The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H from the Panther Lake series (Core Ultra 300) is a high-end mobile processor excelling in efficiency and multi-threaded tasks, with strong single-core speeds up to 5.1 GHz, a powerful integrated Arc B390 GPU, and 50 TOPS NPU for AI workloads, positioning it as a top Copilot+ PC chip. It outperforms Intel's prior Arrow Lake in efficiency and matches or beats AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Zen 5 rivals in many benchmarks, though it trails Apple's M4/M5 in raw single-core power.[1][2][3][4][5]
Key Specifications and Features
Panther Lake's X9 388H uses Intel's 18A process for better power efficiency in thin laptops. Here's the core config:
- Cores/Threads: 4 Performance-cores (P-cores, up to 5.1 GHz), 8 Efficient-cores (E-cores, up to 3.8 GHz), 4 Low-Power E-cores (up to 3.7 GHz), totaling 16 cores/16 threads.[4]
- Power: 25W base, up to 80W turbo, with 15W minimum assured—ideal for battery life in ultrabooks.[4]
- Memory: Pairs with fast LPDDR5X (up to 9600 MT/s, max 96GB), delivering read speeds around 118,800 MB/s—nearly 50% faster than prior Lunar Lake.[3]
- Graphics: Integrated Intel Arc B390 iGPU shines in games like Cyberpunk with XeSS upscaling and frame generation, offering a "massive upgrade" for laptop gaming without discrete GPUs.[6]
- AI Capabilities: 50 Int8 TOPS NPU supports OpenVINO, WindowsML, and more for tasks like Studio Effects; marketed as the "best performing Copilot+ PC."[4][5]
- Other: 18MB Smart Cache, Thunderbolt support via 6 MIPI lanes, and up to 16MP camera processing.[4]
Interesting fact: Despite only 4 P-cores, it punches above its weight—its Cinebench 2024 single-core score of 131 beats a desktop Ryzen 5 9600X (130) and i7-14700K (129), thanks to the compute tile design.[3]
Performance Highlights
Benchmarks from reviews show the X9 388H thriving at low power (e.g., 11-15W for top single-core), making it ultra-efficient for laptops.
Single-Core: Tops mobile x86 charts at ~3,036 Geekbench 6, edging Arrow Lake, Snapdragon X1E-84-100, and AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (8% slower); Lunar Lake and ARM chips like Apple M5 lead slightly.[2][3]
Multi-Core: Crushes Lunar Lake (nearly 2x faster) and matches high-power Zen 5/Arrow Lake at 64/46W limits; up to 24% better than Arrow Lake at similar power. Examples:
- 7-Zip: 112,695 MIPS (vs. Ryzen 7 8845HS at 84,203).[3]
- Cinebench 2026 multi: 542 (strong for mobiles).[3][2]
| Benchmark | Core Ultra X9 388H | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-thread (Intel claim) | Up to 24% faster | Baseline | At similar power[5] |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | ~930 (est. from trends) | 1022-1107 | AMD edges in some[2] |
| 7-Zip MT | 112,695 MIPS | N/A (Ryzen 7 8845HS: 84k) | Intel wins[3] |
Graphics/Gaming: Arc B390 delivers "surprisingly high" frames in demanding titles, beating prior Intel iGPUs handily.[6]
Vs. AMD's Competing Offerings (Ryzen AI 300 Series, like Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 / 465)
AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (Strix Point, Zen 5) and Ryzen AI 9 465 are direct rivals—more P-cores (12 total) but higher power draw. Intel often wins on efficiency:
| Aspect | Intel X9 388H Wins | AMD Wins | Tie/Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Core | Faster than Ryzen AI 9 465 (8% edge); lower power (11-15W vs. higher)[2] | N/A | [2][3] |
| Multi-Core | 24% ahead of HX 370 at same power; beats in 7-Zip[3][5] | HX 370 higher peaks (e.g., Geekbench ~1100)[2] | Power-limited tests favor Intel[2][5] |
| Efficiency | Outpaces Zen 5; closer to Lunar Lake/ARM[2] | Strong raw multi with more cores | Intel at lower TDP[2] |
| Graphics | Arc B390 > Radeon 890M in some games (XeSS helps)[6] | Radeon often leads raster | Game-dependent[6] |
| AI | 50 TOPS NPU (similar to AMD's 50)[4] | Comparable | [4] |
Key Insight: Intel prioritizes low-power prowess for all-day laptops, beating AMD in balanced scenarios but yielding peak multi-core to AMD's higher TDP chips. Critics note 4 P-cores limit future-proofing for gaming/heavy apps—AMD's 12 cores offer more headroom.[3]
Panther Lake laptops (e.g., with X9 388H) are rolling out now, focusing on AI PCs with stunning battery life and slim designs.[1] For general users, it's a versatile beast; power users might compare real-world laptop reviews.
Sources
- https://www.ultrabookreview.com/74624-intel-panther-lake-laptops/
- https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Panther-Lake-Core-Ultra-X9-388H-performance-analysis-Outpaces-Arrow-Lake-and-exceeds-Zen-5-in-efficiency.1212583.0.html
- https://www.club386.com/intel-core-ultra-series-3-panther-lake-review/
- https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/245526/intel-core-ultra-x9-processor-388h-18m-cache-up-to-5-10-ghz/specifications.html
- https://edc.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/performance/benchmarks/intel-core-ultra-processors-series-3_1/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX_rvgsYHJE
