core Ultra 5 338H better than Ryzen AI 7 350?
It depends on the laptop and workload. Early benchmarks show the 338H with slightly higher single-thread performance and competitive multi-thread performance at similar power, but the Ryzen AI 7 350 may have advantages in specific games or AI workloads depending on configuration.
Can you overclock Core Ultra 5 338H?
No. The 338H has a locked multiplier and is not designed for enthusiast overclocking; only OEMs can tune power and turbo limits.
What socket does Core Ultra 5 338H use?
It uses the FCBGA2540 socket, which is a ball-grid-array mobile package soldered to the motherboard.
Is Core Ultra 5 338H good for video editing?
It is good for light to moderate video editing, especially with Quick Sync hardware encoding and the Arc B370 iGPU, but heavy 4K+ timelines and complex effects will benefit from a higher-end CPU or discrete GPU.
How many PCIe lanes does Core Ultra 5 338H have?
It provides up to 12 PCIe lanes from the CPU, supporting a mix of PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 configurations for NVMe SSDs and other devices.
What process node is Core Ultra 5 338H built on?
The CPU compute tile is built on Intel’s 18A process, while the graphics tile uses TSMC N3E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Core Ultra 5 338H have integrated graphics?
Yes. It integrates Intel Arc B370 Xe3 graphics with 10 Xe cores and up to 2.4 GHz dynamic frequency.
Can I upgrade the CPU in a laptop with Core Ultra 5 338H?
No. The 338H is soldered to the motherboard using the FCBGA2540 socket and is not user-upgradable.
What kind of AI workloads can the NPU handle on Core Ultra 5 338H?
The NPU is suitable for local AI features like background blur, eye-contact correction, noise suppression, and running small language or vision models locally with low power consumption.
Is Core Ultra 5 338H suitable for virtualization?
It can handle light virtualization and containers, but it is not designed for heavy workstation VM workloads. If you run many VMs, consider a higher-end CPU with more cores and memory channels.
What is the maximum turbo power of Core Ultra 5 338H?
The Maximum Turbo Power is 65 W, but this can only be sustained for short periods and depends on the laptop’s cooling and power delivery.
Does Core Ultra 5 338H support DDR5 memory?
Intel officially lists support for LPDDR5X up to 8533 MT/s. DDR5 SO-DIMM support depends on the laptop design; check the specific model’s documentation.
Is the Core Ultra 5 338H good for programming and development?
Yes. Its strong single-thread performance and 12 cores are well suited for IDEs, compilation, containers, and general development work, especially in a portable form factor.
What resolutions can the Arc B370 iGPU drive?
It supports up to 7680x4320 at 60 Hz on DisplayPort and 3840x2400 at 120 Hz on eDP, making it suitable for high-resolution external monitors and high-refresh internal panels.
Does Core Ultra 5 338H support Thunderbolt?
Yes, Intel lists Thunderbolt 4 support as part of the platform, but the actual number and type of Thunderbolt ports depends on the laptop design.
How does Core Ultra 5 338H compare to older Intel H-series chips?
It offers much better performance-per-watt and significantly stronger integrated graphics, but lower peak CPU performance than older high-wattage H-series chips in sustained workloads.