Core Ultra 5 236V vs Core Ultra 5 238V

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 5 236V

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 238V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics 130V, while Core Ultra 5 236V needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,219 vs 18,313).
❌Launch MSRP is still $454 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 236V mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core Ultra 5 236V

2024

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics 130V, while Core Ultra 5 236V needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 238V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,219 vs 18,313).
❌Launch MSRP is still $454 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 236V mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 236V better than Core Ultra 5 238V?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 236V is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 236V is the better fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 5 236V is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core Ultra 5 236V is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $454 MSRP, and it gives you 0.5% higher PassMark. Core Ultra 5 238V only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 236V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 5 236V Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 238V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	180 FPS	180 FPS
medium	147 FPS	147 FPS
high	120 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	148 FPS
medium	118 FPS	118 FPS
high	96 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	83 FPS
medium	71 FPS	71 FPS
high	57 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 236V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	212 FPS	210 FPS
medium	176 FPS	176 FPS
high	158 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	179 FPS
medium	154 FPS	154 FPS
high	142 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	136 FPS
medium	122 FPS	122 FPS
high	115 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 236V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	458 FPS	455 FPS
medium	458 FPS	455 FPS
high	458 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	455 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	455 FPS
medium	458 FPS	455 FPS
high	458 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	455 FPS
4K
low	458 FPS	455 FPS
medium	458 FPS	455 FPS
high	404 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 236V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	458 FPS	455 FPS
medium	458 FPS	455 FPS
high	458 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	455 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	455 FPS
medium	458 FPS	455 FPS
high	458 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	455 FPS
4K
low	458 FPS	455 FPS
medium	458 FPS	455 FPS
high	458 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	418 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 236V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 236V and Core Ultra 5 238V

Core Ultra 5 236V

The Core Ultra 5 236V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,313 points. Launch price was $299.

Core Ultra 5 238V

The Core Ultra 5 238V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,219 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 5 236V and Core Ultra 5 238V share an identical 8-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 236V versus 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). Both are built on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture using a 3 nm process. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 236V scores 18,313 against the Core Ultra 5 238V's 18,219 — a 0.5% lead for the Core Ultra 5 236V. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)	2.5 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	3 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Lunar Lake (2024)
PassMark	18,313	18,219
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	10,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,683
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,130

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA2833 socket with PCIe 5.0.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
Socket	FCBGA2833	FCBGA2833
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5x-8533
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	8

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core Ultra 5 236V) / VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V). The Core Ultra 5 238V includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics 130V), while the Core Ultra 5 236V requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 236V	Core Ultra 5 238V
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Arc Graphics 130V
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Productivity

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Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 236V launched at $0 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 238V debuted at $454. On MSRP ($0 vs $454), the Core Ultra 5 236V is $454 cheaper.