Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i3-14100T Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Core i3-14100T
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i3-14100T
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark data records a complete sweep for the Intel Core 5 221E across all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with zero wins for the Intel Core i3-14100T. The most decisive margin appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Core 5 221E scores 173 versus 56 for the i3-14100T, a 208.9% advantage. The integer math workload tells a similar story: 117,813 versus 40,292, a 192.4% lead for the larger chip.
Both Cinebench multicore tests show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore runs, the Core 5 221E delivers 2,613, 10,891, and 25,933 points respectively, while the i3-14100T records 1,170, 4,877, and 11,612. The delta holds at 123.3% across all three versions. Single-core results follow a tighter but still decisive curve: the Core 5 221E posts 368 in R15, 1,537 in R20, and 3,661 in R23, against 165, 688, and 1,639 for the i3-14100T, with deltas of 123%, 123.4%, and 123.4%.
The PassMark suite reveals where the gap narrows and where it widens. The closest margin is in single-thread performance: the Core 5 221E scores 4,147 against 3,498, an 18.6% advantage. This stands in contrast to floating point math, where the Core 5 221E's 79,028 beats 31,379 by 151.8%, and data encryption, where 19,205 versus 7,881 represents a 143.7% lead. Random string sorting shows a 141.9% gap (37,686 against 15,579), while extended instructions favor the Core 5 221E by 74.9% (18,216 versus 10,414).
The multithread PassMark score of 30,510 for the Core 5 221E versus 13,662 for the i3-14100T mirrors the Cinebench multicore spread at 123.3%. Physics simulation records 2,230 against 973, a 129.2% difference. Data compression shows a 112.5% edge (324,285 versus 152,636). Across every recorded workload, the Core 5 221E maintains a lead that ranges from a modest 18.6% in single-thread tasks to a dominant 208.9% in prime number calculation.
Architecture Differences
The two processors share several foundational traits: both use Intel Socket 1700, both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus. The Core 5 221E and the i3-14100T also feature the same integrated graphics solution, UHD Graphics 730, and both expose Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. ECC memory support is present on both parts.
The core configuration separates them sharply. The Intel Core 5 221E, codenamed Bartlett Lake, ships with 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i3-14100T, a Raptor Lake Refresh part, offers 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are identical at 2.70 GHz, but the boost clocks diverge: the Core 5 221E reaches 5.20 GHz, while the i3-14100T tops out at 4.40 GHz. The Core 5 221E carries a 65 W TDP, compared to 35 W for the i3-14100T.
Cache allocation differs notably. Both chips use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Core 5 221E provides 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-14100T offers 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 12 MB of shared L3. The die sizes reflect the wider configuration: 257 mm² for the Core 5 221E versus 163 mm² for the i3-14100T. Memory bandwidth is listed at 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E, while the i3-14100T's memory bandwidth is not recorded.
Release timing places the Core 5 221E in January 2025 and the i3-14100T in January 2024. The Core 5 221E carries a launch MSRP of $232, while the i3-14100T carries a launch MSRP of $134. Both chips are locked, with no unlocked multiplier, and both remain in active production. Neither processor lists a transistor count in the database.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark record shows no workload where the i3-14100T takes the lead, so the division of strengths comes down to the size of the Core 5 221E's advantage rather than any reversal. Single-thread performance offers the closest contest: the 18.6% edge in PassMark single-thread scores (4,147 versus 3,498) suggests that lightly threaded applications see the smallest difference between the two. Cinebench single-core results widen that gap to roughly 123%, so the PassMark single-thread figure stands as the outlier.
The i3-14100T's most favorable territory is extended instructions, where the Core 5 221E leads by 74.9%, the smallest multicore-oriented margin in the suite. Data compression also sits on the lower end of the spread at 112.5%. These workloads still clearly favor the Core 5 221E, but they represent the closest relative comparisons after single-thread performance.
The Core 5 221E asserts its largest advantages in compute-heavy integer and floating point work. Prime number finding shows a 208.9% lead, integer math a 192.4% lead, and floating point math a 151.8% lead. Data encryption (143.7%) and random string sorting (141.9%) also show gaps above 140%. The consistent 123.3% to 123.4% deltas across every Cinebench version, both single and multicore, indicate that the Core 5 221E's advantage scales uniformly across that rendering benchmark family.
For a user prioritizing low power consumption, the i3-14100T's 35 W TDP against 65 W offers a clear efficiency profile, but the database records no thermal or power efficiency benchmark to quantify that trade-off. The Core 5 221E's 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, versus no listed figure for the i3-14100T, points to a wider memory pipeline for the larger chip.
The Verdict
The data supports a straightforward selection. The Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i3-14100T, with an average benchmark score of 40,144 against 17,648. The Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-14100T sits at the 71st. The Core 5 221E's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 270 (0.3% behind), and the Intel Core i9-13905H (0.4% behind). The i3-14100T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-13100F (even), the Intel Core i7-1255U (even), the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE (0.2% ahead), and the AMD EPYC 9374F (0.3% behind).
Users who need multicore throughput for rendering, encryption, sorting, or mathematical workloads should select the Core 5 221E. Its 14 cores and 20 threads, 24 MB of shared L3, and 5.20 GHz boost clock deliver margins from 74.9% to 208.9% across the PassMark suite and a uniform 123.3% across Cinebench multicore tests. The 65 W TDP is the price of that performance.
Users who prioritize the smallest possible footprint in power and cost, and who can tolerate a large performance gap, may consider the i3-14100T. Its 35 W TDP, 4 cores, 8 threads, and 12 MB of shared L3 place it at the 71st percentile. The single-thread PassMark margin of 18.6% shows that the i3-14100T remains competitive in lightly threaded scenarios, but the remaining 16 benchmark comparisons all favor the Core 5 221E by at least 74.9%.
FAQ
Q: How much faster is the Intel Core 5 221E in Cinebench R23 multicore?
A: The Core 5 221E scores 25,933 against 11,612 for the i3-14100T, a 123.3% advantage.
Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two processors?
A: The closest margin is PassMark single-thread performance, where the Core 5 221E scores 4,147 versus 3,498, an 18.6% lead.
Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?
A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus, and both support ECC memory.
Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?
A: The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The i3-14100T has 4 cores and 8 threads.
Q: How do the two chips compare on integrated graphics?
A: Both use the same UHD Graphics 730 integrated solution.
Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?
A: The Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP, while the i3-14100T has a 35 W TDP.