Leaked Intel Core Ultra X7 358H “Panther Lake” CPU: 12 Xe3 Cores Delivering Up to 92% Performance Boost Over 8 Xe2 Cores

Recent leaks have revealed performance details about Intel’s new Panther Lake CPU, the Core Ultra X7 358H, including its capabilities related to the Xe3 Arc GPU, through Geekbench benchmarks.

First Performance Insights of Intel’s Arc Xe3 GPU from Core Ultra X7 358H

The excitement surrounding Intel’s Panther Lake laptops is growing, with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 “GU405AA_00016437B”making an appearance in Geekbench 6. This model features a 14-inch design powered by the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, which is part of the premium Panther Lake 12Xe configuration. This configuration is characterized by an impressive setup including 16 CPU cores organized in a 4+8+4 layout, complemented by 12 Xe3 GPU cores.

The Core Ultra X7 358H boasts a base clock of 1.90 GHz and can turbo boost to 4.8 GHz on its four Cougar Cove P-Cores. The specifications also reveal significant cache memory, with 18 MB of L3 cache and 8 MB of L2 cache. This chip is classified under the “GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 204 Stepping 2.”To accompany this powerful CPU, the laptop integrates 32 GB of LPDDR5x memory, which ASUS likely configures for optimal performance, potentially utilizing speeds up to 9600 MT/s to enhance the GPU’s capabilities powered by the 12Xe Arc Xe3 iGPU.

Geekbench score of 52946 shown for ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 with Intel Core Ultra X7 358H running Windows 11 Pro.

The Intel Arc Xe3 iGPU is designed with 96 compute units or 12 Xe3 cores, operating at a clock speed of 2500 MHz. It appears that clock speeds will vary across different 12Xe models. The flagship Core Ultra X9 series is anticipated to offer even higher clock speeds, potentially reaching around 2800 MHz. Additionally, the iGPU comes equipped with 16 GB of shared memory, enhancing its functionality and performance.

Performance metrics reveal two notable scores: a high score of 52, 946 points and another score of 46, 841 points, both attained under various power settings. This discrepancy likely stems from different power modes being utilized during testing. Geekbench notes the “Turbo”mode, indicating the scores might reflect variable performance levels.

When compared with existing Intel Arc Xe2 iGPUs, including the 140V model, the 12Xe Arc “Xe3″iGPU demonstrates a potential performance increase ranging from 69% to as much as 91%, depending on the selected power plan. It’s important to note that Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake CPUs equipped with 8 Xe2 cores peak at a thermal design power (TDP) of 37W, whereas Panther Lake-H CPUs will have a default TDP of 45W. This enhancement in core count along with the synthetic benchmarks from Geekbench provides only a glimpse of the GPU’s capabilities, as real-world applications utilizing Vulkan and DX12 will likely yield more conclusive results.

Intel has previously stated they anticipate around a 50% performance improvement with the Xe3 compared to its predecessors. The real game-changing performance is expected to be observed in actual gaming environments rather than just theoretical workloads. Enthusiasts can expect to see Panther Lake CPUs, like the Core Ultra X7 358H, arriving in stores as early as January, making this an exciting time for performance enthusiasts.

Preliminary Overview of Intel Panther Lake-H and U Lineup

CPU Model	P-Cores (Cougar Cove)	E-Cores (Darkmont)	LP-E Cores (Skymont)	CPU Clocks	Xe3 iGPU Cores	iGPU Clock	TDP
Core Ultra 9 X388H	4	8	4	TBD	12	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 7 X368H	4	8	4	TBD	12	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 7 X358H	4	8	4	1.9 / 4.8 GHz?	12	2500 MHz	45W
Core Ultra 5 X338H	4	4	4	TBD	10	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 9 375H	4	8	4	TBD	4	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 7 355H	4	8	4	TBD	4	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 7 345H	4	8	4	TBD	4	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 5 325H	4	4	4	TBD	4	TBD	45W
Core Ultra 7 360U	4	0	4	TBD	4	TBD	15-28W
Core Ultra 5 350U	4	0	4	TBD	4	TBD	15-28W
Core Ultra 5 340U	4	0	4	TBD	4	TBD	15-28W
Core Ultra 3 320U	2	0	4	TBD	4	TBD	15-28W