Home / Intel Core Ultra 7 / Intel Core Ultra X7 358H: Performance and Specs

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H

Name: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H
Brand: Intel

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor review

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H: the main strength of Panther Lake lies not in the CPU

At first glance, the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H appears to be just another high-performance mobile processor from Intel. However, the most significant change in Panther Lake is not in the CPU cores. It features a 16-core CPU manufactured using Intel's 18A process and an NPU with 50 TOPS, but the main distinguishing feature of the X7 358H is the Arc B390. For the first time in this class, Intel's integrated graphics are becoming a serious argument in processor selection.

16 cores without a frequency chase

The Core Ultra X7 358H is equipped with 4 powerful P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 4 low-power LP-E-cores. In total, it has 16 cores and 16 threads. The maximum frequency of the P-cores is 4.8 GHz, and its Smart Cache capacity is 18 MB.

The processor's base power is rated at 25 W, while the maximum Turbo Power reaches 80 W. Therefore, the specific performance of a laptop significantly depends on cooling and power limits.

The X7 358H does not aim for extremely high P-core frequencies. Multi-threaded performance relies on the combined effort of the 16-core configuration, and the main difference from regular Core Ultra H lies outside the CPU block.

Geekbench 6 in real laptops

A single average result poorly reflects the capabilities of the X7 358H. Even mass-produced laptops with the same processor show noticeable differences in performance.

Laptop	Geekbench 6 Single	Geekbench 6 Multi
Dell XPS 14 (2026)	2867	16 927
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+	2839	16 558
ASUS ExpertBook Ultra B9406CAA	2825	16 506
Acer Swift 16 AI	2789	15 926

The difference between the fastest and slowest systems in this sample is about 6% in Multi Core. For a mobile processor, this variation is normal considering different chassis, power profiles, and cooling systems.

In more compact or power-limited systems, the drop can be more pronounced. The Framework Laptop 13 Pro with the same X7 358H shows around 14.3 thousand points in Multi Core, while the best implementations exceed 17 thousand.

Thus, having the same X7 358H does not guarantee equivalent long-term performance.

Arc B390 - here's why the letter X appears

The main advantage of the X7 358H is the integrated Intel Arc B390. It features 12 next-generation Xe cores and operates at frequencies up to 2.5 GHz.

The Arc B390 can no longer be considered graphics only for interfaces and casual games. The Acer Swift 16 AI shows approximately 46 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 without XeSS, while the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra scores about 6900 Graphics points in 3DMark Time Spy.

For a thin laptop without a discrete graphics card, this is a significant result.

XeSS and frame generation can further increase frame rates, but such results cannot be mixed with native performance. More importantly, modern heavy games on the Arc B390 can already be launched at Full HD without a discrete graphics card.

If the laptop is needed for more than just browsing and office tasks, the Arc B390 becomes the main argument in favor of the X7 358H.

Hidden context of the lineup

In the Core Ultra Series lineup, models with Arc B390 feature the X index, while regular Core Ultra 7 H models receive simpler integrated graphics.

Model	Cores	Max Turbo	Integrated Graphics
Core Ultra 7 356H	16	4.7 GHz	Intel Graphics
Core Ultra X7 358H	16	4.8 GHz	Arc B390
Core Ultra X7 368H	16	5.0 GHz	Arc B390
Core Ultra X9 388H	16	5.1 GHz	Arc B390

Against this backdrop, the X7 358H stands out as one of the more rational options in the lineup. Upgrading to the X7 368H or X9 388H does not increase the number of CPU cores or improve the integrated graphics configuration. The additional cost is primarily for higher CPU frequencies.

If the price difference between laptops is significant, upgrading to higher models quickly loses meaning.

NPU and memory

The built-in NPU provides up to 50 TOPS INT8 and meets the requirements of Copilot+ PC. The NPU here complements the platform rather than defines its value.

It supports LPDDR5X-9600 memory with a capacity of up to 96 GB. The high memory bandwidth is particularly important for the Arc B390 since it does not have dedicated video memory. Therefore, memory bandwidth can significantly impact the performance of the Arc B390.

Laptops with the X7 358H come at very different prices

The same processor appears in models priced around $1300-1800 and in laptops costing about $3000.

The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ with the X7 358H, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD starts at around $1299. The Acer Swift 16 AI starts at about $1599, while the configuration with 32 GB of RAM is priced at $1799.

The Dell XPS 14 falls into a completely different price category. A configuration with the X7 358H, 32 GB LPDDR5X, and a 1 TB SSD costs around $2550. The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra with the same processor, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD approaches $3000.

In the $1300-1800 range, the X7 358H is well-positioned: the buyer receives a fast 16-core CPU and Arc B390 without a separate graphics card.

At the $2500-3000 price point, the processor alone does not justify the cost. Buyers must evaluate the display, weight, chassis, battery life, memory, and other features of the laptop separately. The $1000-1500 difference must be justified by the chassis, screen, memory, and other system characteristics rather than the processor.

Conclusion

The strong point of the Core Ultra X7 358H is not record-breaking CPU performance. Its main advantage lies in the Arc B390, which provides sufficient performance for GPU tasks and modern Full HD gaming in a thin laptop without a discrete graphics card.

The X7 358H performs best in laptops priced around $1300-1800. If the same processor is being sold in laptops costing $2500-3000, you are definitely not paying extra for the Core Ultra X7 358H.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Laptop

Launch Date

December 2025

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

358H

Code Name

Panther Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

12(8e+4lpe)

Performance-core Base Frequency

1.9 GHz

Efficient-core Base Frequency

1.5 GHz

Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.5 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.8 GHz

L1 Cache

112 K per core

L2 Cache

3 MB per core

L3 Cache

18 MB shared

Bus Frequency

100 MHz

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA2540

Multiplier

Unlocked Multiplier

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

Intel 18A

TDP

25 - 80 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

110 °C

PCIe Version

PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used for connecting high-speed components, replacing older standards such as AGP, PCI, and PCI-X. It has gone through multiple revisions and improvements since its initial release. PCIe 1.0 was first introduced in 2002, and in order to meet the growing demand for higher bandwidth, subsequent versions have been released over time.

5.0

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

x86-64

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to LPDDR5X 9600 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

96 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

153.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Support

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® Arc™ B390 GPU

Intel Arc B390

GPU Max Dynamic Frequency

2.5 GHz

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.