Intel Core 3 201TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

The Verdict

The data strongly favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V as the more capable processor overall, with a benchmark average of 19368 and a 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Core Ultra 5 226V holds a decisive edge across every recorded benchmark category, though the Core 3 201TE offers a distinct set of platform advantages that matter for specific desktop use cases. The Core Ultra 5 226V is the clear pick for mobile workloads requiring high throughput and power efficiency. The Core 3 201TE is the appropriate choice for desktop builders who require ECC memory support and a standard LGA socket, accepting lower performance in exchange for those platform features.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies from Intel. The Core 3 201TE is based on the Bartlett Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP, using the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Core Ultra 5 226V belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Lunar Lake, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It targets mobile systems with a 17 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket.

Core count differs substantially: the Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core Ultra 5 226V uses a single thread per core, whereas the Core 3 201TE relies on Hyper-Threading to double its thread count. Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The Core 3 201TE provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 226V offers larger per-core caches with 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2, but a smaller 8 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory support differs significantly. The Core 3 201TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s and ECC memory support. The Core Ultra 5 226V also uses dual-channel memory, but its memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard, with no bandwidth figure recorded and no ECC support. PCIe connectivity also separates the two: the Core 3 201TE provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 226V provides only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 201TE ships with UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 226V features Arc 130V graphics. The Core Ultra 5 226V also has a smaller die footprint absent from the data, while the Core 3 201TE has a die size of 163 mm². Clock speeds show the Core 3 201TE with a 2.90 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost, while the Core Ultra 5 226V runs at 2.10 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 226V records benchmark results across every major test suite, while the Core 3 201TE has no recorded benchmark scores in the database. This makes the comparison one-sided in terms of measured performance data, but the available numbers for the Core Ultra 5 226V can be contextualized against its nearest rivals to indicate its performance tier.

In Cinebench R23, the Core Ultra 5 226V scores 9848 in multi-core and 1744 in single-core. These numbers place it in a competitive range with the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, which has an average score of 19364, a 0% delta from the Core Ultra 5 226V's 19368 average. The Intel Core i5-1345U also sits close with a 19411 average, only 0.2% behind the Core Ultra 5 226V. The Core Ultra 5 226V edges the Intel Core i7-8700K, which averages 19238, by 0.7%. The Intel Core i7-10700F averages 19499, putting it 0.7% ahead of the Core Ultra 5 226V.

Cinebench R20 results for the Core Ultra 5 226V show 6381 multi-core and 900 single-core. The R15 run yields 1501 multi-core and 267 single-core. Geekbench scores reach 8598 in multi-core and 1930 in single-core. PassMark tests cover a broad range of workloads: multi-thread performance scores 17850, single-thread scores 3754, integer math hits 38647, floating point math reaches 52270, data encryption records 12710, data compression scores 170687, extended instructions score 14724, physics scores 1449, random string sorting scores 20813, and prime number finding scores 166.

The absence of any benchmark data for the Core 3 201TE means the database records zero wins for that processor in head-to-head comparisons. The Core Ultra 5 226V holds all recorded wins, though the comparison is limited by the lack of direct benchmark measurements for the Core 3 201TE.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 3 201TE has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is 0.10 GHz higher than the Core Ultra 5 226V's 4.50 GHz boost clock.

Q: Does the Core 3 201TE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core 3 201TE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 226V does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores, double the 4 cores of the Intel Core 3 201TE. Both processors have 8 threads, with the Core 3 201TE using Hyper-Threading to reach that thread count.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Core 3 201TE has a TDP of 45 W, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has a TDP of 17 W. The Core Ultra 5 226V draws significantly less power.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 3 201TE has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 226V compensates with larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: When was each processor released?

A: The Core Ultra 5 226V was released on 2024-09-23, while the Core 3 201TE was released on 2025-01-12.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 226V wins in raw computational performance. Its 8 cores, 3 nm process from TSMC, and lower 17 W TDP make it the stronger choice for multi-threaded workloads and sustained mobile computing. Its benchmark results confirm this: Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 9848, Geekbench multi-core reaches 8598, and PassMark multi-thread reaches 17850. The processor's nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS and Intel Core i5-1345U, sit within 0.2% of its average score, indicating the Core Ultra 5 226V performs at a competitive mainstream level. Its Arc 130V integrated graphics also give it a feature advantage for systems without a discrete GPU.

The Core 3 201TE wins in platform flexibility for desktop builders. It uses the Intel Socket 1700, which allows for a standard desktop motherboard installation, whereas the Core Ultra 5 226V is a mobile BGA 2833 part. The Core 3 201TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving builders a choice of memory generations, and it provides ECC memory support, which is critical for error-tolerant workstation builds. Its 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU allow for more expansion devices directly connected to the processor, compared to the 4 lanes on the Core Ultra 5 226V. The Core 3 201TE also has a higher boost clock at 4.60 GHz and a larger 12 MB L3 cache, which can benefit certain single-threaded and cache-sensitive workloads.

The Core Ultra 5 226V also wins on efficiency. Its 17 W TDP is less than half of the Core 3 201TE's 45 W TDP, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops and fanless designs. The 3 nm process node from TSMC enables this efficiency while still delivering higher benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clock favors the Core 3 201TE at 2.90 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clock also favors the Core 3 201TE at 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. TDP heavily favors the Core Ultra 5 226V at 17 W versus 45 W.

Socket types are incompatible: the Core 3 201TE uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktops, while the Core Ultra 5 226V uses Intel BGA 2833 for mobile systems. The process node differs by foundry and size: the Core 3 201TE uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 226V uses TSMC's 3 nm process. Die size is recorded only for the Core 3 201TE at 163 mm².

Cache layouts differ in every level. L1 cache is 80 KB per core on the Core 3 201TE versus 192 KB per core on the Core Ultra 5 226V. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the Core 3 201TE versus 2.5 MB per core on the Core Ultra 5 226V. L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the Core 3 201TE versus 8 MB shared on the Core Ultra 5 226V.

Memory support shows the Core 3 201TE with DDR4 and DDR5 support, dual-channel memory, and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has motherboard-dependent memory support, dual-channel configuration, and no listed bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Core 3 201TE. PCIe lanes differ with 16 Gen 5 lanes on the Core 3 201TE versus 4 Gen 5 lanes on the Core Ultra 5 226V. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 3 201TE versus Arc 130V on the Core Ultra 5 226V. The Core 3 201TE has a launch MSRP of $134; the Core Ultra 5 226V has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates differ by several months, with the Core Ultra 5 226V launching on 2024-09-23 and the Core 3 201TE on 2025-01-12. Both processors are active in production and both have locked multipliers.