Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 386H “Panther Lake” CPU has made an impressive debut with leaked benchmark results that demonstrate remarkable performance in both single-core and multi-core tests. This new processor, part of Intel’s Panther Lake series, is set to officially launch at CES 2026, but early numbers indicate it may already be a game-changer.
Unveiling the Panther Lake Powerhouse
The Core Ultra 9 386H has surfaced on Geekbench 6, tested within an Acer Predator Helios “PHN16S-I51” laptop, outfitted with 64 GB of memory. While the memory type remains unconfirmed, it’s likely to be SO-DIMM based on previous models. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H scored a notable 2845 in single-core and 15,407 in multi-core benchmarks, positioning it as a formidable competitor to existing processors.
Performance Details and Comparisons
The Core Ultra 9 386H is equipped with 16 cores, arranged in a 4 P-Core, 8 E-Core, and 4 LP-E core configuration, and operates at a base frequency of 2.10 GHz, reaching boost speeds up to 4.9 GHz. It boasts 18 MB of L3 cache and 8 MB of L2 cache, and while it features 4 Xe3 iGPU cores, laptops are expected to have discrete GPUs. Impressive for a 25W chip, it outperforms the i9-14900HX and matches the Core i5-14600KF despite running at lower frequencies.
Multi-core results show the Core Ultra 9 386H is 16% faster than the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and 50% quicker than Intel’s Lunar Lake 8-core models. Amazingly, it holds its own against the higher-clocked Core i9-14900HX and is comparable to the Ryzen 5 9600X desktop CPU. Anticipation builds for the upcoming flagship 388H model, which promises even greater capabilities.
Intel’s Panther Lake Lineup Overview
Intel’s Panther Lake series is poised to deliver significant advancements in CPU performance. With just a month left before its official launch, further optimizations are expected, enhancing these already impressive results. The preliminary lineup includes models up to the Ultra X9 388H, offering a variety of configurations to cater to different performance needs.
| CPU Model | P-Cores (Cougar Cove) | E-Cores (Darkmont) | LP-E Cores (Skymont) | CPU Clocks (Max) | Xe3 iGPU Cores | iGPU Clock | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra X9 388H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5.1 GHz | 12 (B390) | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra X9 386H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4.9 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra X7 368H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5.0 GHz | 12 (B390) | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra X7 366H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4.8 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra X7 358H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4.8 GHz | 12 (B390) | 2500 MHz | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra X7 356H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4.7 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 5 338H | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.7 GHz | 10 (B370) | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 5 336H | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.6 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (65-80W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 7 365 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4.8 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (55W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 7 355 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4.7 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (55W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 5 335 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4.6 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (55W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 5 325 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4.5 GHz | 4 | TBD | 25W (55W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 5 332 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4.4 GHz | 2 | TBD | 25W (55W Turbo) |
| Core Ultra 5 322 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4.4 GHz | 2 | TBD | 25W (55W Turbo) |