Get ready to forget everything you thought you knew about laptop performance. Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake architecture is more than just a CPU update. It is a generational leap for integrated graphics, and the flagship Core Ultra X9 388H is the absolute beast leading the charge.
Early benchmark leaks confirm what enthusiasts have been hoping for: a genuinely powerful mobile processor that makes a dedicated graphics card optional for most 1080p gaming. This chip is not just fast; it is an efficient powerhouse set to land in high-end laptops in early 2026. Now we are waiting to learn if it will be impacted by the deal that Intel and Nvidia made!
What are the Core Ultra X9 388H specs?
Intel is introducing a new, performance-focused naming tier, the Core Ultra X series, to house these new CPUs. The Core Ultra X9 388H sits at the top, delivering a stunning combination of new process technology and architectural design.
| Component | Flagship Spec (X9 388H) | What it Means for You |
| CPU Cores | Next-level multitasking and efficiency for professional work and everyday use. | Next-level multi-tasking and efficiency for professional work and everyday use. |
| Integrated GPU | 12 Xe3 Cores (The Game Changer) | A 50% increase in core count over the previous generation, powering unprecedented graphical performance. |
| GPU Architecture | Xe3 (‘Celestial’) | Introduces massive efficiency boosts, better ray tracing, and AI-powered Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) for higher, smoother frame rates. |
| Memory | Up to LPDDR5X-9600 | Blazing-fast memory is critical to feeding the massive integrated GPU tile. |
Why Xe3 graphics are a breakthrough
The true star of the Core Ultra X9 388H is the integrated GPU, built on the Xe3 architecture. This is not just an up-scaled iGPU; it’s a dedicated, discrete-level graphics engine baked onto the chip.
Beyond the core count increase, Intel has heavily tuned the Xe3 architecture to be smarter:
- Cache Boost: A massive L2 cache bump helps keep the 12 Xe3 cores saturated with data, drastically improving efficiency and preventing memory bottlenecks.
- AI-Powered Frames: The Xe3 architecture fully supports XeSS 3.0 with Multi-Frame Generation (MFG). MFG uses AI to create extra frames, boosting your perceived frame rate by potentially 2x without a significant increase in power draw—a total game-changer for high-refresh-rate laptop gaming.
The benchmark numbers that shocked us
An early 3DMark Time Spy Graphics Score for the Core Ultra X9 388H came in around 6,300 points (running at a typical 45W TGP and using the fastest LPDDR5X-9600 RAM). These numbers translate to serious real-world impact:
| Processor | iGPU CUs / Cores | TDP (W) | Time Spy Graphics Score |
| Core Ultra X9 388H | 12 Xe3 | 45W | ~6,300 |
| Ryzen 7/9 890M (Strix Point) | 16 RDNA 3+ | 28W | 3,400 |
| Ryzen AI Max 8060S (Strix Halo) | 40 RDNA 3.5 | 55W | 10,890 |
Direct performance analysis:
- Massive Generational Leap: The Core Ultra X9 388H is a mind-boggling 40% to 50% faster than the previous generation’s best iGPU (Lunar Lake’s Arc 140V).
- Beating AMD’s Best: The X9 388H’s iGPU appears to be over 70% faster than the AMD Radeon 890M (Strix Point), which was previously considered the top-tier competitor in its thermal class.
- Rivaling Discrete GPUs: That 6,300-point score places the flagship Panther Lake iGPU in the territory of a laptop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 at moderate power limits.
Intel Core Ultra X9 388H vs AMD Ryzen AI Max (“Strix Halo”)
While the Panther Lake flagship crushes the mainstream segment, it is important to note its position relative to the ultimate power mobile chip: the chiplet-based AMD Ryzen AI Max (“Strix Halo”).
Compared to the top-end Radeon 8060S at 10,890 points, the Core Ultra X9 388H is approximately 42% slower.
This difference is a reflection of their fundamental design philosophies:
- The Core Ultra X9 388H is a highly efficient monolithic chip targeting the mainstream 45W performance segment for thin-and-light powerhouses.
- Strix Halo is a larger, multi-chip module (MCM) designed for thicker gaming and workstation laptops, often configured at 55W TDP to achieve its maximum performance, and built to handle the higher thermal limits of those larger chassis.
Intel Panther Lake Lineup SKUs
Thanks to the updated release notes from CPU-Z, the entire Panther Lake SKU lineup has been leaked.
The top-of-the-line parts are the Core Ultra X9/X7/X5 with 45-55W power consumption, competing with the Ryzen AI Max CPUs:
- Core Ultra X9 388H: 4P, 8E & 4 LPE Cores | 12 Xe3.
- Core Ultra X7 368H: 4P, 8E & 4 LPE Cores | 12 Xe3.
- Core Ultra X7 358H: 4P, 8E & 4 LPE Cores | 12 Xe3.
- Core Ultra X5 338H: 4P, 4E & 4 LPE Cores | 10 Xe3.
The standard Panther Lake-H SKUs will fight with the 35-45W Ryzen AI and Ryzen 200 lineup:
- Core Ultra 9 375H: 4P, 8E & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
- Core Ultra 7 355H: 4P, 8E & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
- Core Ultra 7 345H: 4P, 8E & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
- Core Ultra 5 325H: 4P, 4E & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
The low-power Panther Lake will compete with the 28W Ryzen AI 300 and Ryzen 200 lineup:
- Core Ultra 7 360U: 4P & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
- Core Ultra 5 350U: 4P & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
- Core Ultra 5 340U: 4P & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
- Core Ultra 3 320U: 2P & 4 LPE Cores | 4 Xe3.
What does this mean for us?
The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H running on the Panther Lake platform promises a new era of ultra-portable gaming and high-performance “AI PCs.”
For consumers, this means future thin, light, and power-efficient laptops powered by the X9 388H will be able to handle current-generation 1080p gaming with ease, especially when leveraging the performance boost from XeSS 3.0 and Multi-Frame Generation.
When these chips hit the market in Q1 2026, they will effectively wipe out the need for a low-to-mid-range dedicated GPU in a laptop, offering console-level performance in a chassis you can easily slip into a backpack.
