Intel introduces Intel Core Series 3, not to be confused with Intel Core Ultra Series 3. The CPUs are intended to find a home in more entry-level laptops, including in the business segment.
Intel launches a new processor family with Intel Core Series 3. Intel Core Series 3 is not to be confused with the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 introduced in January, although that is no easy task given the similarities between the two families.
Core Series 3 includes CPUs based on the same Panther Lake architecture as Core Ultra, and rolls off the same Intel 18A production line. The CPU cores of the chips with and without the Ultra label therefore do not differ significantly from each other.
With Core Series 3, however, Intel is primarily targeting entry-level laptops, for both consumers and business users. Adequate performance and efficient laptop battery usage are the key selling points. At launch, the line-up is significantly less extensive than that of the Ultra family.
Six Core Ultra Series 3 chips
Intel is officially launching six CPU models. These include the following units:
| Intel Core | Cores (& Threads) | Max. Freq. (GHz) | Cache (MB) | Xe cores | GPU Freq. (GHz) | NPU (TOPS) | SIPP |
| 7 360 | 6 | 4,8 | 6 | 2Xe | 2,6 | 17 | Yes |
| 7 350 | 6 | 4,8 | 6 | 2Xe | 2,6 | 17 | No |
| 5 330 | 6 | 4,6 | 6 | 2Xe | 2,5 | 16 | Yes |
| 5 320 | 6 | 4,6 | 6 | 2Xe | 2,5 | 16 | No |
| 5 315 | 6 | 4,4 | 6 | 2Xe | 2,3 | 15 | No |
| 3 304 | 5 | 4,3 | 6 | 1Xe | 2,3 | 15 | No |
In practice, however, it appears to be a single CPU that is assigned a label (Core 7, 5, or 3) after quality control and CPU binning. After all, five of the six chips have six computing cores on board, with the same number of threads, as multithreading is not present. The final CPU in the series has one fewer active computing core. Furthermore, clock speed is the primary difference.
This practice is common. Chip manufacturing is a complex process in which not all CPUs on a single wafer are identical. Some meet tighter tolerances and can handle a slightly higher clock speed, while others are most stable when the clock speed remains limited. Manufacturers like Intel test the CPUs for stability and then divide them into high-performance and slightly less powerful models.
This also explains why all chips come with 6 MB of cache. The clock speed of the graphics component is a third point of difference. Intel also provides a light NPU. You shouldn’t expect much from it: the chiplet will accelerate some simple workloads, such as background blurring during Teams calls.
With and without SIPP
Finally, Intel distinguishes between two identical chips, where one version supports SIPP and the other does not. Intel SIPP (Stable IT Platform Program) is a program in which Intel guarantees the stability and availability of a component.
This is relevant in a business context where devices are purchased on a large scale and the IT department wants guarantees that a specific system image will remain compatible without updates for one or even several years. The SIPP CPUs are therefore relevant in the context of large purchases and tenders, while the variants without SIPP provide identical performance for SMEs or end users.
Core, with or without Ultra?
The difference with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 seems very arbitrary, and primarily driven by the marketing department. Core Ultra Series 3 is a more extensive family, with chips containing six, eight, twelve, or sixteen computing cores. The entire Core 3 family appears to be a derivative of the Core Ultra 5 322, also featuring six CPU cores and two Xe GPU cores. In both cases, there are two P-cores supported by four slightly more efficient E-cores.
The main difference between the Core Ultra 5 322 and the Core 5 (non-Ultra) 320 is the amount of cache: the Ultra chip has 12 MB on board, which is double. Furthermore, the Ultra chips have slightly more thermal margin: their TDP is configurable between 12 watts and 55 watts, while the standard Core chips have a base TDP of 15 watts with a peak TDP of 35 watts.
From a technical standpoint, there is little reason to market Core Series 3 as a separate family. Core Ultra consists only of Core Ultra X9, Ultra 7, and Ultra 5 CPUs. You can see Core Series 3 as the missing Core Ultra 3 segment. The “Ultra” itself doesn’t mean much either, other than that Intel was looking for a way to break away from the ‘i’ branding in 2024.
By separating these chips from the Ultra family, Intel can bring more models to market and employ a separate marketing strategy. After all, these CPUs won’t be true speed demons.
Faster (than 5 years ago)
Intel is not comparing the chips with models from the previous Core or Core Ultra generation, presumably because the delta in performance is not that phenomenal. The manufacturer finds a comparison with a five-year-old system more relevant, as that corresponds to the refresh cycle of companies. In that case, Core Series 3 is about 41 percent more powerful. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4 are also key advantages.
Regarding the battery, Intel speaks of a full day of autonomy. That claim has been around for years and is sometimes true and sometimes not. Much will depend on how manufacturers ultimately configure their laptops. However, the new CPUs are said to consume 64 percent less power than their five-year-old predecessors.
Compared to a more recent chip, the Intel Core 7 150U from 2024, this chip is said to be about ten percent faster in terms of productivity in office apps, with peaks of up to 2.1 times faster in very specific video-related workloads.
Budget-friendly, hopefully
With Core Series 3, Intel certainly wants to highlight that it offers chips for entry-level laptops. Due to the choice of Intel 18A and Panther Lake, there is also a high probability that these CPUs will perform adequately in that segment. Don’t expect speed demons, but don’t expect complete weaklings either.
However, the competition is fierce: these entry-level processors must compete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X(2) Plus chips, but also with the very competitively priced Apple MacBook Neo. Intel refers to entry-level friendliness, but we do not know how much these chips, or laptops featuring them, will cost.
Intel has already shared which partners will be launching Core Series 3 laptops soon. Acer is embracing the chips with its Aspire Go series, and Asus with its business-oriented ExpertBook B5, B3, and P3. HP is also joining in with the OmniBook 5 14, and Lenovo with a range of ThinkBooks and ThinkPads. MSI will include them in its Modern series. Not all laptops will be available soon: for many models, the wait will last until the second half of this year.
With the launch of Intel Core Series 3, Intel is certainly focusing on the lower end of the CPU segment for laptops. The manufacturer is demonstrating that this is possible with Panther Lake chips rolling off its own 18A line. This is a promising evolution in any case.