Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive sweep for the Intel Core 5 221E across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The largest margin appears in the multi-core workloads, where the Core 5 221E delivers 2613 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 1830 for the Core i5-14401E, a 42.8% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar gap: 10891 against 7627, also a 42.8% delta. In R23 multi-core, the scores are 25933 and 18161, again reflecting the same 42.8% difference.

Single-core results follow the same pattern, though the absolute numbers are smaller. The Core 5 221E scores 368 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Core i5-14401E manages 258, a 42.6% delta. In R20 single-core, the margin is 1537 versus 1076, a 42.8% lead. The R23 single-core test shows 3661 against 2564, maintaining the 42.8% advantage. The consistency of these deltas across all tests suggests a uniform performance gap rather than workload-specific behavior.

The average benchmark score reinforces the split. The Core 5 221E posts an average of 40144 across its full benchmark suite, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core i5-14401E, with an average of 5253, sits in the 60th percentile. That difference in percentile ranking is substantial, indicating the Core 5 221E competes in a higher performance tier entirely.

When placed against nearest rivals, the Core 5 221E shows tight competition. It edges the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 by 0.2% in average score, matches the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 0.2%, and trails the AMD Ryzen 9 270 by 0.3%. The Intel Core i9-13905H sits 0.4% ahead. These small deltas indicate the Core 5 221E belongs to a crowded performance band.

The Core i5-14401E's nearest rivals tell a different story. It leads the Intel Core i9-10850K by 0.2%, matches the Intel Core i7-11700B within 0.2%, and sits 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4. The Intel Core i5-13400T trails by 0.8%. These are older or lower-tier parts, confirming the Core i5-14401E operates in a more modest performance class.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share several foundational traits. Both use Intel Socket 1700, both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. Each also carries the UHD Graphics 730 integrated GPU and enables ECC memory support. The PCIe interface is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The Core 5 221E provides 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core i5-14401E offers 6 cores and 12 threads. That difference in thread count explains the multi-core benchmark margins. The Core 5 221E also runs higher clocks, with a base of 2.70 GHz and a boost of 5.20 GHz, compared to 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost for the Core i5-14401E.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 per core, but the L2 partition changes: the Core 5 221E has 2 MB per core, while the Core i5-14401E has 1.25 MB per core. Shared L3 totals are 24 MB for the Core 5 221E and 20 MB for the Core i5-14401E. The die size reflects the larger configuration, with the Core 5 221E measuring 257 mm² versus 215 mm² for the Core i5-14401E.

Codename and generation differ. The Core 5 221E is based on Bartlett Lake, listed as "Core 5 (Bartlett Lake)" in the generation field. The Core i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake-R, with the generation marked "Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh)". The architecture field for the Core 5 221E is empty, while the Core i5-14401E explicitly lists Raptor Lake as its architecture. The Core 5 221E carries a release date of 2025-01-12, while the Core i5-14401E launched earlier on 2024-06-30.

Memory bandwidth data exists only for the Core 5 221E, recorded at 89.6 GB/s. The Core i5-14401E has no memory bandwidth figure in the database. Both parts are active in production, both have locked multipliers, and both target the desktop market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins every recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. That includes all six Cinebench tests covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants. The data shows no recorded test where the Core i5-14401E takes a lead.

Multi-core workloads favor the Core 5 221E most clearly. The 42.8% margin in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests aligns with the 14-core versus 6-core configuration. Rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads that scale with thread count should show the same relative gap. The PassMark suite for the Core 5 221E adds further context: multithread score of 30510, integer math at 117813, and floating point math at 79028. These figures are not available for the Core i5-14401E, but the Core 5 221E's percentile ranking of 87 versus 60 suggests broad superiority across mixed workloads.

Single-core performance also favors the Core 5 221E, but the margin is slightly smaller in one test. The R15 single-core delta is 42.6%, while all other head-to-head tests show 42.8%. The higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz against 4.70 GHz likely drives this advantage. Applications that depend on single-thread responsiveness, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity tools, will still see a meaningful lead for the Core 5 221E.

The Core i5-14401E does not win any recorded category. Its 6-core, 12-thread layout cannot match the Core 5 221E in raw throughput. The only scenario where the Core i5-14401E might appear competitive is in power-constrained environments, but the database lists identical 65 W TDP for both parts, so no thermal advantage exists in the recorded data. The Core i5-14401E's lower die size of 215 mm² versus 257 mm² could imply lower absolute power draw at idle, but no power measurements are recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Core 5 221E leads by 42.8% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, with scores of 2613, 10891, and 25933 respectively against 1830, 7627, and 18161 for the Core i5-14401E.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The Core 5 221E scores 368, 1537, and 3661 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests. The Core i5-14401E scores 258, 1076, and 2564. The delta is 42.6% in R15 and 42.8% in R20 and R23.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket and process node?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700 and the 10 nm process node from Intel.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, ranking in the 87th percentile. The Core i5-14401E has an average of 5253, ranking in the 60th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221E | Intel Core i5-14401E |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 14 | 6 |

| Threads | 20 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Architecture | Not listed | Raptor Lake |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SRQDVQ659 | Q49JSRNJS |

| Average Benchmark Score | 40144 | 5253 |

| Percentile | 87 | 60 |

Identical specifications include socket (Intel Socket 1700), process node (10 nm), foundry (Intel), L1 cache (80 KB per core), 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), TDP (65 W), and multiplier lock (locked).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who need multi-threaded throughput. The Intel Core 5 221E delivers 42.8% higher multi-core scores across all three Cinebench versions, and its 14 cores versus 6 cores provide a structural advantage that no software optimization can erase. The 87th percentile ranking against all CPUs places it alongside the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen AI 9 365, which sit within 0.2% in average score. The nearest rivals for the Core i5-14401E, by contrast, include the Intel Core i9-10850K and Core i7-11700B, parts from earlier generations.

Single-thread workloads also favor the Core 5 221E, with a 42.6% to 42.8% lead depending on the Cinebench test. The 5.20 GHz boost clock versus 4.70 GHz gives it a clear edge in latency-sensitive tasks. The Core i5-14401E cannot match this in any recorded benchmark.

The Core i5-14401E retains a role for builds where the lower die size of 215 mm² matters for thermal density, though no power measurements exist in the database to confirm a practical benefit. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration handles basic desktop workloads, but the benchmark data shows it sits in the 60th percentile, near the Intel Core i5-13400T and Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4. Those are older server and mid-range desktop parts.

The Core 5 221E also carries a recorded launch MSRP of $232, while the Core i5-14401E has no launch price in the database. The specification sheet shows the Core 5 221E launched in January 2025, about six months after the Core i5-14401E's June 2024 release. The newer part offers more cores, higher clocks, larger caches, and a higher memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s.

For any workload measured in the database, the Intel Core 5 221E is the superior processor. The Core i5-14401E wins no recorded test and trails by roughly 43% in every Cinebench comparison. Users building for rendering, compiling, or data-heavy tasks should select the Core 5 221E. The Core i5-14401E remains a functional desktop processor, but the recorded data provides no scenario where it outperforms its newer sibling.