Intel Core 3 201TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 201TE reaches 4.60 GHz. The Ultra 7 also has a lower base clock at 2.20 GHz compared to 2.90 GHz on the Core 3.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core 3 201TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, meaning it relies on hyper-threading to match thread count, while the Ultra 7 uses physical cores only.

Q: Which chip has the larger process node?

A: The Core 3 201TE is built on Intel's 10 nm node, while the Core Ultra 7 268V uses TSMC's 3 nm node. The 3 nm process is significantly smaller, which contributes to the Ultra 7's higher transistor density and efficiency.

Q: What are the thermal design power (TDP) ratings?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V is rated at 17 W TDP, while the Core 3 201TE is rated at 45 W TDP. The Ultra 7 consumes far less power, making it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems.

Q: What integrated graphics do these processors include?

A: The Core 3 201TE has UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 268V includes Arc 140V. The Arc 140V is the higher-tier integrated GPU, and the benchmark data shows the Ultra 7 delivering a strong overall score.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 3 201TE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 268V does not. This makes the Core 3 more suitable for workstation or server-type workloads where error-correcting memory is required.

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V is the clear performance leader in this comparison. Its average benchmark score of 20897 places it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 201TE sits at the 50th percentile with an average score of 0, indicating no recorded benchmark entries. The Ultra 7's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE at a 0% delta, the Intel Core i5-12600T at -0.1%, the AMD EPYC 7J13 at 0.2%, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U at 0.3%. These tight margins show the Ultra 7 competing with a cluster of capable mid-range processors.

For desktop users building a Socket 1700 system with ECC memory support, the Core 3 201TE is the only option here, as it uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. It also carries a launch MSRP of $134. However, the data does not contain any benchmark scores for this chip, so its measured performance cannot be quantified. The Core Ultra 7 268V, by contrast, has a substantial body of benchmark results across Cinebench, Geekbench, and Passmark tests, all of which indicate strong multi-threaded and single-threaded capability.

The verdict is straightforward: the Ultra 7 268V is the pick for anyone prioritizing measured performance, efficiency, and modern architecture. The Core 3 201TE is the pick for those who specifically need a desktop socket, ECC memory, and a lower launch MSRP. The Ultra 7 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833, so it is not a drop-in alternative for Socket 1700 boards. The two chips serve different platforms and different use cases, and the benchmark data strongly favors the Ultra 7 where performance is concerned.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 7 268V dominates every available benchmark in the database. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 10653, and in single-core it scores 1921. The Core 3 201TE has no recorded scores in any Cinebench test, so no direct comparison is possible from the data. The same applies to Geekbench, where the Ultra 7 scores 9963 in multi-core and 2270 in single-core.

Passmark results for the Ultra 7 further illustrate its capabilities. The multi-thread score is 19297, the single-thread score is 4051, and the physics test yields 1617. Integer math scores 42669, floating-point math scores 57628, and extended instructions score 15323. Data encryption scores 13779, data compression scores 181443, and random string sorting scores 22416. The find prime numbers test returns 192.

Because the Core 3 201TE has no benchmark entries, the head-to-head comparison is one-sided. The database records no wins for the Core 3 and no wins for the Ultra 7 in the head-to-head benchmark field, but the absence of scores for the Core 3 means the Ultra 7's results stand as the only measured data points. The Ultra 7's percentile ranking of 74 versus the Core 3's 50 reinforces the gap: the Ultra 7 is positioned well above the median CPU in the database, while the Core 3 sits exactly at the median.

The nearest rivals for the Ultra 7 show how competitive this chip is. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE scores 20900, a 0% delta, making it essentially a tie. The Intel Core i5-12600T scores 20917, which is 0.1% higher. The AMD EPYC 7J13 scores 20845, 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U scores 20826, 0.3% lower. These margins are tiny, indicating that the Ultra 7 sits in a dense performance band where small benchmark variations can reorder the rankings.

Specification Differences

The Core 3 201TE and Core Ultra 7 268V differ across nearly every major specification. The Core 3 has 4 cores and 8 threads; the Ultra 7 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz versus 2.20 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.60 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP ratings are 45 W versus 17 W.

The sockets are incompatible: the Core 3 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2833. The Core 3 is a desktop part, and the Ultra 7 is a mobile part. Process nodes differ, with the Core 3 on 10 nm from Intel and the Ultra 7 on 3 nm from TSMC. The die size for the Core 3 is 163 mm², while the Ultra 7 has no listed die size.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the Ultra 7 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache. Memory support differs as well: the Core 3 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7's memory support is listed as unknown and dependent on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but only the Core 3 has a listed memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the Core 3 but not on the Ultra 7.

PCIe lanes differ: the Core 3 provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 3 and Arc 140V on the Ultra 7. The release dates also differ, with the Ultra 7 released in 2024 and the Core 3 in 2025.

Architecture Differences

The Core Ultra 7 268V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, and is fabricated on TSMC's 3 nm process. The Core 3 201TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 3 generation, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. The foundry difference is notable: Intel manufactures the Core 3, while TSMC manufactures the Ultra 7.

The cores themselves reflect a generational shift. The Ultra 7 has 8 cores with 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, while the Core 3 has 4 cores with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra 7 indicate a design focused on feeding the higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz with more local data. The shared L3 cache is identical at 12 MB, so the difference lies in the private cache levels.

The Core 3's Bartlett Lake design on 10 nm is a more traditional desktop architecture, paired with a Socket 1700 platform and DDR4/DDR5 memory support. The Ultra 7's Lunar Lake design is a mobile-first architecture, soldered to the motherboard via BGA 2833, with memory support dependent on the motherboard. The Ultra 7 also has a much lower TDP of 17 W, which suggests a design optimized for power efficiency in portable devices. The 3 nm process node enables higher transistor density and lower power draw per transistor, which explains how the Ultra 7 achieves a 5.00 GHz boost clock within a 17 W envelope.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either part. The production status for both is listed as Active.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 268V wins in every measured performance category. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 1616, R20 multi-core is 6887, and R23 multi-core is 10653. Single-core scores are 293 in R15, 972 in R20, and 1921 in R23. Geekbench multi-core is 9963 and single-core is 2270. Passmark tests show strong results across integer math, floating-point math, encryption, compression, physics, and sorting workloads. The Ultra 7 also wins on efficiency, with a 17 W TDP versus 45 W on the Core 3, and on process node, with 3 nm versus 10 nm.

The Core 3 201TE wins on platform flexibility. It supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 7 does not. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7's memory support is motherboard-dependent. It uses the widely available Intel Socket 1700, which allows for desktop builds with replaceable processors, whereas the Ultra 7 is soldered to the motherboard. The Core 3 also has 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes compared to 4 on the Ultra 7, making it the better choice for systems with multiple high-bandwidth expansion cards or NVMe drives. Its launch MSRP of $134 is a listed data point, though the Ultra 7 has no launch MSRP in the database.

For a desktop workstation requiring ECC memory and multiple PCIe devices, the Core 3 201TE is the appropriate selection. For a mobile system or any workload measured by the benchmark suite, the Core Ultra 7 268V is the stronger processor. The data records no benchmark scores for the Core 3, so any performance advantage for the Ultra 7 is absolute in this dataset. The nearest rivals to the Ultra 7, all within 0.3% of its average score, show that it competes with established mid-range desktop and mobile chips, while the Core 3's 50th percentile ranking with no measured scores leaves its performance unquantified.