Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
Also called intel core ultra 5 338h, core ultra 5 338h, 338h, core-ultra-5-338h
Intel Core Ultra 5 laptop processor on Panther Lake, with 12 cores and 12 threads and 2560 KB L2, 18 MB L3 at 25 W TDP on a 2 nm process addressing up to 96 GB and Intel Arc B370 GPU.
What you need to know
Still a capable laptop cpu.
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H launched in January 1, 2026., It has 12 cores and 12 threads on Panther Lake, dropping into the FCBGA2540 socket. It is no longer the newest SKU in every store, but the chip is still useful when the rest of the PC keeps up.
- Still good?
- Yes, for most work this class is sold for
- Product age
- Less than a year old
- Upgrade pressure
- Low
What this hardware means today
Age and usefulness are not the same number. This page keeps them separate.
- Performance today
- Excellent. Laptop performance depends on the OEM power limit as much as this SKU name.
- Product age 0 years old
- Current generation. Launched January 1, 2026. Newer platforms exist. That does not make this chip unusable by itself.
- Support status
- Supported. Current Windows and current applications still run on this class of CPU. Platform BIOS support depends on the motherboard or laptop vendor.
- Upgrade pressure
- Low. Upgrade pressure is low unless you need a different platform feature.
Where does it sit?
Panther Lake sits on Intel's recent Core timeline. Later desktop branding moved toward Core Ultra.
Performance context
These are qualitative readings, not a fake 8.7 out of 10. Workload still wins.
Gaming: Very Good
Fine when the laptop GPU is the limit. CPU names on thin laptops often are not.
Productivity: Excellent
12 cores cover office, browser, and compile work in this class.
Multithreaded workloads: Good
12 threads. Heavy encodes still scale further on higher-core parts.
General use: Excellent
Everyday Windows use is not where most people notice this SKU first.
Efficiency: Depends on the laptop
The same SKU in two laptops can draw very different power. Read the device, not the CPU name alone.
Should you upgrade?
Probably not if this chip already matches your work.
Upgrade makes more sense if
- Your workload is strongly CPU limited
- You need a newer platform for memory, I/O, or chipset features
- You need substantially more multicore performance
- You are buying a whole new laptop anyway
Upgrade makes less sense if
- The GPU is the real bottleneck
- Current applications are already responsive
- The CPU rarely limits your workload
Specifications
Figures below follow the Feex Hardware Database record for this SKU. Fields without a recorded value are omitted.
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is built on Panther Lake using a 2 nm process.
| Manufacturer | Intel |
|---|---|
| Family | Core Ultra 5 |
| Architecture | Panther Lake |
| Generation | Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors |
| Manufacturing process | 2 nm |
| Segment | Laptop |
Cores and threads
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.
| Cores | 12 (4 P-cores + 4 E-cores) |
|---|---|
| P-cores | 4 |
| E-cores | 4 |
| Threads | 12 |
| Hybrid architecture | Yes |
Clock speeds
Base clock is 1.9 GHz. Boost reaches 4.7 GHz.
| Base frequency | 1.9 GHz |
|---|---|
| Max boost | 4.7 GHz |
Cache
Cache on this sheet is 18 MB L3.
| L2 cache | 2560 KB |
|---|---|
| L3 cache | 18 MB |
| Total cache | 20.5 MB |
Memory
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H addresses 96 GB across 2 memory channels.
| Supported types | LPDDR5X |
|---|---|
| Max capacity | 96 GB |
| Channels | 2 |
Package and power
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the FCBGA2540 socket and a 25 W TDP.
| Socket | FCBGA2540 |
|---|---|
| TDP | 25 W |
| PCIe | Revision 5.0, 12 lanes |
Integrated graphics
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H includes Intel Arc B370 GPU.
| Integrated graphics | Intel Arc B370 GPU |
|---|
Market
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H launched January 1, 2026.
| Launch date | January 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Model | 338H |
Features
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H records 4 instruction sets on this sheet.
| Instruction sets | AVX264-bit (x86-64)SSE4.1SSE4.2 |
|---|---|
| Security | Control-flow Enforcement (CET)Boot GuardHardware RNGOS GuardMode-Based Execute Control |
| Virtualization | Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-d (DMA Remapping)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization) |
Independent scores
These are PassMark CPU figures. They are not Feex measurements.
| Single-core score | 4,238 |
|---|---|
| Multi-core score | 29,726 |
| Overall score | 11,224 |
| Productivity score | 25,255 |
| Creator score | 23,978 |
| Engineering score | 32,327 |
| Gaming score | 20,146 |
| Performance per watt | 1,189 |
Compatibility
| Socket | FCBGA2540 |
|---|---|
| Board | A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Check the motherboard CPU list and BIOS revision. |
| Memory | LPDDR5X, up to 96 GB |
| Graphics | Intel Arc B370 GPU |
A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Boards often need a BIOS update before a newer chip in the same socket will post.
Laptop power limits, cooling, and the OEM firmware matter as much as the model name.
Read the memory list on the board. The CPU can list more standards than one motherboard will accept.
No post after a CPU swap
Clear CMOS only after you confirm the board list includes this SKU and the BIOS is new enough. A supported name on a box is not the same as a flashed board.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Partially Verified. How we research.
- Feex Hardware Database · Specification source used for this sheet. CC BY 4.0.
- PassMark Software · CPU benchmark page for Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
Was this article useful?
A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.
Thanks. That helps us improve this page.