CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 322 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 322 is a 6-core, 6-thread mainstream mobile processor from Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) family, built on the Intel 18A process and targeting thin-and-light laptops with configurable TDP from 25 W up to 55 W and integrated Intel Graphics plus a 46 TOPS NPU for AI workloads.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Smooth for everyday office, web, and light creative tasks; limited threads become a bottleneck in heavily multi‑threaded workloads.
Single-threaded performance is competitive with other mid-range mobile CPUs, and the 12 cores provide solid multi-core throughput for typical productivity workloads.
Gaming
Capable of 1080p gaming in many titles at medium settings, but more demanding games will rely on lowered settings or upscaling.
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.
Virtualization
Can run light VMs for development, but not ideal for large multi‑VM setups due to 6 threads.
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.
Efficiency
Strong efficiency for a 6‑core mobile CPU thanks to the 18A process and hybrid core design.
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.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 46 TOPS NPU supports Windows Studio Effects and Copilot+ features.
- CPU and GPU also expose Intel DL Boost and OpenVINO/DirectML/WebNN.
- Not intended for training large models; focused on inference and AI‑enhanced experiences.
- 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.
Content Creation
Gaming
- 2 Xe3‑core iGPU is a step up from older UHD graphics but below Arc B390 / discrete GPUs.
- AV1 encode/decode is useful for streaming and video playback.
- Best suited for esports and older titles at 1080p medium; modern AAA titles may need low settings or FSR/DLSS equivalents.
- 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.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 6‑core hybrid design balances performance and efficiency.
- Intel 18A process improves performance per watt for a modern mobile platform.
- 46 TOPS NPU enables Copilot+ and AI‑enhanced experiences.
- Integrated Intel Graphics with AV1 encode/decode and DP 2.1 / HDMI 2.1 outputs.
- Support for fast LPDDR5X and DDR5 memory.
- 12 PCIe lanes (Gen5 + Gen4) and Thunderbolt 4 provide modern I/O.
Cons
- Only 6 threads; weaker in heavily multi‑threaded workloads vs 8–12 core competitors.
- iGPU is entry‑level; not a replacement for discrete GPUs for serious gaming or heavy creative work.
- Locked multiplier; no manual overclocking headroom.
- Platform is new; long‑term software maturity is still developing.
- Higher‑end Panther Lake SKUs offer much more GPU and CPU performance for not much more money.
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
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra 5 322
- AMD Ryzen AI 5 340Rival
Mainstream Mobile AI APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 332Rival
Mainstream Mobile (Same Generation)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 325Rival
Higher‑TDP Mainstream Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 8540URival
Thin‑and‑Light Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HRival
Higher‑End Mainstream Mobile
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Mid-Range Mobile AI APU
- Intel 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
- Intel 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.
Our Verdict on Each
A solid mainstream mobile CPU with a modern 18A process, capable integrated graphics, and strong AI acceleration for its power envelope, though 6 threads limit heavy multi-threaded workloads.
Best for: Thin‑and‑light or mainstream laptops where you want good efficiency, modern AI features, and integrated graphics capable of light gaming and AV1 media.
Read the full reviewA 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 reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 322 or Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. 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 5 322 or Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 322 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H.
Do Intel Core Ultra 5 322 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H 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 5 338H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 322 (6 cores), Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (12 cores).