Intel Core 5 211TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

The Intel Core 5 211TE and Intel Core Ultra 7 266V occupy different corners of the desktop and mobile markets, yet the recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy. The Core Ultra 7 266V wins every single benchmark in the comparison, making this less a rivalry and more a measure of how far the gap extends. The Core 5 211TE is a 10-core desktop processor on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, while the Core Ultra 7 266V is an 8-core mobile part built on the Lunar Lake architecture. The benchmark scores, however, do not reflect the Core 5 211TE’s higher core count. Instead, they show a consistent and often dramatic advantage for the Core Ultra 7 266V across all tested workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a uniform pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 1667 against the Core 5 211TE’s 1229, a 26.3% difference. The single-core test in R15 shows the same margin: 235 versus 173, also 26.4% in favor of the Core Ultra 7 266V. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 6948 for the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 5124 for the Core 5 211TE, again a 26.3% gap. Single-core in R20 is 980 against 723, a 26.2% difference. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern with a multicore score of 16544 versus 12201 and a single-core score of 2335 versus 1722, both 26.3% apart. The consistency of the delta across every Cinebench version indicates that the relative performance difference is stable regardless of the workload intensity or the benchmark generation.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Core Ultra 7 266V’s advantages are largest. The biggest single margin appears in the single-thread test, where the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 3943 and the Core 5 211TE scores 1408, a 64.3% difference. This is a massive gap and suggests that the Core Ultra 7 266V has a vastly stronger per-core execution capability. The find prime numbers test also shows a wide spread, with the Core Ultra 7 266V at 191 and the Core 5 211TE at 72, a 62.3% difference. Floating point math follows with 56923 versus 26150, a 54.1% difference. Data encryption shows 13822 versus 7231, a 47.7% gap, and extended instructions show 15928 versus 8615, a 45.9% gap. The Core Ultra 7 266V also leads in multithread performance by 40%, scoring 19461 versus 11685, and in random string sorting by 35.2%, scoring 22905 versus 14838. Data compression shows a 28.7% lead with 187050 versus 133434. The narrowest margins are in integer math, where the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 41558 versus 33991, an 18.2% lead, and physics, where it scores 1608 versus 1278, a 20.5% lead.

The data indicates that the Core Ultra 7 266V is not merely faster in isolated tests. It dominates across every category, with the smallest advantage still being nearly a fifth faster. The Core 5 211TE records zero wins in the head-to-head comparison, with the Core Ultra 7 266V winning all 17 recorded tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Core 5 211TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It is manufactured on a 10 nm process node at Intel’s own foundry. The Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture and is part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process node at TSMC. The process node difference alone explains much of the efficiency and performance gap, as the 3 nm node allows for denser, more power-efficient transistors.

The core configurations differ as well. The Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the Core Ultra 7 266V still outperforms the Core 5 211TE in multithreaded workloads. Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 5 211TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 266V has more L1 and L2 cache per core, which supports its higher single-thread performance. The Core 5 211TE has more total L3 cache.

Memory support and bandwidth also separate the two. The Core 5 211TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X, with the exact capacity depending on the motherboard, over a dual-channel bus, and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The Core Ultra 7 266V’s memory bandwidth is nearly double that of the Core 5 211TE. The Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 266V does not. The Core 5 211TE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the CPU, while the Core Ultra 7 266V provides PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes on the CPU. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 5 211TE using UHD Graphics 730 and the Core Ultra 7 266V using Arc 140V. The Core 5 211TE uses a 45 W TDP and fits the Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses a 17 W TDP and fits the Intel BGA 2833 socket. The Core 5 211TE has a die size of 215 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The Core 5 211TE has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 266V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core 5 211TE was released on 2025-01-12, while the Core Ultra 7 266V was released on 2024-09-23. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 266V wins every recorded benchmark, so the functional question is not which processor wins a given test, but what type of workload each is suited for given its platform and characteristics. The Core 5 211TE is a desktop processor with a 45 W TDP, ECC memory support, and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. This combination makes it suitable for desktop systems that require ECC memory or more PCIe lanes for expansion. Its 10 cores and 16 threads provide a solid foundation for threaded workloads, even if the recorded scores are lower than the Core Ultra 7 266V.

The Core Ultra 7 266V is a mobile processor with a 17 W TDP and a BGA socket. Its high memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s and large per-core caches make it particularly strong in single-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks. The data shows its largest leads in single-thread performance, floating point math, and encryption, all of which benefit from strong per-core execution and memory throughput. Its Arc 140V integrated graphics also provide a more capable GPU solution than the UHD Graphics 730 in the Core 5 211TE.

The benchmark results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 266V is the stronger processor in absolute performance across every measured category. The Core 5 211TE offers a desktop feature set, including ECC memory and more PCIe lanes, which are not reflected in the raw benchmark scores. The choice between the two would come down to platform requirements rather than performance, as the data shows no workload where the Core 5 211TE comes out ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has an average benchmark score of 23297, while the Intel Core 5 211TE has an average benchmark score of 15370.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 16544 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core 5 211TE scores 12201, a 26.3% difference in favor of the Core Ultra 7 266V.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 3943 and the Intel Core 5 211TE scores 1408, a 64.3% difference.

Q: Do the two processors support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has a TDP of 45 W, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a TDP of 17 W.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows that the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the faster processor in every benchmark, with an average score of 23297 compared to the Core 5 211TE’s 15370. The Core Ultra 7 266V holds a 76th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core 5 211TE sits at the 69th percentile. The Core Ultra 7 266V’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H at a 0.1% delta and the Intel Core i9-11900F at a 0.2% delta, placing it in a competitive performance tier. The Core 5 211TE’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7543 at a -0.7% delta and the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U at a -2% delta, showing a lower overall performance class.

For a user selecting a desktop processor with ECC memory support and a standard socketed platform, the Core 5 211TE provides those features despite its lower benchmark scores. For a user selecting a mobile processor with lower power consumption and higher performance, the Core Ultra 7 266V is the clear choice based on the data. The benchmark results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 266V’s architectural advantages, including a 3 nm process node, higher memory bandwidth, and larger per-core caches, translate into a dominant performance lead. The Core 5 211TE’s advantages are platform-level, such as ECC memory support and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which do not appear in the recorded benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. The Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The base clock is 1.70 GHz for the Core 5 211TE and 2.20 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The boost clock is 4.80 GHz for the Core 5 211TE and 5.00 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The TDP is 45 W for the Core 5 211TE and 17 W for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The Core 5 211TE uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket. The Core 5 211TE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, while the Core Ultra 7 266V is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Core 5 211TE has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 266V has an L1 cache of 192 KB per core, an L2 cache of 2.5 MB per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 211TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X with a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 266V does not. The Core 5 211TE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 266V provides PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 for the Core 5 211TE and Arc 140V for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The Core 5 211TE has a die size of 215 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Core Ultra 7 266V. The Core 5 211TE was released on 2025-01-12, and the Core Ultra 7 266V was released on 2024-09-23. The Core 5 211TE has a launch MSRP of $221, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core Ultra 7 266V.