Intel Core 5 211TE vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core 5 211TE runs at 1.70 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 211TE and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 211TE scores 15370 on average, which is the 69th percentile.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 221E provides 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core 5 211TE delivers 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700 and share the same Bartlett Lake codename and 10 nm process node.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from the same Bartlett Lake family, manufactured by Intel on a 10 nm process node. They share the same foundry, socket (Intel Socket 1700), and integrated graphics solution (UHD Graphics 730). Despite these commonalities, the internal design differs substantially.

The Intel Core 5 211TE packs 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E scales up to 14 cores and 20 threads. This four-core, four-thread advantage gives the 221E more parallel execution capacity, which shows in heavily threaded workloads. The cache hierarchy also diverges: the 211TE carries 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The 221E matches the L1 allocation at 80 KB per core but doubles L2 to 2 MB per core and expands L3 to 24 MB shared. Larger per-core L2 and a bigger shared L3 pool reduce memory access latency for repeated data patterns.

The die sizes reflect the additional resources. The 211TE measures 215 mm², while the 221E grows to 257 mm². That 42 mm² difference accommodates the extra cores, threads, and cache. Clock behavior also differs meaningfully. The 211TE runs at 1.70 GHz base and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The 221E starts at 2.70 GHz base and reaches 5.20 GHz boost. Both chips support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, but the 221E achieves higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s), which helps feed its additional cores.

Power delivery differs as well. The 211TE carries a 45 W TDP, while the 221E consumes 65 W. The 221E trades higher power draw for higher sustained clocks and more compute units. Both processors are unlocked multipliers, meaning no overclocking headroom. They share the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both are active production parts, released on the same date, with part numbers SRQDL for the 211TE and SRQDVQ659 for the 221E.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep: the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The 211TE does not claim a single victory. The margins, however, vary by workload, revealing which architectural differences matter most.

In Cinebench tests, the 221E consistently outperforms the 211TE by 53% across all six metrics. This includes R15 multicore (2613 versus 1229), R15 singlecore (368 versus 173), R20 multicore (10891 versus 5124), R20 singlecore (1537 versus 723), R23 multicore (25933 versus 12201), and R23 singlecore (3661 versus 1722). The uniformity of the 53% delta suggests that clock speed and core count combine to produce a proportional gain across both single-thread and multi-thread rendering tasks.

PassMark integer math shows the largest gap. The 221E scores 117813 versus 33991 for the 211TE, a 71.1% advantage. This workload benefits strongly from the 221E's higher boost clock and additional cores. Floating point math also skews heavily toward the 221E: 79028 versus 26150, a 66.9% lead. These two math-heavy tests highlight where the 221E's 5.20 GHz boost clock and extra execution resources pay off most.

Data encryption favors the 221E by 62.3% (19205 versus 7231), while data compression shows a 58.9% gap (324285 versus 133434). Prime number finding follows with a 58.4% difference (173 versus 72). Multithread performance, measured by PassMark, gives the 221E a 61.7% edge (30510 versus 11685). Random string sorting lands at 60.6% in favor of the 221E (37686 versus 14838).

The smallest margin appears in PassMark physics, where the 221E leads by 42.7% (2230 versus 1278). Even in this relatively closer test, the 221E still maintains a substantial advantage. Single-thread performance, as measured by PassMark, shows a 66% gap (4147 versus 1408), which aligns with the Cinebench single-core results. The 221E's higher base and boost clocks directly drive these single-thread wins.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the pattern. The 221E averages 40144, while the 211TE averages 15370. In the database's nearest rival comparison, the 221E sits just 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40081) and 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048), while trailing the AMD Ryzen 9 270 by 0.3% and the Intel Core i9-13905H by 0.4%. The 211TE, by contrast, sits 0.7% below the AMD EPYC 7543 (15477), 1.6% above the AMD EPYC 7702P (15130), 2% below the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U (15682), and 2.3% above the Intel Core i3-1315U (15022). These percentile positions place the 221E in the 87th percentile of all CPUs and the 211TE in the 69th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several concrete specifications. The 221E has 14 cores versus 10 cores for the 211TE, and 20 threads versus 16 threads. Base clocks differ by 1.00 GHz: 2.70 GHz for the 221E, 1.70 GHz for the 211TE. Boost clocks differ by 0.40 GHz: 5.20 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP is higher on the 221E at 65 W, compared to 45 W for the 211TE.

Cache allocations diverge at the L2 and L3 levels. The 221E provides 2 MB of L2 per core, while the 211TE provides 1.25 MB per core. Shared L3 totals 24 MB on the 221E and 20 MB on the 211TE. L1 cache remains identical at 80 KB per core. Die size increases from 215 mm² on the 211TE to 257 mm² on the 221E. Memory bandwidth rises from 76.8 GB/s to 89.6 GB/s.

The launch MSRP differs slightly: the 211TE is $221, while the 221E is $232. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel memory, ECC, and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Both integrate UHD Graphics 730 and have locked multipliers. Production status is Active for both, with identical release dates and the same Bartlett Lake codename.

The Verdict

The data clearly separates these two processors. The Intel Core 5 221E dominates the Intel Core 5 211TE in every recorded benchmark, with margins ranging from 42.7% in PassMark physics to 71.1% in PassMark integer math. The 221E offers 4 additional cores, 4 additional threads, higher base and boost clocks, more L2 and L3 cache, and greater memory bandwidth. It also delivers a much higher average benchmark score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the 211TE sits in the 69th percentile with an average score of 15370.

Systems requiring maximum multi-threaded throughput, such as rendering, encryption, or compression workloads, should favor the 221E. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, and 5.20 GHz boost clock produce a 53% advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore and a 58.9% lead in data compression. Single-thread performance also strongly favors the 221E, with a 66% gap in PassMark single-thread tests and a 53% gap in Cinebench R23 singlecore.

The 211TE, with its 45 W TDP, remains a lower-power option for the same socket and platform. Its 10 cores and 16 threads still deliver functional performance, but the recorded benchmarks show it trailing by roughly half or more in most workloads. The 221E, despite its 65 W TDP, provides more than double the average benchmark score. For applications that can use the extra cores and higher clocks, the 221E is the stronger choice based on every measurable metric in the database.