Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core 5 221TE. Across all 17 head-to-head comparisons, the 221E wins every single test, with no benchmark favoring the 221TE. The margins are substantial, ranging from 88.7% to 193.2%, which indicates a fundamental difference in capability rather than a minor clock-speed advantage.

In multi-core workloads, the 221E demonstrates its dominance most clearly. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 221E scores 25,933 against the 221TE's 11,305, a delta of 129.4%. The same 129.4% advantage appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,613 vs 1,139) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (10,891 vs 4,748). The PassMark multi-thread test tells the same story: 30,510 for the 221E versus 13,301 for the 221TE, again exactly 129.4% ahead. This consistency across three different Cinebench versions and the PassMark suite suggests the advantage scales linearly with the workload.

Single-core performance also favors the 221E, though the gap is slightly smaller in some tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 221E scores 3,661 versus 1,596 for the 221TE, a 129.4% delta. PassMark single-thread shows 4,147 against 1,734, a 139.2% advantage. The Cinebench R15 single-core result (368 vs 160) and R20 single-core (1,537 vs 670) both show the same 129.4% to 130% margin.

The largest single delta appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the 221E scores 173 against the 221TE's 59, a 193.2% advantage. This test is particularly sensitive to integer throughput and branch prediction, and the result highlights the 221E's superior execution resources. PassMark integer math shows a 178.5% delta (117,813 vs 42,303), while floating point math sits at 149.6% (79,028 vs 31,661). These three tests reveal that the 221E is not just faster across the board but specifically much stronger in raw compute-intensive workloads.

Data compression and encryption workloads show smaller but still significant gaps. PassMark data compression scores 324,285 for the 221E versus 156,682 for the 221TE, a 107% delta. Data encryption shows 19,205 against 8,963, a 114.3% difference. Extended instructions (SIMD-heavy workloads) show the narrowest margin at 88.7% (18,216 vs 9,655), but this still represents a near-doubling of performance. Random string sorting falls in between at 122.6% (37,686 vs 16,929), and physics simulation shows 128.2% (2,230 vs 977).

The average benchmark score places the 221E at 40,144, which puts it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The 221TE averages 17,860, landing in the 71st percentile. The 221E's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40,081 (0.2% slower) and the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40,246 (0.3% faster). The 221TE's nearest rivals are older or lower-tier parts: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891 (0.2% slower) and the Intel Core 5 120U at 17,898 (0.2% slower). This placement confirms that the two processors occupy entirely different performance tiers despite sharing a product family name.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Bartlett Lake architecture, use a 10 nm process node, and are fabricated by Intel. They share the same Intel Socket 1700 platform, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and both have ECC memory support. Each integrates UHD Graphics 730 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Yet the physical and logical configurations differ substantially.

The 221E contains 14 cores and 20 threads, a hybrid arrangement typical of desktop parts. The 221TE contains 10 cores and 16 threads, a leaner configuration that reduces both core count and thread count. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, but the L2 cache differs: the 221E has 2 MB per core, while the 221TE has 1.25 MB per core. Both share the same 24 MB L3 cache, so the total cache hierarchy favors the 221E in the per-core L2 allocation.

Die size also differs. The 221E measures 257 mm², while the 221TE is smaller at 215 mm². This aligns with the reduced core count and smaller L2 footprint of the 221TE. The smaller die likely contributes to the 221TE's lower power envelope, though the database does not list thermal design power for the 221TE. The 221E carries a 65 W TDP and a base clock of 2.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 0.90 GHz base clock deficit and 0.20 GHz boost clock deficit in the 221TE compound its core-count disadvantage.

Memory bandwidth differs as well: the 221E supports 89.6 GB/s, while the 221TE supports 76.8 GB/s. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, so the bandwidth gap comes from the memory controller configuration or supported memory speeds. For memory-bound workloads, this 16.7% bandwidth reduction further separates the two parts.

Both processors were released on the same date, January 12, 2025, and both carry a launch MSRP of $232. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as Active. The part numbers differ (SRQDVQ659 for the 221E, SRVQS for the 221TE), but the market segment for both is Desktop.

The architectural summary is straightforward: the 221E is a fuller implementation of Bartlett Lake with more cores, more threads, more L2 cache per core, higher clocks, and higher memory bandwidth. The 221TE is a reduced variant with fewer cores, less cache per core, lower clocks, and reduced memory bandwidth, all within the same socket and platform.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the 221E wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the win analysis is entirely one-sided. The 221TE does not claim a single recorded victory in any test. However, the magnitude of each win varies, and that variation points to which workloads benefit most from the 221E's architecture.

The largest deltas appear in integer-heavy and prime-number-finding workloads. PassMark find prime numbers shows a 193.2% advantage for the 221E, and integer math shows 178.5%. These tests stress core count, per-core integer execution units, and cache bandwidth. The 221E's 14 cores versus 10, combined with the higher base clock and larger L2 cache, directly explains these outsized gains.

Floating point math shows a 149.6% delta, and single-thread performance shows 139.2%. These results indicate that the 221E's higher boost clock (5.20 GHz vs 5.00 GHz) and larger L2 cache per core (2 MB vs 1.25 MB) provide a meaningful single-core advantage, not just a multi-core one. The single-thread PassMark score of 4,147 versus 1,734 demonstrates that even on a single thread, the 221E is substantially faster.

The most modest deltas appear in extended instructions (88.7%) and data compression (107%). SIMD-heavy workloads still favor the 221E by a wide margin, but the relative gap narrows. This suggests that both processors can leverage AVX-style instructions effectively, but the 221E's additional cores still provide a near-doubling of throughput.

For the 221TE, the only contexts where it is competitive are those where its lower TDP and smaller die might matter in a system design, but the benchmark data does not record any performance win. The 221TE is not faster in any measured metric. Its 45 W TDP (not listed in the database for the 221TE, but the 221E is 65 W) and smaller die may allow for simpler cooling or lower system power draw, but the database does not provide direct measurements of power consumption or thermal output.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: Both processors have 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The L2 cache differs: 2 MB per core for the 221E and 1.25 MB per core for the 221TE.

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

A: In PassMark find prime numbers, the 221E scores 173 versus 59 for the 221TE, a 193.2% advantage. This is the largest delta across all recorded benchmarks.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses and ECC memory. However, the 221E has 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth while the 221TE has 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors released on the same date and price?

A: Yes, both were released on January 12, 2025, and both have a launch MSRP of $232.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the Intel Core 5 221TE in every recorded test. The 221E wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 88.7% to 193.2%. Its average benchmark score of 40,144 places it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the 221TE's 17,860 sits in the 71st percentile. The 221E competes with processors like the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Ryzen 9 270, while the 221TE aligns with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U.

For workloads that demand maximum throughput in Cinebench, PassMark, data compression, encryption, or integer math, the 221E is the clear choice. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, 2 MB L2 per core, higher clocks, and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth deliver roughly double the performance of the 221TE in most tests. The 221TE offers no performance advantage in any measured metric.

The case for the 221TE rests on factors outside the benchmark data: a smaller die (215 mm² vs 257 mm²) and presumably lower power consumption, given its lower base clock and reduced core count. For a system where power draw and heat output are the primary constraints, the 221TE may be the appropriate part. But for raw performance, the database shows no scenario where the 221TE wins. The 221E is the superior processor in every recorded benchmark.