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

The Intel Core 5 213PTE and the Intel Core 5 221E share the same Bartlett Lake codename, the same 10 nm process node, and the same Intel Socket 1700, but the recorded benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy between them. The Core 5 221E wins every single head-to-head test in the database, with margins that range from marginal to substantial. This analysis breaks down the exact scores, the architecture and specification differences, and what the data means for different workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the consistency of the Core 5 221E’s advantage. Across all 17 recorded benchmark comparisons, the Core 5 221E is the winner. The Core 5 213PTE does not take a single test. The margins, however, are not uniform, and the differences in workload type matter.

In the Cinebench suite, the Core 5 221E leads by a nearly identical margin in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core 5 221E scores 2613 against 2192 for the Core 5 213PTE, a difference of 16.1%. The single-core R15 test shows 368 versus 309, also a 16% gap. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the multicore score is 10891 versus 9135 (16.1% gap) and the single-core score is 1537 versus 1289 (16.1% gap). Cinebench R23 shows the same story: the Core 5 221E posts 25933 multicore against 21751, and 3661 single-core against 3070, both again a 16.1% difference. The consistency of that 16.1% delta across all six Cinebench runs indicates a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark suite reveals a wider spread of margins. The smallest gap is in PassMark physics, where the Core 5 221E scores 2230 against 2199, a lead of just 1.4%. That is a negligible difference in practical terms. The largest gap appears in PassMark data encryption, where the Core 5 221E scores 19205 versus 14413, a 25% advantage. PassMark integer math shows a 21% lead (117813 versus 93109), and PassMark random string sorting shows a 20.1% lead (37686 versus 30106). Data compression is close behind at 19.5% (324285 versus 261083).

Other PassMark tests show more moderate margins. Floating point math is 79028 versus 71722, a 9.2% lead. Find prime numbers is 173 versus 157, also 9.2%. Extended instructions are 18216 versus 16146, an 11.4% lead. Single-thread performance, measured by PassMark single thread and PassMark singlethread, is 4147 versus 3718, a 10.3% lead. PassMark multithread shows 30510 versus 25590, a 16.1% lead, matching the Cinebench multicore delta exactly.

Looking at the average benchmark scores in the database, the Core 5 221E sits at 40144, while the Core 5 213PTE sits at 32924. That is a difference of roughly 22% in the overall average. The percentile rankings also separate the two: the Core 5 221E is in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 213PTE is in the 83rd percentile.

The nearest rivals in the database further contextualize these scores. The Core 5 213PTE’s average of 32924 is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-12700 (32942), within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (32812), and within 0.5% of both the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (33079) and the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G (33089). The Core 5 221E’s average of 40144 sits within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40081) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048), within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 270 (40246), and within 0.4% of the Intel Core i9-13905H (40313). In other words, the Core 5 213PTE is grouped with a set of strong mid-range parts, while the Core 5 221E is grouped with a set of higher-tier parts.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 221E is the faster processor in every measured workload. The 17-0 head-to-head sweep, combined with a 22% average score gap, leaves no room for interpretation. Anyone choosing between these two based purely on benchmark results should select the Core 5 221E.

That said, the size of the gap varies by workload. For physics calculations, the difference is only 1.4%, so the Core 5 213PTE is nearly as capable in that specific area. For data encryption, integer math, random string sorting, and data compression, the Core 5 221E is 19.5% to 25% faster. For general multithreaded workloads, as represented by Cinebench R15, R20, R23 multicore and PassMark multithread, the gap is consistently around 16.1%.

The Core 5 213PTE does have a lower TDP. The database lists it at 45 watts, while the Core 5 221E is listed at 65 watts. That is a 20 watt difference. For a system where power draw is a hard constraint, the Core 5 213PTE is the more efficient choice on paper, but the benchmark data shows it delivers less performance across the board. The Core 5 221E also launched earlier, with a release date of 2025-01-12, while the Core 5 213PTE has a release date of 2026-03-08.

The launch MSRP for the Core 5 213PTE is $221, and the launch MSRP for the Core 5 221E is $232. The 11 dollar difference does not correlate with the performance gap, which is much larger in percentage terms than the price gap. The Core 5 221E is the better performer for a slightly higher launch price.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmark data, the Core 5 221E wins in every single category. There is no workload in the database where the Core 5 213PTE comes out ahead. Therefore, the use-case split is not about which CPU wins a given task, but rather about which CPU is sufficient for a given performance target.

The Core 5 213PTE is adequate for workloads that do not require maximum throughput. Its PassMark physics score of 2199 is nearly identical to the Core 5 221E’s 2230, so physics simulations or similar floating-point-light tasks would show no meaningful difference. Its single-thread scores (PassMark single thread of 3718, Cinebench R23 single-core of 3070) are lower than the Core 5 221E’s (4147 and 3661 respectively), but still respectable for general desktop use. The 10.3% single-thread gap means everyday responsiveness would be slightly better on the Core 5 221E, but the Core 5 213PTE is not a weak part.

The Core 5 221E is the clear pick for compute-heavy tasks. Its 25% lead in data encryption, 21% lead in integer math, and 20.1% lead in random string sorting make it the better option for compression, encryption, and data processing workloads. Its 16.1% lead across all Cinebench multicore tests and PassMark multithread makes it the better option for rendering, video encoding, and any heavily threaded application. The 9.2% lead in floating point math and find prime numbers shows an advantage in scientific and numerical workloads as well.

For a system builder with an Intel Socket 1700 motherboard, the choice is straightforward. If the workload is light and the lower 45 watt TDP is attractive, the Core 5 213PTE works. If the workload is demanding and performance matters more than power draw, the Core 5 221E is the one to use.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 5 213PTE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: Both CPUs have the same boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Their base clocks differ: the Core 5 213PTE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, while the Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the Core 5 221E in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Core 5 213PTE scores 21751. That is a 16.1% difference.

Q: Is the Core 5 213PTE competitive in any benchmark?

A: The closest result is PassMark physics, where the Core 5 213PTE scores 2199 against the Core 5 221E’s 2230, a gap of only 1.4%. In no benchmark does the Core 5 213PTE win.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

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

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: Both CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. The memory bandwidth differs: the Core 5 213PTE has 76.8 GB/s, while the Core 5 221E has 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, while the Core 5 213PTE has an average benchmark score of 32924. The Core 5 221E also has a higher percentile ranking at 87, compared to 83 for the Core 5 213PTE.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built on the same Bartlett Lake codename and use the same 10 nm process node from Intel. They share the same Intel Socket 1700 and the same L1 cache of 80 KB per core and L2 cache of 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is also identical at 24 MB shared.

The core and thread counts are the primary architectural distinction. The Core 5 213PTE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. That is a difference of 6 cores and 4 threads. The higher thread count on the Core 5 221E directly explains its multicore performance advantage in the Cinebench and PassMark multithread tests.

The die size is listed only for the Core 5 221E at 257 mm². The database does not list a die size for the Core 5 213PTE. Both CPUs use the same UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics, and both support the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 16 lanes, CPU only.

The base clock differs between the two. The Core 5 213PTE runs at 2.10 GHz base, while the Core 5 221E runs at 2.70 GHz base. Both boost to 5.20 GHz. The higher base clock on the Core 5 221E contributes to its single-core performance lead, which shows up in the 16% gap in Cinebench single-core tests and the 10.3% gap in PassMark single-thread tests.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows several fields where the two CPUs differ.

• Cores: The Core 5 213PTE has 8 cores, the Core 5 221E has 14 cores.
• Threads: The Core 5 213PTE has 16 threads, the Core 5 221E has 20 threads.
• Base Clock: The Core 5 213PTE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, the Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz.
• TDP: The Core 5 213PTE is rated at 45 watts, the Core 5 221E is rated at 65 watts.
• Memory Bandwidth: The Core 5 213PTE has 76.8 GB/s, the Core 5 221E has 89.6 GB/s.
• Die Size: The Core 5 221E is listed at 257 mm², the Core 5 213PTE has no listed die size.
• Release Date: The Core 5 213PTE was released on 2026-03-08, the Core 5 221E was released on 2025-01-12.
• Launch MSRP: The Core 5 213PTE has a launch MSRP of $221, the Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232.
• Part Number: The Core 5 213PTE has part number SA4QM, the Core 5 221E has part number SRQDVQ659.

Fields that are identical include the boost clock (5.20 GHz), socket (Intel Socket 1700), process node (10 nm), foundry (Intel), L1 cache (80 KB per core), L2 cache (2 MB per core), L3 cache (24 MB shared), memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (true), PCIe (Gen 5, 16 lanes CPU only), integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), and multiplier unlock status (false).

The memory bandwidth difference is notable. The Core 5 221E’s 89.6 GB/s versus the Core 5 213PTE’s 76.8 GB/s is a 16.7% advantage, roughly in line with the multicore performance gap. The TDP difference of 20 watts means the Core 5 221E will draw more power under load, which is consistent with its higher core count and higher base clock. The Core 5 213PTE, with fewer cores and a lower base clock, is the lower-power part, but it also delivers less performance in every measured benchmark.