Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

The Intel Core 3 201E and Intel Core 5 220H occupy different positions in Intel’s lineup, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The Core 3 201E is a desktop part with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 5 220H is a mobile processor with 12 cores and 16 threads. Across 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Core 5 220H wins 14, while the Core 3 201E wins 3. The average benchmark score for the Core 3 201E is 19056, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 220H averages 28574, which lands in the 80th percentile. The data shows a consistent pattern: the Core 5 220H dominates in multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, while the Core 3 201E takes a narrow lead in a couple of single-thread tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 220H is the clear winner in almost every category that stresses multiple cores or sustained throughput. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1835 against the Core 3 201E’s 1271, a 30.7% advantage. The gap widens in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Core 5 220H’s 7812 beats 5297 by 32.2%. The PassMark suite reinforces this trend. Data compression shows the Core 5 220H at 247921 versus 164160, a 33.8% lead. Integer math favors the Core 5 220H by 40.3% (73555 vs 43894), and floating-point math shows a 35.6% edge (51671 vs 33260). Data encryption delivers the biggest single delta: 15216 vs 8931, a 41.3% advantage for the Core 5 220H. These are workloads where the additional 8 cores and 8 threads of the Core 5 220H provide a decisive structural advantage.

The Core 3 201E wins are fewer but meaningful. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 12613 against the Core 5 220H’s 11198, a 12.6% lead. This is an interesting result because it contradicts the R15 and R20 multicore outcomes, suggesting the Core 3 201E’s higher sustained clock behavior or thermal characteristics give it an edge in that specific longer-duration workload. The Core 3 201E also wins both PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 3482 against 3405, a 2.3% margin. That is a small but consistent single-core advantage. The Core 3 201E’s base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 220H likely explains this, even though the Core 5 220H has a slightly higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz versus 4.80 GHz.

For overall usability, the Core 5 220H’s 14 wins cover rendering, compression, encryption, math, physics, and sorting. The Core 3 201E’s wins are concentrated in one Cinebench version and in raw single-thread execution. Anyone choosing between these should weigh the types of applications they run: the Core 5 220H is built for parallel throughput, while the Core 3 201E shows a specific strength in lightly threaded, high-clock workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for most users. The Core 5 220H delivers substantially higher multi-threaded performance across nearly every recorded benchmark. Its average benchmark score of 28574 is roughly 50% higher than the Core 3 201E’s 19056. The Core 5 220H also sits at the 80th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 73rd percentile for the Core 3 201E. For rendering, video encoding, data processing, or any workload that uses more than a few threads, the Core 5 220H is the stronger option by margins that range from 22.8% in PassMark physics to 41.3% in data encryption.

The Core 3 201E is the choice only for specific scenarios. Its Cinebench R23 multicore win (12.6% ahead) indicates that in certain sustained multi-threaded tasks it can outperform the Core 5 220H. Its 2.3% single-thread lead in PassMark makes it marginally better for legacy or poorly threaded applications. The Core 3 201E is also a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700 with a 60 W TDP, while the Core 5 220H is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1744 with a 45 W TDP. The desktop socket offers a different upgrade and cooling path, but the performance data itself favors the Core 5 220H in the majority of tests.

There is no ambiguity in the overall pattern. The Core 5 220H wins 14 of 17 comparisons, and its losses are either narrow (2.3% in single-thread) or isolated to one Cinebench version. The Core 3 201E’s wins do not offset the scale of the Core 5 220H’s advantages in most throughput tests. For general-purpose computing, the Core 5 220H is the superior processor based on recorded benchmarks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Core 5 220H comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 15216 against 8931, a 41.3% advantage. This is followed closely by PassMark integer math at 40.3% (73555 vs 43894) and PassMark random string sorting at 37.5% (28438 vs 17783). Floating-point math shows a 35.6% edge (51671 vs 33260), and data compression shows a 33.8% lead (247921 vs 164160). The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a 32.2% gap (7812 vs 5297), and the R15 multicore test shows a 30.7% gap (1835 vs 1271). The Core 5 220H also leads by 32.2% in PassMark multithread (21884 vs 14839), 30.5% in find prime numbers (82 vs 57), 24.6% in extended instructions (14642 vs 11035), and 22.8% in physics (1478 vs 1141). Single-core Cinebench R20 shows a 32.2% lead for the Core 5 220H (1102 vs 747), and R15 single-core shows a 31.7% lead (262 vs 179). Cinebench R23 single-core is closer, with the Core 5 220H ahead by 3.9% (1853 vs 1780).

The Core 3 201E’s biggest win is Cinebench R23 multicore at 12.6% (12613 vs 11198). Its other two wins are the PassMark single-thread tests, both at 2.3% (3482 vs 3405). These are the only three benchmarks where the Core 3 201E records a higher score. Notably, the Core 3 201E loses the other two Cinebench multicore tests by roughly 31%, which makes its R23 result stand out as an anomaly rather than a trend.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Core 5 220H has an average benchmark score of 28574, while the Core 3 201E has an average score of 19056. The Core 5 220H also ranks at the 80th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 73rd percentile for the Core 3 201E.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 12613, compared to 11198 for the Core 5 220H, a 12.6% advantage.

Q: How large is the Core 5 220H’s lead in data encryption?

A: The Core 5 220H scores 15216 in PassMark data encryption, while the Core 3 201E scores 8931. That is a 41.3% advantage for the Core 5 220H.

Q: Do the two processors have different sockets?

A: Yes. The Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core 5 220H uses Intel BGA 1744. The Core 3 201E is a desktop part, and the Core 5 220H is a mobile part.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 5 220H has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the Core 3 201E has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core 3 201E has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share Intel’s 10 nm process node and are both fabricated by Intel. The Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 generation. The Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-H codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. Both have an L1 cache of 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs: the Core 3 201E has 1.25 MB per core, while the Core 5 220H has 2 MB per core. The L3 cache also differs, with the Core 3 201E offering 12 MB shared versus 18 MB shared for the Core 5 220H.

The Core 3 201E supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 220H does not. PCIe lane counts differ as well: the Core 3 201E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 220H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ, with the Core 3 201E using UHD Graphics 730 and the Core 5 220H using Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the Core 3 201E has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core 5 220H’s memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most significant difference: 4 cores and 8 threads for the Core 3 201E versus 12 cores and 16 threads for the Core 5 220H. The base clocks are 3.60 GHz for the Core 3 201E and 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 220H. The boost clocks are 4.80 GHz and 4.90 GHz, respectively. The TDP is 60 W for the Core 3 201E and 45 W for the Core 5 220H. The sockets are Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 3 201E and Intel BGA 1744 for the Core 5 220H. The market segments are Desktop for the Core 3 201E and Mobile for the Core 5 220H. The release dates are 2025-01-12 for the Core 3 201E and 2024-12-17 for the Core 5 220H. The launch MSRP is $134 for the Core 3 201E and $342 for the Core 5 220H. The part numbers are SRVTR for the Core 3 201E and SRQ6SQ5MM for the Core 5 220H. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The die size is 163 mm² for the Core 3 201E and is not recorded for the Core 5 220H. ECC memory support is present on the Core 3 201E and absent on the Core 5 220H.