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

The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 213PE is the decisive winner in every recorded benchmark, taking all 17 head-to-head comparisons with zero wins for the Intel Core 5 221TE. The 213PE delivers roughly double the performance across Cinebench multi-core tests, with deltas ranging from 98.7% to 98.8%, and its single-core advantage is even larger in PassMark, reaching 134.1% ahead. The 221TE, while more power-efficient at 45 watts versus 65 watts, slots into a lower performance tier, sitting at the 71st percentile of all CPUs compared to the 85th percentile for the 213PE.

The 213PE suits workloads demanding maximum throughput: rendering, simulation, compilation, and heavy multi-threaded tasks. Its average benchmark score of 35428 places it alongside desktop-class parts like the Intel Core i7-13700T (35403, 0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i7-12700KF (35365, 0.2% behind). The 221TE, with an average score of 17860, lands near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, 0.2% ahead) and the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, 0.2% ahead). For buyers needing a capable desktop processor with lower power draw, the 221TE provides a workable baseline, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms the 213PE in measured speed.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Bartlett Lake codename, the 10 nm process node, and Intel as the foundry. They also use the same Intel Socket 1700 and belong to the Core 5 generation. The core configurations differ significantly. The 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite having two more physical cores, the 221TE cannot match the 213PE in any benchmark, which points to substantial differences in clock behavior and cache organization.

The 213PE runs at a 2.70 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.20 GHz. The 221TE has a 1.80 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost. The 213PE's higher base clock, a full 0.90 GHz above the 221TE, provides a major advantage in sustained workloads. The boost delta of 0.20 GHz also favors the 213PE. Cache layouts diverge as well. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core and share 24 MB of L3 cache, but per-core L2 differs: the 213PE has 2 MB per core, while the 221TE has 1.25 MB per core. With 8 cores, the 213PE's total L2 reaches 16 MB, whereas the 221TE's 10 cores yield 12.5 MB of L2. The 221TE's additional cores are offset by less L2 per core, which likely contributes to its lower performance in cache-sensitive tests.

The 221TE reports a die size of 215 mm², while the 213PE has no die size listed. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity matches at Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are identical: UHD Graphics 730. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The 221TE launched earlier on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $232; the 213PE followed on 2026-03-08 with a launch MSRP of $221.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent near-doubling of performance for the 213PE. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 213PE scores 2264 against 1139, a 98.8% advantage. Single-core R15 shows 319 versus 160, a 99.4% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 9436 versus 4748 (98.7% ahead), and single-core 1332 versus 670 (98.8% ahead). Cinebench R23 multi-core records 22468 versus 11305 (98.7% ahead), with single-core at 3172 versus 1596 (98.7% ahead). These results indicate that the 213PE roughly doubles throughput in both lightly threaded and fully threaded rendering workloads.

PassMark tests amplify the gap. The largest delta appears in single-thread performance, where the 213PE scores 4060 against 1734, a 134.1% lead. This same figure appears twice in the data under both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread. Integer math shows a 117.7% advantage (92089 versus 42303), and floating point math is 116.6% ahead (68587 versus 31661). Extended instructions deliver a 102.6% delta (19565 versus 9655). Data compression favors the 213PE by 90.7% (298804 versus 156682), and random string sorting by 89.2% (32027 versus 16929). Prime number finding is 93.2% ahead (114 versus 59). Data encryption shows a 77.6% delta (15916 versus 8963). The multithread PassMark test records 26434 versus 13301, a 98.7% lead, while physics simulation shows the smallest delta at 66.2% (1624 versus 977).

Across all 17 comparisons, the 213PE wins every one. The smallest margin is in physics at 66.2%, still a decisive advantage. The largest margins appear in single-thread and math-heavy tests, where clock speed and cache efficiency dominate. The 221TE's extra two cores do not compensate for its lower base clock and reduced per-core L2.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 213PE | Intel Core 5 221TE |

|----------------|-------------------|-------------------|

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| Die Size | Not listed | 215 mm² |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $221 | $232 |

| Part Number | SA4QG | SRVQS |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 35428 | 17860 |

| Percentile | 85 | 71 |

Identical specifications include the 10 nm process node, Intel Socket 1700, 80 KB L1 per core, 24 MB shared L3, DDR4/DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, ECC support, Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes, UHD Graphics 730, desktop market segment, active production status, and locked multiplier. The 213PE's higher TDP of 65 watts versus 45 watts aligns with its higher clocks and greater performance output.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores, while the Intel Core 5 213PE has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: Does the 221TE's extra cores give it any benchmark advantage?

A: No. The 213PE wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The 221TE's two additional cores do not translate into any measured performance win, likely due to its lower base clock of 1.80 GHz versus 2.70 GHz and smaller per-core L2 cache.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta appears in PassMark single-thread testing, where the 213PE scores 4060 versus 1734, a 134.1% advantage. Integer math and floating point math also show large gaps at 117.7% and 116.6% respectively.

Q: How does each compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The 213PE has an average benchmark score of 35428, placing it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700T (35403), 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12700KF (35365), and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13600T (35305). The 221TE scores 17860 on average, which is 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891) and 0.5% behind the Intel Core 7 350 (17779).

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The 213PE has a TDP of 65 watts, while the 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts. The 221TE draws less power, but the 213PE delivers roughly double the performance in most multi-core Cinebench tests.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory and expansion features?

A: Yes. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, both support ECC memory, and both provide Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are also identical with UHD Graphics 730 on both.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 213PE wins every measured category. Its 17-0 head-to-head record is absolute. The data supports using the 213PE for single-threaded applications that depend on high clock speeds; its 5.20 GHz boost clock and 134.1% single-thread advantage over the 221TE make it the clear choice for lightly threaded tasks. Multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads also favor the 213PE, with Cinebench R23 multi-core at 22468 versus 11305. Data compression and encryption, common in archival and security applications, show the 213PE ahead by 90.7% and 77.6% respectively.

The Intel Core 5 221TE offers no benchmark wins, but its 45-watt TDP makes it suitable for systems where power draw is a constraint. The data shows it performs in the range of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, which places it as a competent mid-range desktop option. Its lower base clock of 1.80 GHz suggests it is designed for efficiency rather than peak throughput. For users with workloads that are not time-sensitive and where power limits are strict, the 221TE remains a functional choice, but it cannot match the 213PE in any speed metric recorded in the database.

The 213PE's 85th percentile ranking versus the 221TE's 71st percentile confirms the performance hierarchy. The 213PE also has a lower launch MSRP of $221 compared to $232 for the 221TE, but price is not a factor in the measured performance data. The 213PE's higher TDP of 65 watts is the trade-off for its near-total performance dominance. In every scenario where speed matters, the 213PE is the processor the benchmarks identify as superior.