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

Intel Core 5 221E and Intel Core i5-14401TE are both desktop processors built for the Intel Socket 1700 platform, yet the recorded data shows they occupy very different positions in the performance hierarchy. The Core 5 221E delivers a substantial multi-threaded advantage, while the i5-14401TE operates at a lower power envelope. Benchmark results for the Core 5 221E are extensive, while the database contains no recorded benchmark scores for the i5-14401TE, making direct comparisons reliant on architectural and specification analysis.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries for these two processors. However, the Core 5 221E has a full suite of recorded scores, and its percentile ranking provides context for where it sits relative to the broader CPU landscape. The Core 5 221E achieves a percentile score of 87, meaning it outperforms 87 percent of all CPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 40144. The i5-14401TE has no benchmark scores recorded, and its percentile ranking of 50 appears to be a baseline default rather than a measured result.

Looking at the Core 5 221E's individual benchmark results, the multi-threaded performance is the standout feature. In Cinebench R23, the Core 5 221E scores 25933 in multi-core and 3661 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, it records 10891 multi-core and 1537 single-core. The Cinebench R15 results show 2613 multi-core and 368 single-core. These figures indicate a processor that is heavily weighted toward parallel workloads, with the multi-core scores being roughly seven times higher than their single-core counterparts.

The Passmark suite reinforces this pattern. The Core 5 221E achieves a multi-thread score of 30510 and a single-thread score of 4147. In specialized workloads, it records 324285 in data compression, 19205 in data encryption, 18216 in extended instructions, and 117813 in integer math. Floating point math comes in at 79028, physics at 2230, and random string sorting at 37686. The find prime numbers test yields 173.

For comparison with its nearest rivals, the Core 5 221E sits within a tight cluster. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 has an average score of 40081, which is 0.2 percent lower than the Core 5 221E. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 also scores 40048, 0.2 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 270 scores 40246, which is 0.3 percent higher. The Intel Core i9-13905H scores 40313, 0.4 percent higher. These deltas are marginal, placing the Core 5 221E in a competitive band where no single processor dominates by more than a fraction of a percent.

The absence of any recorded benchmarks for the i5-14401TE means the database cannot quantify its performance against the Core 5 221E. What the data does show is that the Core 5 221E is a measured performer with a defined position, while the i5-14401TE has no measurable presence in the benchmark database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is significant. The Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The i5-14401TE uses the Raptor Lake-R codename, belongs to the Core 14th Gen series with Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, and is also built on a 10 nm process. Both use Intel as the foundry.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i5-14401TE has 6 cores and 12 threads. This difference explains the expected multi-threaded performance gap, as the Core 5 221E has more than twice the core count and nearly double the thread count. The die size also differs: the Core 5 221E measures 257 mm², while the i5-14401TE measures 215 mm².

Clock speeds favor the Core 5 221E. It has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The i5-14401TE has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Core 5 221E offers a higher base frequency by 0.70 GHz and a higher boost frequency by 0.70 GHz as well. Power consumption moves in the opposite direction: the Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i5-14401TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Cache configurations show structural differences. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache differs: the Core 5 221E has 2 MB per core, while the i5-14401TE has 1.25 MB per core. The shared L3 cache also differs, with the Core 5 221E featuring 24 MB and the i5-14401TE featuring 20 MB.

Memory support is similar. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Core 5 221E has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i5-14401TE has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory. Both processors use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes available from the CPU. Integrated graphics are identical: UHD Graphics 730 on both chips.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is not supported in the traditional sense. The Core 5 221E was released on January 12, 2025, while the i5-14401TE was released on June 30, 2024, placing the i5-14401TE on the market earlier. The Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232. The i5-14401TE has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear hierarchy. The Core 5 221E is a higher-core-count, higher-clock processor with a larger cache and measured benchmark results that place it in the 87th percentile. The i5-14401TE is a lower-core-count, lower-clock processor with a smaller cache and no recorded benchmark scores. For workloads that scale with cores and threads, the Core 5 221E is the stronger candidate based on its specifications and its recorded multi-threaded performance.

The i5-14401TE offers a lower TDP of 45 watts compared to 65 watts for the Core 5 221E. That 20-watt difference could matter in thermally constrained systems, but the database provides no performance measurements for the i5-14401TE to weigh against its power advantage. Without recorded scores, the i5-14401TE cannot be positioned as a competitive alternative in raw performance terms.

Users who need the highest available multi-threaded throughput from these two options should select the Core 5 221E. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, 5.20 GHz boost clock, and 24 MB of L3 cache give it a structural advantage that the recorded benchmarks confirm. Users who prioritize lower power consumption and are willing to accept fewer cores and lower clocks would consider the i5-14401TE, but they would be choosing a processor with no measured performance data in the database.

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 i5-14401TE has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two processors?

A: The Core 5 221E has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, and the i5-14401TE has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, a difference of 0.70 GHz in favor of the Core 5 221E.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Core 5 221E and the i5-14401TE support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts, and the i5-14401TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: What is the L3 cache size on each processor?

A: The Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14401TE has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the Core 5 221E's percentile ranking?

A: The Core 5 221E has a percentile ranking of 87, meaning it scores higher than 87 percent of all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins in every category where data exists for comparison. Its 14-core, 20-thread configuration gives it a decisive advantage in heavily threaded workloads such as rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing. The recorded Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25933 demonstrates strong parallel scaling. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 30510 confirms this strength. The higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz also gives it an edge in single-threaded tasks, as shown by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3661 and Passmark single-thread score of 4147.

The larger L3 cache of 24 MB versus 20 MB provides more shared data capacity for multi-threaded workloads. The higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is recorded for the Core 5 221E but not for the i5-14401TE, further supports data-intensive operations. The Core 5 221E also has a larger die size at 257 mm² and more L2 cache per core at 2 MB versus 1.25 MB.

The i5-14401TE wins in power efficiency, as measured by TDP. Its 45-watt TDP is lower than the Core 5 221E's 65-watt TDP. For systems where heat dissipation and power draw are primary constraints, the i5-14401TE has an advantage. Its smaller die size of 215 mm² may also contribute to lower manufacturing costs, though no pricing data is available for the i5-14401TE.

The i5-14401TE also holds a release date advantage, having launched on June 30, 2024, which is earlier than the Core 5 221E's January 12, 2025 release. Both processors share the same socket, memory support, PCIe configuration, integrated graphics, and ECC capability, so neither gains an edge in platform compatibility.

For users selecting between these two, the choice comes down to performance versus power draw. The Core 5 221E delivers measured, top-tier performance across both single-threaded and multi-threaded benchmarks. The i5-14401TE delivers a lower power envelope with fewer cores and no recorded benchmark data to validate its performance. The database clearly favors the Core 5 221E for any workload where performance is the priority.