Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core 7 240H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 7 240H has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance percentile ranking for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Core 7 240H ranks at the 82nd percentile.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40144, compared to 31483 for the Intel Core 7 240H, a difference of roughly 27.5%.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core 7 240H have a locked multiplier.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 7 240H does not.

Q: What are the launch dates for these two chips?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E launched on January 12, 2025, and the Intel Core 7 240H launched on December 17, 2024.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 221E and Intel Core 7 240H share the same 10 nm process node from Intel, but the architectural lineage diverges significantly. The Core 5 221E is built on the Bartlett Lake codename, carrying the generation label "Core 5 (Bartlett Lake)". In contrast, the Core 7 240H uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-H and the generation label "Core 7 (Raptor Lake Refresh)".

Core counts differ notably between the two. The Core 5 221E packs 14 cores with 20 threads, whereas the Core 7 240H delivers 10 cores and 16 threads. This core advantage for the desktop chip translates directly into its multicore performance edge. Both processors feature identical cache layouts at each level: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The similarities stop at cache capacity, however.

The Core 5 221E is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Core 7 240H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1744. The desktop chip has a 65 W TDP, and the mobile chip has a 45 W TDP. The Core 5 221E also brings ECC memory support to the table, which the Core 7 240H lacks entirely. PCIe lane counts differ as well: the Core 5 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 7 240H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics mark another divergence. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 7 240H uses Iris Xe Graphics 64EU. Memory support is identical on paper, with both accepting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, though the Core 5 221E lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s while the Core 7 240H has no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark table is one-sided. Across all 17 recorded comparisons, the Intel Core 5 221E wins every single test, with zero wins for the Intel Core 7 240H. The desktop chip dominates across rendering, computational math, compression, encryption, and single-threaded workloads.

The largest margins appear in single-core Cinebench tests, where the Core 5 221E leads by over 100% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This suggests the desktop chip's architecture delivers substantially higher per-thread performance. Multicore Cinebench results also heavily favor the Core 5 221E, with a 64.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore, indicating that the extra cores plus higher per-core efficiency compound into a large throughput advantage.

In PassMark workloads, the Core 5 221E shows particularly strong results in integer math (46.5% ahead), floating-point math (34.2% ahead), and prime number finding (69.6% ahead). These are compute-heavy operations that benefit from both core count and instruction efficiency. The Core 7 240H does not have a single category where it outperforms its desktop counterpart.

For a mobile processor, the Core 7 240H does post respectable absolute scores. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15764 is not trivial, and its PassMark multithread score of 23975 shows capable throughput. But placed beside the Core 5 221E, the comparison is consistently unfavorable for the mobile chip.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet separates these two processors across several key dimensions. Core and thread counts differ: 14 cores and 20 threads for the Core 5 221E versus 10 cores and 16 threads for the Core 7 240H. Base clocks are close but not identical, with the Core 5 221E at 2.70 GHz and the Core 7 240H at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks match exactly at 5.20 GHz for both chips.

Power envelopes diverge: the Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP, while the Core 7 240H has a 45 W TDP. Socket types are completely different, with Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop part and Intel BGA 1744 for the mobile part. The market segments reflect this split: Desktop versus Mobile.

ECC memory support is exclusive to the Core 5 221E. PCIe lane counts differ, with 16 lanes for the desktop chip and 8 lanes for the mobile chip. Integrated graphics differ as well: UHD Graphics 730 versus Iris Xe Graphics 64EU. Die size is recorded for the Core 5 221E at 257 mm², while the Core 7 240H has no die size data in the database.

Memory bandwidth is listed at 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E, with no corresponding figure for the Core 7 240H. Launch MSRP values also differ, with the Core 5 221E at $232 and the Core 7 240H at $502. Both chips have locked multipliers. Production status is Active for both, and neither has a transistor count in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite reveals the starkest performance gap. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core 5 221E scores 25933 against 15764 for the Core 7 240H, a 64.5% advantage. The single-core R23 test is even more lopsided: 3661 versus 1719, a 113% lead for the desktop chip. Cinebench R20 shows a 27.2% multicore edge (10891 versus 8562) and a matching 27.2% single-core edge (1537 versus 1208). Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 10.7% lead (2613 versus 2360), while R15 single-core shows a 47.8% lead (368 versus 249).

PassMark results continue the pattern. Data compression scores 324285 for the Core 5 221E versus 271774 for the Core 7 240H, a 19.3% gap. Data encryption shows 19205 versus 15155, a 26.7% edge. Extended instructions come closest, with a 7.8% lead (18216 versus 16897). Prime number finding shows a 69.6% gap (173 versus 102). Floating-point math delivers 79028 versus 58905, a 34.2% edge. Integer math shows 117813 versus 80396, a 46.5% lead. Multithread scores 30510 versus 23975, a 27.3% gap. Physics scores 2230 versus 1723, a 29.4% edge. Random string sorting shows 37686 versus 28866, a 30.6% gap. Single-thread scores 4147 versus 3782, a 9.7% lead.

The data confirms that the Core 5 221E does not merely edge out the Core 7 240H in a few tests. It wins every category, with margins ranging from 7.8% to 113%. The smallest gap appears in extended instructions, where the two architectures are most comparable. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the desktop chip's per-thread performance is more than double.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively toward the Intel Core 5 221E for any workload where raw performance matters. With wins in all 17 head-to-head tests and a 27.5% higher average benchmark score, the desktop chip is the stronger processor by every measured metric.

The Core 5 221E offers 14 cores versus 10, a higher base clock, ECC memory support, twice the PCIe lanes, and a significantly better single-core performance profile. Its 87th percentile ranking versus the 82nd for the Core 7 240H places it higher in the overall CPU distribution. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 221E include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at a 0.2% delta and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at a 0.2% delta, meaning it trades blows with those parts in the same performance tier. The Core 7 240H, by contrast, sits alongside the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX at a 0% delta.

For users selecting between these two, the market segment is the deciding factor beyond pure performance. The Core 5 221E is a desktop processor on Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP, suited for stationary systems where power draw and board compatibility are not constraints. The Core 7 240H is a mobile processor on BGA 1744 with a 45 W TDP, designed for laptops where the lower power envelope and soldered form factor are prerequisites.

The Core 7 240H does not win a single benchmark, but its mobile positioning means it competes in a different context. The data shows no scenario where the Core 7 240H outperforms the Core 5 221E in raw compute. However, the Core 7 240H remains a viable mobile part with solid absolute scores, particularly in multithreaded PassMark workloads where it reaches 23975. The choice comes down to platform: desktop users should take the Core 5 221E for superior performance and ECC support, while mobile systems require the Core 7 240H by socket necessity. The recorded data offers no performance-based reason to prefer the Core 7 240H in a desktop build.