Intel Core 5 213PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into very different roles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates the multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, winning 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 5 213PE takes exactly one win, but it is a significant one in single-core Cinebench R23 performance.

For heavily parallel workloads, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus shows overwhelming advantages. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 4640 against the 213PE's 2264, a 51.2% gap. The R20 multicore result shows 18442 versus 9436, a 48.8% difference. PassMark multithread also lands at a 48.8% delta, with scores of 51596 and 26434 respectively. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, physics simulation, and random string sorting all favor the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by margins ranging from 26.4% to 76.5%.

The Core 5 213PE does hold one clear advantage: Cinebench R23 single-core performance. It scores 3172 against the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus's 2261, a 40.3% lead. This is a substantial margin in a workload that matters for lightly threaded applications, legacy software, and certain game engines that rely on a single primary thread.

The PassMark single-thread test tells a different story, however. There the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins with 4757 against 4060, a 14.7% advantage. So the single-core picture is mixed depending on the benchmark methodology. The R23 result favors the older chip strongly, while PassMark favors the newer one.

In terms of overall standing, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 213PE sits at the 85th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Ultra part is 66855, nearly double the 213PE's 35428.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also lands among much stronger company. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4465P with an average score of 66925 (0.1% higher), the Intel Xeon 6515P at 67006 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 67469 (0.9% higher). The Core 5 213PE, by contrast, sits alongside the Intel Core i7-13700T at 35403 (0.1% higher), the Core i7-12700KF at 35365 (0.2% higher), the Core i5-13600T at 35305 (0.3% higher), and the Core i7-12700K at 35287 (0.4% higher).

The Verdict

The data indicates two distinct buyer profiles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the clear choice for anyone running multi-threaded workloads: rendering, encoding, simulation, data processing, or heavy compilation. Its 18 cores and 18 threads, combined with the 3 nm process node from TSMC, deliver roughly double the multi-core throughput of the Core 5 213PE in most tests. The 125 W TDP and Socket 1851 platform are the trade-offs for that performance.

The Intel Core 5 213PE is the pick for users who prioritize a specific type of single-core performance. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3172 beats the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by 40.3%. That result suggests strong legacy software performance. The 65 W TDP and Socket 1700 compatibility may also matter for those with existing LGA1700 motherboards, though the database does not record platform upgrade costs.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is also the only one of the two with an unlocked multiplier. That opens overclocking potential, though the recorded data does not include overclocked results.

For raw average performance, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus delivers an average benchmark score of 66855, which is 88.7% higher than the 213PE's 35428. The percentile ranking confirms this: 93rd versus 85th.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to PassMark find prime numbers. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 486 against the 213PE's 114, a 76.5% advantage. This is a math-heavy workload that scales well with core count and architecture efficiency.

Data encryption shows a 62.2% gap, with scores of 42144 and 15916. This is another strongly parallel workload where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus's 18-core configuration pulls far ahead. Floating point math follows at 57.8%, with 162692 versus 68587. Extended instructions come in at 56.1%, with 44565 versus 19565. Random string sorting shows a 53.6% gap, 69090 versus 32027. Physics simulation lands at 53.5%, 3494 versus 1624.

The Cinebench multicore results are consistent. R15 shows 4640 versus 2264, a 51.2% gap. R20 shows 18442 versus 9436, a 48.8% gap. R23 shows 30867 versus 22468, a smaller but still substantial 27.2% gap. Data compression shows 568721 versus 298804, a 47.5% gap. PassMark multithread shows 51596 versus 26434, another 48.8% gap. Integer math shows 125091 versus 92089, a 26.4% gap, the smallest multi-threaded margin in the comparison.

The single-core results are split. Cinebench R15 single-core goes to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by a narrow 2.7%, with 328 versus 319. Cinebench R20 single-core goes to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by a much larger 48.8%, with 2603 versus 1332. This is a surprising result given the R23 outcome. PassMark single-thread goes to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by 14.7%, with 4757 versus 4060.

The sole win for the Core 5 213PE is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3172 against 2261. The 40.3% margin is the second-largest single-core gap in either direction across the entire test suite. This anomaly stands out because the same chip loses R20 single-core by nearly the same margin in the opposite direction. The database does not explain this divergence, but the recorded numbers are what they are.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 16 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Core 5 213PE wins exactly one.

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

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads by 76.5% with a score of 486 versus 114.

Q: Is the Core 5 213PE better at anything?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3172 versus 2261, a 40.3% advantage. No other recorded test goes to the 213PE.

Q: How do their overall average scores compare?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855, while the Core 5 213PE averages 35428. The Ultra part sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs; the 213PE sits at the 85th.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Core 5 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Core 5 213PE and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus support ECC memory according to the recorded specifications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and process nodes. The Core 5 213PE uses Intel's 10 nm process, fabricated by Intel itself. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. This node difference explains much of the efficiency and transistor density gap.

Transistor counts and die sizes are only recorded for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, which has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 5 213PE has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database.

The codenames differ as well. The Core 5 213PE is Bartlett Lake, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is Arrow Lake Refresh. The generations are listed as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) for the former and Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) for the latter.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The Core 5 213PE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on the Ultra part reflect the newer architecture.

Memory support differs. The Core 5 213PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only. Both are dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is recorded at 76.8 GB/s for the 213PE and 115.2 GB/s for the 250K Plus.

PCIe lane counts differ. The Core 5 213PE has Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 213PE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 213PE does not.

Specification Differences

The Core 5 213PE runs at a base clock of 2.70 GHz and boosts to 5.20 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus runs at 4.20 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost. Both boost clocks are close, but the base clocks differ substantially, reflecting the 213PE's lower power target.

Thermal design power is 65 W for the Core 5 213PE and 125 W for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. This is a two-fold difference in rated power draw.

Sockets are incompatible. The Core 5 213PE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851.

Core and thread counts differ significantly: 8 cores with 16 threads for the 213PE, versus 18 cores with 18 threads for the 250K Plus. The 213PE has hyperthreading, giving it 2 threads per core, while the 250K Plus has 1 thread per core.

Both processors are listed as Active production status. The release dates are close: 2026-03-08 for the Core 5 213PE and 2026-03-10 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

The launch MSRP for the Core 5 213PE is $221, and for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus it is $199.

Part numbers are recorded: SA4QG for the Core 5 213PE and SA4UZ for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family. The Core 5 213PE has no series designation recorded.

Both are desktop market segment parts, both support ECC memory, and both use Gen 5 PCIe. The Ultra part has more PCIe lanes and higher memory bandwidth. The Core 5 213PE retains DDR4 compatibility, which the Ultra part lacks.