Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245T Comparison

The Intel Core 3 201E and Intel Core Ultra 5 245T occupy distinctly different tiers within Intel’s desktop lineup, as the benchmark database shows a complete sweep for the higher-end part. The Core Ultra 5 245T wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, yet the nature of those victories varies from moderate to overwhelming, which reveals a clear separation in intended workloads. The Core 3 201E, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, serves as an entry-level desktop processor, while the Core Ultra 5 245T, with 14 cores and 14 threads, operates as a higher-performance option. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 245T delivers roughly double the average benchmark score, 38194 versus 19056, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs compared to the Core 3 201E’s 73rd percentile. This gap is not uniform across all tests, and the specific deltas highlight where the architectural differences matter most.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 245T wins every recorded benchmark, so the analysis focuses on the magnitude of each victory rather than which processor claims individual tests. The largest advantage appears in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 324 against 57, a delta of -82.4%, meaning the Core 3 201E trails by that percentage. This test heavily rewards integer throughput and core count, which aligns with the Core Ultra 5 245T’s 14 cores. Floating point math also shows a substantial gap, with the Core Ultra 5 245T scoring 108499 versus 33260, a -69.3% delta, indicating that the newer architecture handles math-heavy workloads with far greater efficiency. Data encryption follows a similar pattern: 23656 versus 8931, a -62.2% delta, which suggests the Core Ultra 5 245T has superior cryptographic instruction throughput.

The Core 3 201E’s smallest deficit appears in single-threaded tests, where it loses by -20.3% in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, scoring 3482 against 4367. This narrower gap shows that the Core 3 201E’s 4.80 GHz boost clock partially compensates for its older architecture, though the Core Ultra 5 245T still maintains a clear lead. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results all show a consistent -51.9% delta in both single-core and multi-core tests, which indicates a proportional scaling advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245T across rendering workloads. Data compression and random string sorting show mid-range deltas of -42.2% and -49.1% respectively, placing them between the extreme integer test and the moderate single-thread gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their construction. The Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses the Arrow Lake-S codename on a 3 nm TSMC process. This process node difference explains much of the performance gap, as the smaller node allows for higher transistor density and efficiency. The Core Ultra 5 245T contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, whereas the Core 3 201E’s transistor count is not recorded, though its die size is 163 mm². The Core Ultra 5 245T also uses a different foundry, TSMC, compared to Intel for the Core 3 201E.

Core configuration differs substantially: the Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads. The thread count matching the core count on the Core Ultra 5 245T suggests a hybrid architecture without simultaneous multithreading, while the Core 3 201E doubles its threads through hyperthreading. Cache hierarchies also scale: the Core 3 201E offers 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3, while the Core Ultra 5 245T provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245T’s larger caches support its higher core count and reduce memory latency in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 245T supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth reflects this: the Core 3 201E delivers 76.8 GB/s over a dual-channel bus, while the Core Ultra 5 245T delivers 102.4 GB/s over the same dual-channel configuration. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs, with the Core 3 201E providing Gen 5 with 16 lanes and the Core Ultra 5 245T providing Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Core 3 201E using UHD Graphics 730 and the Core Ultra 5 245T using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 245T is the superior processor in every measured category, with an average score of 38194 that doubles the Core 3 201E’s 19056. The Core 3 201E’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with an average score of 19047 and a delta of 0%, along with the Intel Core i5-12400F at 19039 and a 0.1% delta. These figures place the Core 3 201E in a competitive position within its own performance class, though that class sits well below the Core Ultra 5 245T. The Core Ultra 5 245T, by contrast, matches the AMD Ryzen 7 250 at 38221 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 38261 with a -0.2% delta, and beats the Intel Core i5-14490F at 38149 with a 0.1% delta.

The data suggests the Core 3 201E suits workloads that rely on moderate single-thread performance with lower power consumption, given its 60 W TDP versus the Core Ultra 5 245T’s 65 W TDP. The 4-core configuration handles basic productivity and legacy software that does not scale beyond a few threads. The Core Ultra 5 245T, with 14 cores and a 5.10 GHz boost clock, targets multi-threaded rendering, data compression, and encryption tasks where its core count and cache size deliver decisive advantages. The 86th percentile ranking for the Core Ultra 5 245T versus the 73rd percentile for the Core 3 201E quantifies this separation. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 201E is $134, while the Core Ultra 5 245T carries a launch MSRP of $270.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T scores 4367 in passmark_single_thread, while the Core 3 201E scores 3482, a delta of -20.3%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 3 201E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 201E boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: How do the processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T scores 26208, while the Core 3 201E scores 12613, a delta of -51.9%.

Q: What sockets do these processors use?

A: The Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Intel Socket 1851.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a uniform pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 2641 versus 1271, a -51.9% delta. The single-core R15 test shows the same percentage, 372 versus 179. Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats the trend with 11007 against 5297, and R20 single-core delivers 1553 against 747. Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 26208 versus 12613, while R23 single-core hits 3699 versus 1780. All six Cinebench tests produce an identical -51.9% delta, which indicates that the Core Ultra 5 245T’s advantage scales linearly with the workload intensity.

PassMark tests reveal varying margins. The largest single gap is in find_prime_numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 245T’s 324 crushes the Core 3 201E’s 57, a -82.4% delta. Floating point math shows 108499 versus 33260, a -69.3% delta, and data encryption shows 23656 versus 8931, a -62.2% delta. Integer math follows with 88676 versus 43894, a -50.5% delta. Extended instructions show 22071 versus 11035, a -50% delta. Multithread performance records 30833 versus 14839, a -51.9% delta, matching the Cinebench scaling. Physics scores 2278 versus 1141, a -49.9% delta, and random string sorting records 34931 versus 17783, a -49.1% delta. Data compression shows 283812 versus 164160, a -42.2% delta, the second smallest gap after single-thread tests.

The smallest margin appears in passmark_single_thread, where the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 4367 and the Core 3 201E scores 3482, a -20.3% delta. This result suggests that while the Core Ultra 5 245T wins every test, the Core 3 201E’s high boost clock of 4.80 GHz narrows the gap in lightly threaded scenarios. The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy: 38194 for the Core Ultra 5 245T versus 19056 for the Core 3 201E, a difference of 19138 points.

Specification Differences

The socket differs entirely: the Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Intel Socket 1851. Process node shifts from 10 nm on Intel for the Core 3 201E to 3 nm on TSMC for the Core Ultra 5 245T. Core counts move from 4 cores and 8 threads to 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks change from 3.60 GHz to 2.20 GHz, while boost clocks rise from 4.80 GHz to 5.10 GHz. TDP increases slightly from 60 W to 65 W. L1 cache grows from 80 KB per core to 192 KB per core, L2 from 1.25 MB per core to 3 MB per core, and L3 from 12 MB shared to 24 MB shared. Die size expands from 163 mm² to 243 mm², and the Core Ultra 5 245T records 17,800 million transistors while the Core 3 201E has no recorded transistor count. Memory support narrows from DDR4 and DDR5 to DDR5 only, with bandwidth rising from 76.8 GB/s to 102.4 GB/s. PCIe lanes increase from 16 to 20, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics change from UHD Graphics 730 to Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 201E is $134, while the Core Ultra 5 245T has a launch MSRP of $270.