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Intel Ultra X9 388H In-Depth Review: The Perfect Choice for Thin and Light Laptop Processors This review provides an in-depth analysis of the performance of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H processor, especially in terms of energy efficiency and GPU performance. The results show that the processor has significant improvements in both CPU and GPU performance, especially in energy efficiency, surpassing its predecessor. Its powerful integrated graphics performance can even rival entry-level discrete graphics cards, while also making significant progress in battery life, making it an ideal choice for thin and light laptops.
Intel Ultra X9 388H In-Depth Review: The Perfect Choice for Thin and Light Laptop Processors
1. 🚀 Intel Core Ultra Processor: The Debut of 18A Technology
  • ✅ Intel releases the third-generation Core Ultra processor, codenamed Panther Lake, the first product to use Intel's 18A process.
  • ✅ This review aims to evaluate the processor's performance in terms of energy efficiency and whether it meets Intel's expectations.
  • ✅ The review uses the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition laptop.
00:00 - 00:33
1. 🚀 Intel Core Ultra Processor: The Debut of 18A Technology
  • ✅ Intel releases the third-generation Core Ultra processor, codenamed Panther Lake, the first product to use Intel's 18A process.
  • ✅ This review aims to evaluate the processor's performance in terms of energy efficiency and whether it meets Intel's expectations.
  • ✅ The review uses the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition laptop.
00:37 - 02:41
2. 💻 Panther Lake CPU Architecture: Core Configuration and Energy Efficiency Cluster Design
  • ✅ Panther Lake uses a 16-core design, but unlike the past, the number of P-cores is reduced to 4, the number of E-cores remains at 8, and the number of LPE cores is increased to 4.
  • ✅ The LPE cores are different from previous versions. They are independent E-cores that can access the CPU's L3 cache and SLC cache and can be called normally by software.
  • ✅ The CPU part is divided into a performance cluster composed of P-cores + E-cores and an energy efficiency cluster composed of 4 LPE cores, which aims to improve battery life and energy efficiency.
02:42 - 03:31
3. ⏱️ Core Latency Test: Latency Performance of Multi-Cluster Architecture
  • ✅ Tests show that the latency between P-cores is 20-30ns, the latency between P-cores and E-cores is 40-50ns, the latency between E-cores is around 100ns, and the latency of LPE cores across clusters is slightly higher, about 125ns.
  • ✅ The overall latency performance is at the normal level for multi-cluster processors.
03:32 - 04:42
4. ⚙️ CPU Core Architecture Optimization: Cougar Cove and Darkmont
  • ✅ The P-core uses the Cougar Cove architecture, which optimizes branch prediction capabilities, TLB capacity, and adds memory ambiguity elimination capabilities, aiming to fully utilize the IPC potential of the Lion Cove architecture.
  • ✅ The Darkmont architecture of the E-core and LPE core is developed based on Skymont, which enhances branch prediction capabilities, dynamic prefetch control, microcode throughput capabilities, and memory ambiguity elimination capabilities.
  • ✅ The decoder cluster of Darkmont has been increased from the original 20b instruction stream width to 24b, improving operating efficiency.
04:43 - 05:30
5. 🔄 Memory Controller Returns: Significantly Reduces Memory Latency
  • ✅ The memory controller returns to the Compute Tile where the CPU is located, significantly reducing memory latency.
  • ✅ Tests show that the memory latency of the Panther Lake platform is reduced to 100ns, while the Arrow Lake platform is 140ns.
  • ✅ Solved the memory latency problem caused by the external memory controller of the previous generation products.
05:31 - 06:20
6. 🎮 GPU Upgrade: Xe3 Architecture and Multi-Process Integration
  • ✅ Panther Lake's integrated graphics are upgraded to the new Xe3 architecture, which supports XeSS quad-frame generation.
  • ✅ According to the specification positioning, the processors are divided into a low-power version with 4Xe integrated graphics, a version with 4Xe integrated graphics, and a top-end version with 12Xe flagship integrated graphics.
  • ✅ The 12Xe version of the GPU Tile uses TSMC's N3E process, the 4Xe GPU uses Intel's 3 process, the IO Tile uses TSMC's N6 process, and the Base Tile uses the 14nm process.
06:21 - 07:24
7. 💻 Ultra X9 388H: Specifications and Performance Preview
  • ✅ The protagonist of the review is the third-generation Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, which is the most fully-featured and powerful version in the Panther Lake product line.
  • ✅ The model with the 12Xe large integrated graphics has a suffix number of 8, and the three models using the full-blooded 12Xe B390 integrated graphics are named Ultra X7 and X9.
  • ✅ The single-core turbo frequency of Ultra X9 388H is 5.1GHz, and the P-core can reach 4.8GHz when fully loaded with all cores, and the E-core and LPE core are 3.6GHz, supporting LPDDR5X 9600 memory.
07:25 - 07:48
8. ⚙️ Test Platform: Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition
  • ✅ The test uses the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition, equipped with a 16-inch 2.8K 120Hz, 1100nits OLED screen, and a 99.9Wh large battery.
  • ✅ It adopts a dual heat pipe and dual fan cooling module, which is suitable for exerting the full potential of integrated graphics models.
07:49 - 08:49
9. 📊 SPEC CPU 2017 Test: Performance Improvement of P-core and E-core
  • ✅ The P-core of 388H has higher scores even with a lower frequency, and the IPC has a significant improvement (about 10% for integers and about 7% for floating points).
  • ✅ The E-core and LPE core have achieved relatively close scores, the performance of the LPE core is not weak, and the IPC of the E-core has also been further improved.
08:50 - 10:02
10. 🎬 Cinebench Series Test: Single-Core and Multi-Core Performance
  • ✅ In Cinebench R23, 2024 and 2026, the single-core and multi-core scores of 388H are slightly stronger than 285H.
  • ✅ In the high-load test, the X9 388H did not reach the 80W PL1 power wall, and the peak power consumption was only 78W, and the energy efficiency performance has obvious advantages.
10:03 - 10:31
11. ⚡ Cinebench Energy Efficiency Curve: Significantly Improved Multi-Core Energy Efficiency
  • ✅ In the energy efficiency curve of Cinebench 2024, the X9 388H has a significant improvement compared to the previous generation 285H, and the score at 45W has reached the level of about 70W of the previous generation.
  • ✅ Compared with HX370, the energy efficiency performance is also slightly exceeded.
  • ✅ A huge highlight of 388H is the performance improvement from the memory system.
10:32 - 11:17
12. 🖥️ Other CPU Performance Tests: Blender, VS Compilation, 7Z Compression
  • ✅ In the Blender test, the X9 388H has a slight improvement compared to the previous generation 285H, and is slightly weaker than the HX370.
  • ✅ In the VS compilation Dolphin test, the X9 388H has a certain improvement compared to the 285H, and is significantly stronger than the HX370.
  • ✅ In the 7Z compression test, since the memory controller was put back in the correct position, the 388H has made some performance progress.
  • ✅ Overall, the CPU performance level of the Ultra X9 388H is basically slightly improved compared to the previous generation 285H, but the improvement in energy efficiency is more impressive.
11:18 - 12:00
13. ✨ GPU Energy Efficiency Test: 3DMark SNL Energy Efficiency Comparison
  • ✅ In the 3DMark SNL energy efficiency test, the integrated graphics of 388H beat the integrated graphics of the previous generation 285H in terms of energy efficiency, and can exceed the performance of the previous generation at full power at 15W.
  • ✅ The performance of the 12Xe large integrated graphics exceeded expectations, which is very helpful for the game performance of thin and light integrated graphics laptops and handhelds.
12:01 - 13:33
14. 🎮 GPU Performance Comparison: 3DMark, Blender, PS, AE, PR
  • ✅ In 3DMark SNL, the score of 388H is almost exactly the same as that of the full-blooded 3050Ti, and it exceeds the 3050Ti a lot in Time Spy.
  • ✅ In Blender, it has evolved significantly compared to the previous generation, almost on par with the integrated graphics of AI Max 395, and similar to 3050Ti.
  • ✅ In PS, the 388H model is between the 285H and HX370 models, while in AE, it is a considerable distance away from the 285H and HX370, and the lead is further widened in PR.
  • ✅ Panther Lake's 12Xe large integrated graphics with a stronger codec is very suitable for the productivity use of audio and video editing.
13:34 - 14:15
15. 🕹️ Game Test: 《Arknights: Endfield》
  • ✅ In 《Arknights: Endfield》, under 1080P very low effects, the performance of X9 388H even exceeds that of the 3060 model, and under 2K resolution, it is 72% stronger than the integrated graphics of 285H, easily defeating the 95W 3050Ti.
14:16 - 14:45
16. 🔫 Game Test: CS2
  • ✅ In CS2, the 388H is about 50% stronger than the 285H model in both resolutions, and the power consumption is only about 45w, which means that a thin and light laptop with a little heat dissipation capacity can allow this 388H to have full-blooded game performance.
14:46 - 16:36
17. 🎮 3A Game Test: 《Black Myth: Wukong》, 《Cyberpunk 2077》, 《Expeditions: A MudRunner Game》, 《Kingdom Come: Deliverance II》
  • ✅ In 《Black Myth: Wukong》, under 1080P without super-resolution, the integrated graphics of 388H almost doubled the improvement compared to 285H, almost consistent with the performance of the full-blooded 3050Ti.
  • ✅ In 《Cyberpunk 2077》, the 388H also achieved almost double the performance compared to the 285H, and even when the 2K quality level XeSS, with more flexible video memory scheduling, it has thrown off the 4G video memory 3050Ti and is closer to the performance of the 3060.
  • ✅ In 《Expeditions: A MudRunner Game》 and 《Kingdom Come: Deliverance II》, the 388H also achieved almost double the performance improvement in both resolutions, so the 388H was able to surpass the 95W 3050Ti.
  • ✅ The game experience provided by Ultra X9 388H is completely different from traditional integrated graphics such as HX370 and 285H.
16:37 - 17:17
18. ⚡ Game Energy Efficiency and Unplugged Performance: The Potential of Thin and Light Laptops
  • ✅ The game performance of Ultra X9 388H is impressive, and the energy efficiency performance in games is also excellent, with power consumption between 30-50W.
  • ✅ It is entirely possible for an integrated graphics laptop equipped with 388H to obtain almost completely undiminished game performance in the unplugged state, which is almost impossible for a discrete graphics laptop.
17:18 - 17:42
19. 🔋 Unplugged Game Test: Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition
  • ✅ The frame rate loss of Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition in CS2 and Black Myth in the unplugged state is very slight.
  • ✅ After further tuning of the future version of BIOS, laptops equipped with Panther Lake have the ability to obtain exactly the same game performance in the unplugged and plugged-in states.
17:43 - 18:03
20. 🏆 Summary: Excellent Performance of Ultra X9 388H
  • ✅ The 12Xe version of Ultra X9 388H performs very well, and the energy efficiency performance is impressive. Both the CPU and GPU are evolving towards lower power consumption and stronger performance.
18:04 - 18:45
21. 🔋 Battery Life Test: Significant Battery Life Improvement
  • ✅ The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition ran for more than 12 hours of battery life at a 120Hz refresh rate. Even considering the increase in battery capacity, it can be seen that the processor has made significant progress in battery life.
  • ✅ When the screen refresh rate is adjusted to 60Hz, the battery life score actually reaches 14 and a half hours.
  • ✅ It is estimated that it should be quite easy to achieve a battery life score of 10 hours for this year's Windows integrated graphics laptops equipped with Panther Lake.
18:46 - 19:24
22. 🎯 Final Evaluation: Deep Impression of Panther Lake
  • ✅ Panther Lake's performance has left a deep impression. The CPU part's first show of Intel's 18A process is excellent, and the energy efficiency ratio is even better than the 285H using TSMC's N3B process.
  • ✅ In terms of GPU, whether it is game performance, productivity performance, or energy efficiency performance, it is the unparalleled level in the currently available SoCs in the Windows camp.
  • ✅ Panther Lake is a laptop SoC that pays considerable attention to energy efficiency performance, making people worry about what method Qualcomm's still unreleased X2 Elite will use to compete with it.
19:25 - 19:50
23. 💰 Price and Launch Information
  • ✅ The only problem is the price of Panther Lake models.
  • ✅ The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 16 GT AI Yuanqi Edition will be launched in China in March, so you can look forward to how it will be priced at that time.
英特尔UltraX9388H轻薄本处理器评测核显能效游戏性能续航联想小新Pro16