Intel Core 5 213PE vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

The Intel Core 5 223PE is the clear performance leader in this comparison, winning all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Core 5 213PE. The 223PE delivers consistent double-digit gains in most multi-threaded workloads, while its single-thread advantage is narrower but still decisive. Both processors share the same core topology, cache configuration, and manufacturing process, making the 223PE's higher base clock and faster memory bandwidth the primary differentiators.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows no scenario where the Intel Core 5 213PE outperforms the 223PE. In every recorded test, from Cinebench rendering to PassMark math and encryption workloads, the 223PE holds the advantage. The 213PE's strongest relative showing comes in PassMark integer math, where it trails by 7.7%, and in single-thread tests, where the gap narrows to 3.8%. These are the closest margins in the entire dataset, indicating that the 213PE remains competitive in lightly threaded integer workloads.

The 223PE dominates in floating-point and physics calculations. Its largest wins come in PassMark physics, with a 34.9% lead, and in PassMark prime number finding, with a 28.3% advantage. These results point to the 223PE being substantially stronger in simulation, scientific computing, and other workloads that stress arithmetic throughput. The 223PE also delivers a 20.7% lead in PassMark extended instructions, suggesting better performance in workloads using advanced ISA extensions.

For content creation and rendering, the 223PE maintains a consistent 15.1% advantage across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23) in both single-core and multi-core tests. This uniformity indicates the performance gap scales linearly with clock speed rather than varying by workload type. The 213PE's best use case appears to be integer-heavy applications where the performance deficit is smallest, but even there, it remains behind.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Bartlett Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. They share identical core counts: 8 cores and 16 threads each. The cache hierarchy is also identical, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both use the Intel Socket 1700 platform.

The key architectural difference lies in their base clock frequencies. The 213PE operates at a 2.70 GHz base clock, while the 223PE starts at 2.90 GHz. Both processors boost to the same 5.20 GHz maximum, which explains why single-threaded performance differences are smaller than multi-threaded ones. The higher base clock on the 223PE allows it to sustain higher throughput across all cores during extended workloads, producing the consistent 15% multi-thread advantage seen in Cinebench.

Memory bandwidth also differs between the two parts. The 213PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The 223PE supports the same memory types and channel configuration but achieves 89.6 GB/s, a 16.7% increase. This bandwidth advantage contributes to the 223PE's stronger performance in data compression and encryption tests, which are sensitive to memory throughput.

Both processors include UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics, support ECC memory, and provide PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. They share the same production status, release date of 2026-03-08, and belong to the desktop market segment. The part numbers differ, with the 213PE using SA4QG and the 223PE using SA4QF.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap appears in PassMark physics, where the 223PE scores 2493 versus the 213PE's 1624, a 34.9% advantage. This substantial difference suggests the 223PE handles rigid body dynamics and physics simulation far more efficiently, likely due to its higher sustained clock speeds under load.

PassMark prime number finding shows a 28.3% lead for the 223PE, with scores of 159 versus 114. This workload heavily stresses integer division and modular arithmetic, where the higher base clock provides a significant edge. The extended instructions test also favors the 223PE by 20.7%, with scores of 24672 compared to 19565.

Cinebench results are remarkably consistent across all versions. In R15, the 223PE scores 2666 in multi-core versus 2264 for the 213PE, a 15.1% gap. Single-core R15 shows a 15.2% difference, with scores of 376 and 319. R20 multi-core delivers 11111 versus 9436, again a 15.1% gap, while single-core R20 shows 1568 versus 1332. R23 multi-core reaches 26455 for the 223PE against 22468 for the 213PE, and single-core R23 comes in at 3734 versus 3172. All Cinebench gaps sit at exactly 15.1%, confirming the clock speed relationship.

PassMark multithread shows a 15.1% lead for the 223PE, scoring 31124 versus 26434. Data compression follows with a 13.8% advantage (346623 versus 298804), and data encryption trails slightly at 13.7% (18448 versus 15916). Floating-point math gives the 223PE a 10.3% edge (76468 versus 68587), while random string sorting shows a 10.5% difference (35798 versus 32027).

The smallest gaps appear in integer math and single-thread performance. PassMark integer math shows 99819 for the 223PE against 92089 for the 213PE, a 7.7% difference. PassMark single-thread scores are 4219 versus 4060, a 3.8% gap. These narrower margins indicate that single-threaded integer workloads benefit least from the 223PE's higher base clock, since both processors boost to the same 5.20 GHz ceiling.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only four recorded specification fields. Base clock is the most significant: the 213PE runs at 2.70 GHz while the 223PE runs at 2.90 GHz. Memory bandwidth follows, with the 213PE delivering 76.8 GB/s and the 223PE delivering 89.6 GB/s. The launch MSRP differs, with the 213PE at $221 and the 223PE at $232. Part numbers also vary, using SA4QG and SA4QF respectively.

All other specifications are identical. Both processors have 8 cores, 16 threads, a 5.20 GHz boost clock, and a 65 TDP. They share the same 10 nm process, Bartlett Lake codename, and Core 5 generation. L1 cache is 80 KB per core on both, L2 is 2 MB per core, and L3 is 24 MB shared. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration, include ECC memory support, and provide PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 for both, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE runs at 2.90 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 213PE runs at 2.70 GHz. Both processors share the same 5.20 GHz boost clock.

Q: How much faster is the 223PE in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 223PE scores 26455 versus 22468 for the 213PE, a 15.1% advantage. The same 15.1% gap appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Do the two processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The 213PE provides 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the 223PE provides 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The 223PE has an average benchmark score of 40585, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The 213PE has an average score of 35428, placing it in the 85th percentile.

Q: Are there any workloads where the 213PE wins?

A: No. The recorded data shows the 223PE winning all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The 213PE's closest margin is a 3.8% deficit in PassMark single-thread performance.

The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 223PE is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. Its 15.1% multi-thread advantage across all Cinebench versions makes it the clear choice for rendering and video encoding workloads. The 34.9% lead in PassMark physics and 28.3% lead in prime number finding indicate strong performance in scientific computing and simulation tasks.

The 213PE's closest competition comes in single-thread integer workloads, where it trails by only 3.8%. For users running lightly threaded applications that do not stress memory bandwidth, the 213PE offers nearly comparable performance. However, the 223PE's higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s provides a meaningful advantage in data compression and encryption tasks.

Both processors share identical core counts, cache sizes, and boost clocks. The decision between them rests on the base clock and memory bandwidth differences. The 223PE's 0.20 GHz base clock advantage and 16.7% memory bandwidth increase justify its higher launch MSRP of $232 versus $221 for the 213PE. The 223PE also ranks higher overall, sitting in the 87th percentile of all CPUs compared to the 213PE's 85th percentile.

For users prioritizing maximum throughput in multi-threaded workloads, the 223PE is the clear pick based on recorded data. The 213PE remains adequate for single-threaded integer tasks, but its performance deficit in every benchmark category makes it difficult to recommend when the 223PE is available. The 223PE's nearest rival data shows it trading closely with the Intel Core 7 253PE and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G, while the 213PE aligns with Intel Core i7-13700T and i7-12700K performance levels.