Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core 5 213PE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 213PE wins every single recorded test. Across all 17 head-to-head comparisons, the Core 5 213PE takes the top score, leaving the Intel Core 3 201E with zero wins. The largest margins appear in integer math, where the Core 5 213PE leads by 52.3%, and floating point math, where it leads by 51.5%. The smallest gap is in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the Core 5 213PE still holds a 14.2% advantage.

For workloads that depend on raw multi-threaded throughput, such as Cinebench rendering, the Core 5 213PE dominates. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 22468 against 12613 for the Core 3 201E, a 43.9% gap. The same percentage gap appears consistently across all Cinebench tests, including single-core runs, which indicates the advantage is not merely a core-count effect. Even in the PassMark physics test, which often rewards single-thread efficiency, the Core 5 213PE leads by 29.7%.

The Core 3 201E does not win any category, but its closest relative performance appears in single-thread tests. PassMark single-thread scores show 3482 for the Core 3 201E versus 4060 for the Core 5 213PE, a 14.2% difference. That is the narrowest margin in the entire benchmark set. For users prioritizing the cheapest entry into the LGA 1700 platform, the Core 3 201E still delivers a functional desktop experience, but the recorded data offers no scenario where it outperforms the Core 5 213PE.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Bartlett Lake codename and use Intel's 10 nm process node, built at Intel's own foundry. They also share the same LGA 1700 socket, dual-channel memory bus, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, and 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. Integrated graphics are identical: UHD Graphics 730 on both. ECC memory is supported on both parts, and both provide PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The core configuration differs substantially. The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 5 213PE doubles that to 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks also differ: the Core 3 201E runs at 3.60 GHz base and boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Core 5 213PE has a lower 2.70 GHz base but a higher 5.20 GHz boost. The Core 5 213PE therefore relies on higher boost headroom and twice the core count to achieve its benchmark dominance.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core, but L2 per core is 1.25 MB on the Core 3 201E versus 2 MB on the Core 5 213PE. Shared L3 totals 12 MB on the Core 3 201E and 24 MB on the Core 5 213PE. The die size for the Core 3 201E is 163 mm², while the Core 5 213PE has no recorded die size. Both are active production parts, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are desktop market segments.

Thermal design power differs by only 5 watts: 60 W for the Core 3 201E versus 65 W for the Core 5 213PE. Given the Core 5 213PE's doubled core count and larger cache, that modest TDP increase is notable. The Core 3 201E launched on 2025-01-12, while the Core 5 213PE launched later on 2026-03-08. Part numbers are SRVTR for the Core 3 201E and SA4QG for the Core 5 213PE.

The Verdict

The Core 5 213PE is the superior processor in every measured dimension. Its 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to 73rd for the Core 3 201E, places it in a different performance class. Average benchmark scores reinforce this: 35428 for the Core 5 213PE versus 19056 for the Core 3 201E, meaning the Core 5 213PE averages roughly 86% higher across the full benchmark suite.

The Core 5 213PE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700T (delta 0.1%), Intel Core i7-12700KF (delta 0.2%), Intel Core i5-13600T (delta 0.3%), and Intel Core i7-12700K (delta 0.4%). Those tiny deltas indicate the Core 5 213PE sits in strong company, essentially matching previous-generation high-end desktop parts. The Core 3 201E, by contrast, lands near the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, Intel Core i5-12400F, Intel Core i5-1335U, and AMD EPYC 7773X, all within 0.4% of its average score.

The launch MSRP for the Core 3 201E is $134, and for the Core 5 213PE it is $221. The Core 5 213PE costs more at launch, but the benchmark data shows it delivers substantially higher performance across every workload category. Users who need multi-threaded rendering, encryption, compression, or math throughput should select the Core 5 213PE. The Core 3 201E remains a functional entry point for the platform, but the data provides no reason to expect it to match the Core 5 213PE in any task.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 3 201E and the Intel Core 5 213PE support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 213PE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 213PE boosts to 5.20 GHz, compared to 4.80 GHz for the Intel Core 3 201E. The Core 3 201E has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz.

Q: How large is the performance gap in single-threaded tests?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Intel Core 5 213PE scores 4060 versus 3482 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a 14.2% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is larger: 3172 versus 1780, a 43.9% difference.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700, along with DDR4 and DDR5 memory support and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the benchmark set appears in PassMark integer math. The Core 5 213PE scores 92089 against 43894 for the Core 3 201E, a 52.3% lead. Floating point math shows a similar pattern: 68587 versus 33260, a 51.5% gap. These math-heavy tests highlight the combined effect of doubled cores, larger per-core L2, and doubled L3.

PassMark find prime numbers is the only test where the percentage gap reaches exactly 50%. The Core 5 213PE scores 114 versus 57 for the Core 3 201E. That exact doubling aligns with the core count difference, suggesting the workload scales almost perfectly with additional cores. Data compression also shows a strong divergence: 298804 versus 164160, a 45.1% lead for the Core 5 213PE. Random string sorting trails at 44.5% (32027 versus 17783), and extended instructions at 43.6% (19565 versus 11035).

Cinebench tests hold a consistent 43.9% gap across all six variants. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 5 213PE scores 2264 versus 1271. R15 single-core shows 319 versus 179. R20 multi-core shows 9436 versus 5297, and R20 single-core shows 1332 versus 747. R23 multi-core shows 22468 versus 12613, and R23 single-core shows 3172 versus 1780. The uniformity of this 43.9% delta across both multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests is striking. It indicates that the Core 5 213PE's advantage comes from per-core efficiency, not just core count, since single-threaded Cinebench cannot use extra cores.

PassMark data encryption shows 15916 for the Core 5 213PE versus 8931 for the Core 3 201E, a 43.9% gap that matches the Cinebench pattern. PassMark multithread follows the same 43.9% delta: 26434 versus 14839. The PassMark physics test shows the smallest multi-threaded gap at 29.7%, with scores of 1624 versus 1141. The narrowest overall margin remains PassMark single-thread at 14.2%, appearing identically in both the single_thread and singlethread entries.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, clock speeds, cache, TDP, release date, launch MSRP, part number, and die size. The Core 3 201E offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 5 213PE offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, but boost clocks reverse the order: 4.80 GHz for the Core 3 201E versus 5.20 GHz for the Core 5 213PE.

L2 cache per core measures 1.25 MB on the Core 3 201E and 2 MB on the Core 5 213PE. Shared L3 is 12 MB versus 24 MB. TDP is 60 W versus 65 W. The Core 3 201E has a recorded die size of 163 mm², while the Core 5 213PE has no die size data. Release dates differ by over a year: 2025-01-12 for the Core 3 201E and 2026-03-08 for the Core 5 213PE. Launch MSRP is $134 for the Core 3 201E and $221 for the Core 5 213PE. Part numbers are SRVTR and SA4QG respectively.

Identical specifications include the Bartlett Lake codename, 10 nm process node, Intel foundry, LGA 1700 socket, 80 KB L1 per core, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, UHD Graphics 730, desktop market segment, active production status, and locked multipliers. Neither processor has a recorded architecture field beyond the Bartlett Lake codename, and neither has transistor counts or 3D V-Cache data in the database.