Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

Both processors belong to the same Bartlett Lake family, share the Intel Socket 1700, and were released on the same date. They also support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses and identical 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. However, the benchmark data reveals a clear split in performance characteristics. The Intel Core 5 221E wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 251TE takes 5. The average benchmark scores reflect this, with the Core 5 221E at 40144 and the Core 7 251TE at 41650, a difference of 1.5 points in favor of the larger chip. Both processors are active in production and sit in the upper percentiles of all CPUs, with the Core 5 221E at the 87th percentile and the Core 7 251TE at the 88th.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the single-thread performance gap. The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147 in PassMark single-thread, which is 16.2% ahead of the Core 7 251TE's 3568. The same margin appears in the PassMark singlethread test, where the Core 5 221E again leads by 16.2%. This is a substantial difference for workloads that depend on a single core, and it comes despite the Core 7 251TE having a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz compared to 5.20 GHz on the Core 5 221E.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent but narrow wins for the Core 5 221E. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 5 221E scores 3661 against 3602, a 1.6% advantage. The R20 single-core test shows 1537 versus 1512, a 1.7% lead, and R15 single-core shows 368 versus 362, also a 1.7% lead. The multicore results follow the same pattern, with the Core 5 221E ahead by 1.6% in R23 (25933 vs 25518), R20 (10891 vs 10717), and R15 (2613 vs 2572). The PassMark multithread test also goes to the Core 5 221E by 1.6%, with scores of 30510 and 30022.

The Core 5 221E also dominates in several specific PassMark workloads. The find prime numbers test shows the largest relative gap, with the Core 5 221E scoring 173 versus 140, a 23.6% lead. The physics test goes to the Core 5 221E by 15.1%, with 2230 against 1938. Extended instructions favor the Core 5 221E by 7.3%, with scores of 18216 and 16974.

The Core 7 251TE takes its wins in data-heavy and math-heavy tasks. The largest margin for the Core 7 251TE comes in data encryption, where it scores 22176 versus 19205, a 13.4% advantage. Floating point math goes to the Core 7 251TE by 7.7%, with 85607 against 79028. Integer math follows with a 6.3% lead for the Core 7 251TE, scoring 125739 versus 117813. Random string sorting favors the Core 7 251TE by 4.9%, with 39643 against 37686, and data compression goes to the Core 7 251TE by 3%, with 334399 versus 324285.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split between these two processors maps closely to their core configurations and clock speeds. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Core 5 221E's higher base clock and its per-core L2 cache of 2 MB (versus 1.25 MB per core on the Core 7 251TE) likely contribute to its single-thread and lightly threaded wins.

For workloads that rely on low latency per core, such as prime number finding, physics simulations, and extended instruction sets, the Core 5 221E is clearly stronger. The 23.6% lead in prime numbers and the 15.1% lead in physics show that tasks with serial dependencies or branch-heavy logic run noticeably faster on the Core 5 221E. The 7.3% advantage in extended instructions also points to better per-core efficiency for specialized instruction sequences.

The Core 7 251TE wins in areas that scale with core count and aggregate throughput. Its 36 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 24 MB on the Core 5 221E, helps in data compression and encryption workloads. The data encryption lead of 13.4% and the floating point math lead of 7.7% indicate that the additional cores and larger shared cache are effective for parallelizable math and data transformation tasks. The Core 7 251TE also leads in integer math by 6.3% and random string sorting by 4.9%, both of which benefit from having more threads available.

The Cinebench multicore results are close, with the Core 5 221E holding a 1.6% edge across all three versions. This suggests that the Core 5 221E's higher base clock compensates for its lower core count in rendering workloads. The Core 7 251TE's 24 cores do not translate into a Cinebench win, despite its thread advantage. The PassMark multithread test likewise goes to the Core 5 221E by 1.6%, reinforcing that this particular benchmark mix favors the Core 5 221E's clock speed over the Core 7 251TE's core count.

The Verdict

The data shows two distinct usage profiles. The Intel Core 5 221E is the better choice for tasks that depend on single-core performance and per-thread responsiveness. Its 16.2% lead in PassMark single-thread, combined with consistent wins across all Cinebench versions, makes it the stronger option for lightly threaded applications, interactive workloads, and scenarios where a high base clock matters. The Core 5 221E also has a lower launch MSRP of $232, compared to $384 for the Core 7 251TE.

The Intel Core 7 251TE is the better choice for throughput-oriented workloads that use many threads and benefit from a larger shared cache. Its wins in data encryption, floating point math, integer math, random string sorting, and data compression show that it handles parallel data processing more efficiently. The 24-core configuration and 36 MB of shared L3 cache provide the resources needed for these tasks. The Core 7 251TE also has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 41650 against 40144 for the Core 5 221E, and it sits in the 88th percentile of all CPUs.

The nearest rivals for each processor provide context. The Core 5 221E's average score of 40144 places it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40081) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048), and within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 270 (40246). The Core 7 251TE's average score of 41650 is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H (41621) and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14650HX (41576), while trailing the Intel Core i7-12850HX (41779) by 0.3% and the Intel Core i7-14700T (41914) by 0.6%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147 in PassMark single-thread, which is 16.2% higher than the Intel Core 7 251TE's 3568. The same 16.2% margin applies to the PassMark singlethread test.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E leads in both tests. In multicore, it scores 25933 against 25518 for the Core 7 251TE, a 1.6% advantage. In single-core, it scores 3661 against 3602, also a 1.6% advantage.

Q: Which processor handles data encryption faster?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE scores 22176 in PassMark data encryption, which is 13.4% higher than the Intel Core 5 221E's 19205.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core 7 251TE support ECC memory. Both also support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same 10 nm process node at Intel and share the Bartlett Lake codename. They use the Intel Socket 1700 and are both desktop-class parts with active production status. The die sizes differ, with the Core 5 221E at 257 mm² and the Core 7 251TE at 215 mm², despite the Core 7 having more cores.

The core topology differs significantly. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core for both. The L2 cache differs, with the Core 5 221E using 2 MB per core and the Core 7 251TE using 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache also differs, with the Core 5 221E at 24 MB shared and the Core 7 251TE at 36 MB shared.

Clock speeds also diverge. The Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 7 251TE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The TDP differs as well, with the Core 5 221E rated at 65 watts and the Core 7 251TE rated at 45 watts. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The integrated graphics differ between the two. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 7 251TE uses UHD Graphics 770. Both processors provide the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Memory support is identical, with DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The part numbers are SRQDVQ659 for the Core 5 221E and SRQAXQ5ZG for the Core 7 251TE.