Recently, two new Panther Lake processors were spotted in the Geekbench database: the Core Ultra 5 335 and Core Ultra 5 325. Although the information is incomplete and the test environment limits direct comparisons, the known specifications and score patterns suggest that Intel is reorganizing its core architecture and power management for the next generation of low-power platforms.

Both processors boast an 8-core, 8-thread configuration, consisting of 4 high-performance cores and 4 LP-E cores, completely doing away with the traditional E-Cores. This core combination isn't entirely new and closely follows the previous Ultra 200V series rather than the "all-core-stacked" design of the H-series. From an architectural standpoint, this version of Panther Lake focuses more on power and area efficiency rather than increasing thread counts.

Geekbench 5.5.1 results reveal that a Core Ultra 5 335 device scored about 1990 in single-core and 9500 in multi-core benchmarks. The Core Ultra 5 325 scored slightly lower, primarily due to a reduced maximum frequency from 4.6GHz to 4.5GHz, but the overall performance is practically the same. This similar scoring indicates that both models are nearly identical in core configuration, voltage profile, and power consumption limits. The model differentiation appears more related to frequency scaling and price differentiation.

It's important to note that these scores are based on Geekbench 5, not the newer Geekbench 6. Due to differences in load models and weighting between these versions, direct comparisons with previous generations or new platforms are not precise. These scores should be used more to assess relative standing within a product line rather than for cross-generational performance assessments until Geekbench 6 data becomes available.

At the specification level, a noticeable change is the increase in L3 cache capacity to 12MB, a 4MB increase over the Ultra 5 228V and 238V. For low-power processors, enhancing L3 capacity is more practical than simply increasing frequencies. On one hand, a higher cache hit rate decreases dependency on the memory system; on the other hand, in a power-consumption framework of around 25W, further frequency increases yield diminishing returns due to power and temperature constraints. Intel's move to enhance cache rather than full core frequency reflects an engineering preference for stable performance.

In terms of platform positioning, Panther Lake is segmented into HX, H, and standard models without suffixes, with TDPs ranging from 25W to 55W. This is notably higher than Lunar Lake's, indicating that Intel does not aim to dominate the ultra-low-power market with Panther Lake, but rather position it for traditional thin-and-light notebooks and mobile devices in terms of performance. The Ultra 5 335 and 325 currently represent the base models within this strategy, covering the mainstream power range.

With leaked specifications for Panther Lake-H and regular models, a clear trend emerges: models without the H suffix consistently exclude E-Cores, retaining only P-Cores and LP-E cores while controlling the L3 cache and RWI limits. Meanwhile, the H-series expands performance upward with Darkmont E-Cores and larger cache sizes. This tiered approach eliminates internal overlap between different series, allowing Intel to cater to a broader price spectrum within the same architecture.

While the Core Ultra 7 365 has been revealed but did not exceed expectations significantly, the Ultra 5 335 and 325 are more indicative of Panther Lake's foundational form rather than its performance peak. At this stage, these processors serve as a "foundation" in the broader platform context, providing a reference for future models with greater power and complex core configurations. Without Geekbench 6 and real-world power consumption data, their genuine competitiveness remains to be revealed.