Intel Core 5 213PE vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 221E is the clear performance leader in this comparison. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with only a single win for the Intel Core 5 213PE. The 221E delivers an average benchmark score of 40144 against 35428 for the 213PE, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs versus the 85th percentile for the 213PE. The 221E also sits alongside stronger company in the database: its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 with a delta of 0.2%, while the 213PE competes with the Intel Core i7-13700T at a delta of 0.1%.

The 213PE does hold one meaningful advantage. In extended instruction workloads, it beats the 221E by 7.4%, a result that indicates its architecture handles certain specialized instruction sets more efficiently despite having fewer cores. For users whose workloads lean heavily on those specific instructions, the 213PE is the better choice. For everything else, the 221E is the stronger processor. Its advantages range from 2.1% in single-thread performance to 34.1% in prime number searching, and it maintains a consistent margin of roughly 13.4% across all Cinebench multi-core tests. The 221E also launched with a higher MSRP of $232 compared to $221 for the 213PE, a difference that the benchmark data justifies through its broader performance lead.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Bartlett Lake codename and belong to the Core 5 generation. Both are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. Both use the Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. Integrated graphics are identical, with both featuring UHD Graphics 730. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both support ECC memory.

The core configuration differs significantly. The 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. This six-core gap explains most of the performance separation in multi-threaded workloads. The 221E also carries a larger die at 257 mm², while the die size for the 213PE is not recorded in the database. Cache organization is the same on a per-core basis: 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache on both parts. Base and boost clocks are identical at 2.70 GHz and 5.20 GHz respectively, so the 221E does not achieve its lead through higher frequencies. Its advantage comes from the additional cores and threads.

Memory bandwidth differs. The 221E supports 89.6 GB/s, while the 213PE is rated at 76.8 GB/s. Both use the same Gen 5 PCIe interface with 16 CPU lanes. The 221E was released earlier, on January 12, 2025, while the 213PE arrived later on March 8, 2026. Both are listed as Active in production status. The part numbers differ as well: SA4QG for the 213PE and SRQDVQ659 for the 221E.

Where Each One Wins

The 221E dominates across nearly every measured workload category. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, it wins both single-core and multi-core tests by margins between 13.3% and 13.4%. This consistency suggests a broad architectural advantage that scales across rendering and general CPU compute tasks. In PassMark tests, the 221E wins integer math by 21.8%, floating point math by 13.2%, multithread by 13.4%, physics by 27.2%, data compression by 7.9%, data encryption by 17.1%, prime number searching by 34.1%, and random string sorting by 15%. Its smallest win is in single-thread performance at 2.1%, which indicates that clock-for-clock efficiency is similar between the two, with the 221E's edge coming from its larger core pool.

The 213PE has exactly one benchmark win. In PassMark extended instructions, it scores 19565 against 18216 for the 221E, a 7.4% advantage. This category typically reflects SIMD and specialized instruction throughput. The 213PE's ability to win this test while losing every other comparison suggests that its core design handles these particular operations with higher per-core efficiency, despite having fewer cores available. Workloads that rely heavily on extended instruction sets, such as certain scientific or media processing routines, may see a tangible benefit from the 213PE. For all other tasks measured in the database, the 221E is the faster processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks and records an average benchmark score of 40144 versus 35428 for the Intel Core 5 213PE.

Q: How much faster is the 221E in multi-core rendering?

A: The 221E leads by 13.4% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. Scores are 2613 versus 2264 in R15, 10891 versus 9436 in R20, and 25933 versus 22468 in R23.

Q: Does the 213PE win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the 213PE wins PassMark extended instructions with a score of 19565 against 18216 for the 221E, a 7.4% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 213PE and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Are the clock speeds the same?

A: Yes, both processors have a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to the 221E in PassMark find prime numbers. It scores 173 against 114 for the 213PE, a lead of 34.1%. This is a workload that scales strongly with core count, and the 221E's 14 cores against 8 cores is the deciding factor. The second-largest margin is in PassMark physics, where the 221E scores 2230 versus 1624, a 27.2% advantage. Physics simulations in PassMark are heavily parallelized, again favoring the higher-core-count processor.

Integer math shows a 21.8% lead for the 221E, with scores of 117813 against 92089. Data encryption follows at 17.1%, with the 221E scoring 19205 against 15916. Random string sorting is 15% in favor of the 221E, at 37686 versus 32027. The single-thread tests show the smallest gap. In both PassMark single-thread and single-thread variants, the 221E scores 4147 against 4060 for the 213PE, a 2.1% lead. This narrow margin confirms that per-core performance is broadly similar; the 221E's multi-thread dominance comes from its additional cores.

The 213PE's single win in extended instructions is notable for its direction. The 213PE scores 19565, and the 221E scores 18216, giving the 213PE a 7.4% lead. This is the only test in the entire head-to-head set where the 8-core processor outperforms the 14-core processor. The result indicates that the 213PE's core implementation handles extended instruction workloads more efficiently, even with fewer cores to draw upon.

Cinebench results are remarkably consistent across all three versions. In R15, R20, and R23, the multi-core deltas are all exactly 13.4% in favor of the 221E, and the single-core deltas are all 13.3% or 13.4%. This uniformity suggests that the performance relationship between the two processors is stable across different rendering workloads and does not vary with scene complexity or test duration. Data compression shows a smaller 7.9% advantage for the 221E, at 324285 versus 298804. The multi-thread PassMark score gives the 221E a 13.4% lead at 30510 versus 26434.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the primary differentiators. The 213PE ships with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 221E ships with 14 cores and 20 threads. Both run at identical clock speeds, with a 2.70 GHz base and a 5.20 GHz boost. Both have a 65 W TDP and use the Intel Socket 1700. The die size is listed as 257 mm² for the 221E, while no die size is recorded for the 213PE. Memory bandwidth differs, with the 221E rated at 89.6 GB/s and the 213PE at 76.8 GB/s. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory over dual-channel buses.

Cache is identical in organization and size. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. PCIe support is the same: Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes. Both feature UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics and support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The 221E launched earlier, on January 12, 2025, while the 213PE launched on March 8, 2026. The 221E had a launch MSRP of $232, and the 213PE had a launch MSRP of $221. Production status for both is Active. Part numbers are SA4QG for the 213PE and SRQDVQ659 for the 221E.