Intel Core 3 201TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX Comparison

Intel Core 3 201TE and Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX are both active Intel processors released on the same date, yet they target completely different segments. The Core 3 201TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700 with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235HX is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2114 with 14 cores and 14 threads. The benchmark database contains a full suite of 17 recorded tests for the Core Ultra 5 235HX, while the Core 3 201TE has no recorded benchmark scores, giving the Ultra 5 a clear statistical advantage in every measurable category. The data shows that the Core Ultra 5 235HX sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 3 201TE sits at the 50th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 5 is 52,073, placing it within 0.7% of the Intel Core i9-13900F and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 201TE has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so it cannot claim a single measured win. Every benchmark win belongs to the Core Ultra 5 235HX. In multi-threaded workloads, the Ultra 5 delivers overwhelming results: it scores 34,731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 14,587 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. These scores reflect a 14-core, 14-thread design that handles parallel tasks with far greater throughput than a 4-core, 8-thread part. The PassMark multi-thread score of 40,849 and the integer math score of 97,177 further confirm this dominance in heavily threaded applications such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and scientific computation.

Single-threaded performance also favors the Ultra 5, though the margin is narrower relative to its multi-core lead. The Ultra 5 scores 4,903 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 2,059 in Cinebench R20 single-core, with a PassMark single-thread score of 4,683. The Core 3 201TE boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the Ultra 5 boosts to 5.10 GHz, a frequency advantage that shows up directly in these single-thread results. For lightly threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy software, the Ultra 5 still wins every recorded test, but the gap is smaller than in multi-core workloads.

Specialized workloads reveal where the Ultra 5 pulls away most dramatically. In PassMark data compression, the Ultra 5 scores 426,417, and in extended instructions it scores 34,808. Floating-point math reaches 129,819, and random string sorting hits 50,929. The Core 3 201TE has no corresponding scores, so its performance in these areas cannot be quantified from the database. However, the architectural differences between the two processors suggest the Ultra 5's larger cache hierarchy and newer process node give it a structural advantage in memory-intensive and vectorized tasks. The Core 3 201TE wins no measurable category, making the Ultra 5 the sole winner in every benchmark recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design generations. The Core 3 201TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on Intel's 10 nm process node with a die size of 163 mm². The Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename and is built on TSMC's 3 nm process node with a die size of 243 mm². The process node difference is significant: TSMC's 3 nm node allows the Ultra 5 to pack 17,800 million transistors into its larger die, while the Core 3 201TE has no transistor count listed in the database. This transistor density directly enables the Ultra 5's higher core count and larger caches.

Core configuration differs sharply. The Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, meaning it uses hyper-threading to double its thread count. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, indicating a hybrid architecture where performance and efficiency cores share the same thread count without hyper-threading. The Ultra 5's L1 cache is 192 KB per core, its L2 cache is 3 MB per core, and its L3 cache is 24 MB shared. The Core 3 201TE has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 holds a 2x advantage in L3 cache capacity and a 2.4x advantage in per-core L2 cache, which helps feed its additional cores and maintain higher bandwidth.

Memory support also diverges. The Core 3 201TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 235HX supports only DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a 33% higher peak bandwidth. The Core 3 201TE supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 5 does not. PCIe lanes differ as well: the Core 3 201TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 3 201TE using UHD Graphics 730 and the Ultra 5 using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU. The Ultra 5 also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 201TE is locked.

Power and socket configurations reflect their different market segments. The Core 3 201TE has a TDP of 45 watts and uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has a TDP of 55 watts and uses Intel BGA 2114, a mobile platform. Both processors have a base clock of 2.90 GHz, but the Ultra 5 boosts to 5.10 GHz versus the Core 3 201TE's 4.60 GHz. The production status for both is Active, and both have a release date of 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Because the Core 3 201TE has no benchmark scores in the database, the head-to-head comparison is entirely one-sided. The Core Ultra 5 235HX's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34,731 is the flagship result, indicating strong sustained multi-threaded performance for a mobile processor. Its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 14,587 follows a similar pattern, and its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 3,500 rounds out the multi-core Cinebench family. These scores place the Ultra 5 in direct competition with desktop-class processors: the database shows its average score of 52,073 is 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i7-14700, 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i9-13900F. The only rival with a higher average score in the nearest rivals list is the AMD EPYC 8124P at 52,121, which beats the Ultra 5 by 0.1%.

Single-core performance on the Ultra 5 is also strong. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,903 and Cinebench R20 single-core score of 2,059 indicate excellent per-thread efficiency, likely driven by the 5.10 GHz boost clock and the TSMC 3 nm process. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,683 confirms this consistency across different benchmark suites. The Core 3 201TE's boost clock of 4.60 GHz is lower, so even without recorded scores, the frequency gap suggests the Ultra 5 would win single-threaded tests, though the lack of data prevents a precise delta.

Specialized PassMark tests on the Ultra 5 show its versatility. The data compression score of 426,417 is the highest single test result recorded, reflecting strong memory bandwidth and cache efficiency. Integer math at 97,177 and floating-point math at 129,819 show balanced ALU and FPU performance. Extended instructions at 34,808 and random string sorting at 50,929 indicate the Ultra 5 handles SIMD and sorting workloads efficiently. Physics at 2,550 and find prime numbers at 361 are lower absolute scores but still represent the only recorded data points in those categories. The Core 3 201TE has no corresponding numbers, so no direct percentage deltas can be calculated between the two processors.

The Verdict

The data in the database is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX outperforms the Intel Core 3 201TE in every recorded benchmark, simply because the Core 3 201TE has no benchmark scores to compare against. The Ultra 5's 14 cores and 14 threads, 24 MB of L3 cache, 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 5.10 GHz boost clock give it a structural advantage that the Core 3 201TE's 4 cores, 8 threads, 12 MB L3 cache, and 4.60 GHz boost clock cannot match. The Ultra 5 also sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, compared to the Core 3 201TE's 50th percentile, a gap that reflects the Ultra 5's position as a high-performance mobile processor.

The Core 3 201TE is a desktop processor with ECC memory support and DDR4 compatibility, making it appropriate for applications that require those specific features. Its 45-watt TDP and Socket 1700 platform serve traditional desktop builds, while the Ultra 5's 55-watt TDP and BGA 2114 socket target laptops and mobile workstations. The Core 3 201TE has a launch MSRP of $134, which is listed in the database, while the Ultra 5 has no launch MSRP recorded. The Ultra 5's unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, while the Core 3 201TE is locked.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput in a mobile form factor, the Core Ultra 5 235HX is the clear choice from the recorded data. Its average benchmark score of 52,073 places it among desktop-class rivals like the Intel Core i9-13900F and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, showing that mobile processors now compete with high-end desktop parts. For users who require ECC memory or DDR4 support on a desktop platform, the Core 3 201TE offers those capabilities, but with no benchmark scores available, its performance cannot be validated against the Ultra 5. The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between these two processors, so the comparison rests entirely on the Ultra 5's recorded results and the Core 3 201TE's absence of recorded results.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 201TE have any benchmark scores in the database?

A: No. The Core 3 201TE has an empty benchmarks array, meaning no recorded scores exist for any test. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has 17 recorded benchmark scores.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: What is the L3 cache size for each processor?

A: The Core 3 201TE has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Core 3 201TE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 235HX does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two processors?

A: The Core 3 201TE has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Both have the same base clock of 2.90 GHz.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 5 235HX compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235HX has an average benchmark score of 52,073. It is 0.1% behind the AMD EPYC 8124P, 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-14700, and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900F.