Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a complete sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins all 17 recorded comparisons against the Intel Core 3 201E. The margin of victory is substantial across every category, though the gap narrows somewhat in single-threaded workloads.

The largest disparity appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 615 versus 57 for the Core 3 201E, a difference of 90.7%. This workload, heavily dependent on integer throughput and core count, exposes the massive gulf in parallel processing capability between the two parts.

Multi-core Cinebench results follow a similar pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus records 6656 points against 1271 for the Core 3 201E, a 80.9% deficit for the smaller chip. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 24461 versus 5297, a 78.3% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore narrows this slightly to 71.5%, with scores of 44253 and 12613 respectively.

Data compression and encryption workloads demonstrate equally lopsided results. PassMark data compression shows 804322 for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus versus 164160 for the Core 3 201E, a 79.6% difference. Data encryption is even more decisive: 59097 against 8931, a 84.9% gap. These results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus handles memory-intensive and cryptographic operations at a dramatically higher throughput.

Floating-point and integer math workloads reinforce the pattern. PassMark floating point math records 229491 for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus versus 33260 for the Core 3 201E, a 85.5% difference. Integer math shows 175986 against 43894, a 75.1% gap. Extended instructions testing delivers 63506 versus 11035, a 82.6% difference.

The multithreaded PassMark score places the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus at 68574 against 14839 for the Core 3 201E, a 78.4% deficit. Physics simulation, a workload that scales well with core resources, shows 4064 versus 1141, a 71.9% gap.

Single-thread performance is the closest contest, though the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus still holds a decisive edge. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 2439 versus 1780, a 27% difference, the smallest margin recorded across all benchmarks. PassMark single thread shows 5068 versus 3482, a 31.3% gap. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows 354 versus 179, a 49.4% difference. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 3453 versus 747, a 78.4% gap, which is anomalous compared to other single-threaded tests and suggests the Core 3 201E struggles under this specific workload.

Average benchmark scores place the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus at 93785 against 19056 for the Core 3 201E. The percentile ranking reinforces this hierarchy: the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 201E ranks at the 73rd percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 201E reaches 4.80 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in single-threaded performance?

A: The single-thread advantage ranges from 27% in Cinebench R23 singlecore (2439 versus 1780) to 31.3% in PassMark single thread (5068 versus 3482). Cinebench R20 singlecore shows a larger 78.4% gap (3453 versus 747), which is an outlier within the single-threaded tests.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports 115.2 GB/s, while the Core 3 201E supports 76.8 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses, though the Core 3 201E supports DDR4 and DDR5 while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which CPU has a higher percentile ranking in the database?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus ranks at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 201E ranks at the 73rd percentile.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Core 3 201E implements simultaneous multithreading, giving it 2 threads per core, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus does not.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus averages 93785 across all benchmark tests, compared to 19056 for the Core 3 201E. The nearest rival to the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in the database is the Intel Xeon 6520P at 93786, a 0% difference. The nearest rival to the Core 3 201E is the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19047, also a 0% difference.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leaves no ambiguity: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus outperforms the Intel Core 3 201E in every recorded test. The smallest margin is 27% in Cinebench R23 singlecore, and the largest is 90.7% in PassMark find prime numbers. For workloads that scale with core count, cache size, or memory bandwidth, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is in a different performance class entirely.

The Core 3 201E occupies a different segment. Its 4-core, 8-thread configuration with a 12 MB shared L3 cache and 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth places it in the entry-level desktop space. Its average benchmark score of 19056 places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which scores 19047, and the Intel Core i5-12400F at 19039. These rivals sit within 0.4% of the Core 3 201E, indicating a tightly contested tier of processors.

The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, by contrast, aligns with server-class parts. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon 6520P at 93786, the AMD EPYC 4564P at 95183, and the AMD EPYC 9175F at 95615. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus trails the EPYC 4564P by 1.5% and the EPYC 9175F by 1.9%, placing it firmly in high-end territory.

The Core 3 201E is the appropriate choice for basic desktop tasks, entry-level builds, or applications where the 60 W TDP and Socket 1700 compatibility matter. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the appropriate choice for multi-threaded productivity, content creation, or any workload that can exploit its 24 cores and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The 125 W TDP and Socket 1851 requirement are the trade-offs for that performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are close, 3.60 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, but boost clocks diverge significantly: 4.80 GHz for the Core 3 201E and 5.50 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.

Thermal design power differs by 65 W, with the Core 3 201E rated at 60 W and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus at 125 W. The sockets are incompatible: the Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core 3 201E has a locked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is multiplier-unlocked.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the Core 3 201E and 115.2 GB/s for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe lane counts differ: the Core 3 201E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 3 201E using UHD Graphics 730 and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Release dates are roughly 14 months apart: the Core 3 201E launched on 2025-01-12, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus on 2026-03-10. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 201E is $134, and the launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is $299. Part numbers are SRVTR for the Core 3 201E and SA4V6 for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 (Bartlett Lake) generation, built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel foundries. The die size is 163 mm². The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and belongs to the Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake) generation, built on TSMC's 3 nm process. The die is 243 mm² and contains 17,800 million transistors; the Core 3 201E has no transistor count recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ at every level. The Core 3 201E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, combined with triple the L3 capacity, contribute to the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus's advantage in memory-latency-sensitive workloads.

The Core 3 201E belongs to the Bartlett Lake architecture, a derivative of Intel's hybrid design philosophy but without the high-core-count topology of the Arrow Lake Refresh. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, which represents a different design generation with a more advanced process node and higher transistor density.

The manufacturing difference is notable: Intel's 10 nm process for the Core 3 201E versus TSMC's 3 nm process for the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. This process advantage, combined with a 243 mm² die versus 163 mm², allows the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus to pack 24 cores into a power envelope of 125 W while still achieving a 5.50 GHz boost clock.

The memory controller also reflects the architectural split. The Core 3 201E retains DDR4 compatibility, indicating a design that serves upgrade paths from older platforms. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is DDR5-only, which aligns with its newer socket and platform requirements. The 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth of the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is 50% higher than the 76.8 GB/s of the Core 3 201E, a direct consequence of the newer memory controller design.