Intel Core 5 211TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 236V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V records an average benchmark score of 21952, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 211TE scores 15370 on average, which puts it in the 69th percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in terms of core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite fewer cores and threads, the Ultra 5 236V wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What is the difference in power draw between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V has a TDP of 17 watts. The Ultra 5 236V delivers higher performance while drawing less than half the power budget.

Q: Which processor uses the smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 211TE uses Intel's 10 nm process. The smaller node gives the Ultra 5 236V a significant efficiency advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V does not list ECC support.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE fits Intel Socket 1700, which is a desktop platform. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V uses Intel BGA 2833, a mobile socket.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families and target different market segments. The Intel Core 5 211TE belongs to the Bartlett Lake generation and is a desktop part. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Lunar Lake, and is a mobile processor.

Manufacturing nodes separate the two clearly. The Core 5 211TE uses Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 5 236V uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The smaller node allows the Lunar Lake chip to pack more transistors into a smaller area, which directly contributes to its higher efficiency and performance per watt.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Core 5 211TE provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 236V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Ultra 5 236V help feed its cores more effectively, while the desktop chip relies on a much larger pool of L3 to compensate for its older architecture.

Memory support also splits the pair. The Core 5 211TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 236V lists memory support as dependent on the motherboard, also dual-channel, but does not record a bandwidth figure. The desktop chip supports ECC memory; the mobile chip does not.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Core 5 211TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 236V provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes from the CPU. For a desktop system with a discrete GPU and multiple NVMe drives, the extra lanes on the 211TE are relevant. For a thin laptop, the limited lanes of the 236V are adequate.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The Core 5 211TE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 236V uses Arc 130V. The Arc 130V is the more modern and capable GPU for media and light gaming workloads.

The release dates differ. The Core Ultra 5 236V launched on 2024-09-23, while the Core 5 211TE launched on 2025-01-12. The Core 5 211TE carries a launch MSRP of $221. The Core Ultra 5 236V does not have a recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 211TE. The margin varies by workload, but the direction is consistent across every test.

In Cinebench tests, the Ultra 5 236V leads by roughly 22% across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 236V scores 1575 against 1229 for the 211TE, a delta of -22%. Single-core R15 shows 222 versus 173, a -22.1% gap. The R20 multicore test shows 6563 versus 5124 (-21.9%), and R20 single-core shows 926 versus 723 (-21.9%). The R23 results follow the same pattern: multicore 15628 versus 12201 (-21.9%) and single-core 2206 versus 1722 (-21.9%). These near-uniform deltas indicate that the architectural efficiency of Lunar Lake gives a consistent per-core advantage that scales evenly across the rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Ultra 5 236V stretches its lead further. In data encryption, the 236V scores 13049 against 7231, a -44.6% delta. Extended instructions show 15451 versus 8615, a -44.2% gap. Floating point math demonstrates the largest performance gap: 52774 versus 26150, a -50.4% delta. Prime number finding shows 171 versus 72, a -57.9% gap. These results indicate that the 236V's newer cores handle math-intensive and cryptographic workloads far more efficiently than the older Bartlett Lake design.

Some workloads show a smaller but still decisive margin. Integer math records 38765 versus 33991, a -12.3% delta. Physics scores 1503 versus 1278, a -15% gap. Multithread performance shows 18375 versus 11685, a -36.4% delta. Random string sorting shows 21628 versus 14838, a -31.4% gap. Data compression shows 176554 versus 133434, a -24.4% delta.

The single-thread PassMark scores reveal the biggest overall gap. The 236V records 3893 against 1408 for the 211TE, a -63.8% delta. This is the single largest margin in the entire comparison. It shows that the Lunar Lake core design delivers dramatically higher single-thread throughput, which matters for responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The nearest rival data places both chips in context. The Core 5 211TE sits within 2.3% of the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U and the Intel Core i3-1315U, and within 1.6% of the AMD EPYC 7702P. The Core Ultra 5 236V sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V, the Intel Core i7-11700F, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, and within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 9534. The 236V competes with a much higher tier of processors despite its mobile positioning.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads; the Core Ultra 5 236V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.70 GHz for the 211TE and 2.10 GHz for the 236V. Boost clocks are 4.80 GHz for the 211TE and 4.70 GHz for the 236V. The 211TE has a higher boost clock, but the 236V wins all benchmarks anyway, indicating that instructions per clock matters more than raw frequency here.

TDP separates the two sharply: 45 watts for the 211TE versus 17 watts for the 236V. The socket is different: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel BGA 2833. The process node is different: 10 nm versus 3 nm. The foundry is different: Intel versus TSMC. Die size is 215 mm² for the 211TE; no die size is recorded for the 236V.

Cache differs in every level. L1 is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core. L3 is 20 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. Memory support includes DDR4 and DDR5 for the 211TE, while the 236V depends on the motherboard. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the 211TE, with no figure recorded for the 236V. ECC support is present on the 211TE and absent on the 236V. PCIe lanes are 16 for the 211TE versus 4 for the 236V. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc 130V. Market segment is Desktop for the 211TE and Mobile for the 236V. Release dates differ: 2025-01-12 versus 2024-09-23. The 211TE has a launch MSRP of $221; the 236V has none recorded. Both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V outperforms the Intel Core 5 211TE in every recorded workload, and it does so while consuming 17 watts against 45 watts. The 236V sits in the 75th percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 21952, while the 211TE sits in the 69th percentile with 15370. The 236V's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700F and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, both desktop processors with significantly higher power envelopes. The 211TE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U and the Intel Core i3-1315U, which are lower-end mobile and entry-level parts.

The 236V wins by margins ranging from 12.3% in integer math to 63.8% in single-thread PassMark. Even in multicore Cinebench R23, where the 211TE has two extra cores and eight extra threads, the 236V still leads by 21.9%. The architectural improvements in Lunar Lake more than compensate for the core count disadvantage.

The 211TE does retain some practical advantages from the recorded specifications. It supports ECC memory, which the 236V does not. It offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 4 on the 236V, making it more suitable for a desktop with multiple expansion devices. It uses a standard desktop socket, Intel Socket 1700, which allows for a wider range of motherboards and cooling solutions. It also has a launch MSRP of $221, though pricing comparisons are not part of this analysis.

For a user choosing between these two on the basis of the recorded data alone, the Core Ultra 5 236V is the stronger processor for nearly all compute tasks. Its single-thread performance is exceptional, its multicore showing is superior despite fewer threads, and its power draw is far lower. The 211TE makes sense only for a desktop build that requires ECC memory or a full 16-lane Gen 5 PCIe connection from the CPU, where the 236V cannot fulfill those platform requirements.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V wins every benchmark in the comparison set. It is the clear choice for workloads that depend on raw compute throughput, including rendering, encryption, floating point math, and data compression. Its largest margins come in single-thread performance (63.8% ahead), prime number finding (57.9% ahead), and floating point math (50.4% ahead). These results point to a processor that handles both lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads with high efficiency. Its 3 nm process and TSMC manufacturing give it a decisive advantage in instructions per clock and power efficiency.

The Intel Core 5 211TE wins no benchmarks, but the recorded specifications show where it holds platform-level advantages. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for error-sensitive computing environments such as storage servers or financial workstations. It provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, allowing a desktop motherboard to run a discrete GPU and multiple high-speed NVMe drives simultaneously. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than the 8 MB on the 236V, which may help in cache-heavy workloads that fit within that pool. Its desktop socket, Intel Socket 1700, means it can be paired with a wide range of ATX and micro-ATX motherboards with robust cooling and expansion options.

The 236V also has the advantage of a more capable integrated GPU. The Arc 130V is a newer design than the UHD Graphics 730, and the 236V's higher single-thread performance helps with everyday responsiveness. For a mobile form factor, the 17 watt TDP is a major benefit, enabling thinner laptops with longer battery life while still delivering desktop-class compute results.

The data suggests a simple split. Users who need maximum compute performance, lower power draw, and modern architecture should pick the Core Ultra 5 236V. Users who need ECC memory support, a desktop socket with 16 CPU PCIe lanes, or a larger L3 cache should pick the Core 5 211TE, accepting that they will take a performance penalty in every measured workload.