Intel Core 5 211E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts of the Intel Core 5 211E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the 211E supports more threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher base and boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E operates at a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has a lower base clock of 1.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in thermal design power (TDP) between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has a TDP of 15 watts. This indicates a significant difference in power consumption and cooling requirements.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL uses a 7 nm process node, whereas the Intel Core 5 211E uses a 10 nm process node. The smaller node typically allows for higher efficiency.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values for these two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E has a launch MSRP of $221, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has a launch MSRP of $331.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E ranks in the 86th percentile, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL ranks in the 50th percentile. The database also shows the 211E has a substantial average benchmark score, while the 135UL has no recorded benchmark scores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from distinctly different Intel design families. The Intel Core 5 211E is built on the Bartlett Lake architecture, which is part of the Core 5 generation. It uses a 10 nm process node and is based on an Intel Socket 1700 platform. In contrast, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1, specifically the Meteor Lake architecture (codename Meteor Lake-PS), and uses a 7 nm process node on Intel Socket 1851. The smaller node for the 135UL suggests a more modern fabrication approach, although the 211E's larger die size of 257 mm² is recorded, while the 135UL has no die size data.

Cache organization differs notably. The Intel Core 5 211E provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL offers more L1 cache at 112 KB per core, the same 2 MB L2 per core, but a smaller 12 MB shared L3 cache. This means the 211E has a total of 20 MB L3, while the 135UL has only 12 MB, a substantial difference for workloads that rely heavily on large caches.

Memory support also diverges. The 211E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the 135UL supports DDR5 memory that depends on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the 135UL has a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s compared to 76.8 GB/s for the 211E. ECC memory support is present on the 211E but absent on the 135UL.

PCIe capabilities are another separator. The 211E offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the 135UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the 211E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the 135UL features Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, a more advanced GPU solution on paper.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons are not available in the database, as no matching test scores exist for both processors. However, the Intel Core 5 211E has a comprehensive set of recorded benchmark results, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has no benchmark entries at all.

The 211E delivers strong multi-core performance across several Cinebench versions. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 20389, and its single-core score is 2878. In Cinebench R20, it scores 8563 multi-core and 1208 single-core. The older Cinebench R15 test shows a multi-core score of 2055 and a single-core score of 289.

Passmark results for the 211E indicate a versatile performer. The multithread score is 23833, with a single-thread score of 4006. Integer math reaches 88117, floating point math hits 66402, and extended instructions score 21592. Data compression results show 346757, data encryption scores 17938, and random string sorting reaches 34308. Physics performance is recorded at 702, and find prime numbers scores 43.

The average benchmark score for the 211E is 37829, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 with an average score of 37804 and a delta of 0.1%, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 at 37762 with a delta of 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37904 with a delta of -0.2%, and the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37911 with a delta of -0.2%. These deltas indicate that the 211E performs within a very tight margin of these comparable chips, slightly ahead of some and slightly behind others.

For the 135UL, the absence of any recorded benchmarks means the database cannot quantify its performance. Its average benchmark score is 0, and it has no nearest rivals. This lack of data prevents any direct numerical comparison between the two processors.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core 5 211E and Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL differ across nearly every major specification field. Core counts: 10 versus 12 cores, with the 211E having 16 threads versus 14 threads for the 135UL. Clock speeds: the 211E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost of 4.90 GHz, while the 135UL has a base of 1.60 GHz and boost of 4.40 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator: 65 watts for the 211E versus 15 watts for the 135UL. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the 211E and Intel Socket 1851 for the 135UL. Process nodes: 10 nm versus 7 nm. L1 cache per core: 80 KB versus 112 KB. L3 cache: 20 MB versus 12 MB.

Memory support: the 211E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the 135UL supports only DDR5 with motherboard dependence. Memory bandwidth: 76.8 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory: supported on the 211E, not on the 135UL. PCIe: Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc Xe-LPG 64EU.

Release dates also differ: the 211E was released on January 12, 2025, while the 135UL was released on April 7, 2024. The launch MSRP values are $221 for the 211E and $331 for the 135UL. Part numbers are SRQERQ65F and SRN97, respectively.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core 5 211E wins decisively in benchmark availability and measured performance. It has a complete set of scores across Cinebench and Passmark tests, an 86th percentile ranking, and an average benchmark score of 37829. The 135UL has no recorded benchmark scores, a 50th percentile ranking, and an average score of 0, meaning the database can only confirm its specifications, not its performance.

The 211E also wins on raw clock speeds, offering a 4.90 GHz boost versus 4.40 GHz for the 135UL. Its larger 20 MB L3 cache versus 12 MB suggests an advantage for workloads that benefit from larger cache capacity. The 211E supports more PCIe lanes (16 versus 8) and a newer PCIe generation (Gen 5 versus Gen 4). ECC memory support on the 211E is an advantage for reliability-sensitive applications.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL wins on power efficiency, with a TDP of 15 watts versus 65 watts for the 211E. This makes it suitable for thermally constrained environments. It also uses a smaller 7 nm process node versus 10 nm, which could imply better transistor density. The 135UL has higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. Its Arc Xe-LPG 64EU integrated graphics likely offer stronger GPU performance than the UHD Graphics 730, though no benchmark data confirms this. The 135UL also has more L1 cache per core at 112 KB versus 80 KB.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 211E for any user who prioritizes measured performance. It delivers a full suite of benchmark results, ranks in the 86th percentile, and sits within a narrow 0.2% margin of several close rivals in the database. Its higher clock speeds, larger L3 cache, newer PCIe support, and ECC capability make it a robust choice for desktop workloads where performance is the primary metric.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL, lacking any benchmark scores, cannot be validated for performance. Its advantages lie entirely in its specifications: dramatically lower TDP of 15 watts, smaller 7 nm node, higher memory bandwidth, and more L1 cache per core. These traits point toward a design focused on efficiency rather than peak throughput.

The choice between them depends on the user's priorities. For applications that demand strong multi-core and single-core performance, the 211E is the only option with verified data to support it. For scenarios where power consumption is critical and the motherboard supports its required socket and memory, the 135UL offers a lower-power alternative, but the database provides no evidence of its actual performance capabilities. The 211E is the safer recommendation based on recorded measurements.