Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Core i5-14500
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i5-14500
The Verdict
The data shows two Intel desktop processors built for the same Socket 1700 platform, both with 14 cores and 20 threads, both rated at a 65 W TDP. The Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i5-14500 are close overall, with the Core 5 221E winning 9 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks and the i5-14500 winning 8. The average benchmark scores are 40144 for the Core 5 221E and 38531 for the i5-14500, a difference of roughly 4%. The Core 5 221E sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-14500 sits in the 86th.
The Core 5 221E is the stronger choice for single-threaded workloads and for certain compute-heavy tasks. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3661 against 1917 for the i5-14500, a 91% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 5 221E scores 25933 versus 15012, a 72.7% lead. It also wins in PassMark integer math, physics, and prime number finding. The i5-14500, meanwhile, counters with wins in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting. It also edges ahead in the newer Cinebench R20 tests by narrow margins.
The i5-14500 is the better pick for memory-heavy and data-processing tasks that rely on its higher per-core L2 cache and its UHD Graphics 770. The Core 5 221E is the better pick for raw compute, rendering, and single-thread responsiveness. Both have the same launch MSRP of $232, though pricing guidance is limited to that single recorded figure.
Architecture Differences
Both processors use Intel's 10 nm process node and are built by Intel. Both use the Intel Socket 1700. The Core 5 221E is codenamed Bartlett Lake, while the i5-14500 is codenamed Raptor Lake-R and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. The Core 5 221E has a die size of 257 mm², the i5-14500 a smaller 215 mm².
The core and thread counts are identical: 14 cores and 20 threads. The base clocks differ slightly, with the Core 5 221E at 2.70 GHz and the i5-14500 at 2.60 GHz. The boost clock also favors the Core 5 221E, reaching 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for the i5-14500.
The cache layout differs in the L2. The Core 5 221E has 2 MB of L2 per core, while the i5-14500 has 1.25 MB per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The larger per-core L2 on the Core 5 221E likely contributes to its strong single-thread and integer performance results.
Memory support is the same: both support DDR4 and DDR5, both use a dual-channel memory bus, and both support ECC memory. The Core 5 221E records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i5-14500 has no recorded bandwidth figure. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.
The integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770. The 221E was released on 2025-01-12, the i5-14500 on 2024-01-07. Both are currently marked as Active in production. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SRQDVQ659 for the 221E and SRN3T for the i5-14500.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest single benchmark gap belongs to the Core 5 221E in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3661 against 1917, a 91% delta. The same processor leads Cinebench R23 multi-core by 72.7%, scoring 25933 versus 15012. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 221E leads by 34.8% with 368 against 273. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a smaller 7.3% lead, 2613 versus 2435.
The Core 5 221E also wins PassMark find prime numbers by 63.2%, scoring 173 against 106. PassMark physics goes to the 221E by 27.7%, 2230 versus 1746. PassMark integer math favors the 221E by 9%, 117813 against 108124. PassMark single-thread and single-thread (recorded under two test names with identical scores) both go to the 221E by 4.9%, 4147 versus 3952.
The i5-14500's biggest win is in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 22473 against 18216, a delta of 18.9%. PassMark data compression goes to the i5-14500 by 12.7%, 371294 versus 324285. Data encryption favors the i5-14500 by 10.5%, 21457 against 19205. Random string sorting goes to the i5-14500 by 8%, 40980 versus 37686.
The remaining tests are close. Cinebench R20 multi-core goes to the i5-14500 by 0.9%, 10985 versus 10891. Cinebench R20 single-core goes to the i5-14500 by 0.8%, 1550 versus 1537. PassMark floating point math favors the i5-14500 by 0.7%, 79576 versus 79028. PassMark multithread goes to the i5-14500 by 0.9%, 30777 versus 30510.
The nearest rivals in the database position both CPUs similarly. The Core 5 221E is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen 9 270, and 0.4% below the Intel Core i9-13905H. The i5-14500 is 0.1% below the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T, 0.4% above the Intel Xeon w3-2525, 0.5% above the Intel Core 9 270H, and 0.6% above the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-14500 boosts to 5.00 GHz.
Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?
A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i5-14500 support ECC memory.
Q: What is the L3 cache size on each?
A: Both processors share 24 MB of L3 cache. The L2 cache differs: the Core 5 221E has 2 MB per core, the i5-14500 has 1.25 MB per core.
Q: Which processor performs better in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933, which is 72.7% higher than the i5-14500's 15012.
Q: Which integrated graphics does each processor use?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Core i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770.
Q: What is the launch MSRP for both processors?
A: Both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i5-14500 have a launch MSRP of $232.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 5 221E wins in scenarios that stress single-core performance and integer-heavy compute. Its 91% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 34.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core make it the clear choice for lightly threaded applications where clock speed and per-core efficiency matter. The 72.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core also suggests strong scaling in rendering workloads. The PassMark integer math win of 9% and the physics win of 27.7% point to advantages in simulation and calculation tasks. The 63.2% lead in find prime numbers reinforces this pattern.
The Intel Core i5-14500 wins in data manipulation and instruction-heavy workloads. Its 18.9% lead in extended instructions indicates better support for specialized instruction sets. The 12.7% lead in data compression and 10.5% lead in data encryption make it the better option for archiving, file transfer, and encryption tasks. The 8% lead in random string sorting further supports a data-processing advantage. Its smaller wins in Cinebench R20 and floating point math are narrow but consistent.
The i5-14500 also holds a slight edge in multithread performance overall, winning PassMark multithread by 0.9% and Cinebench R20 multi-core by 0.9%. The Core 5 221E counters with a 4.9% win in single-thread PassMark. The two processors are close enough that the choice depends on workload type: the Core 5 221E for compute-heavy and single-threaded tasks, the i5-14500 for data throughput and instruction-heavy tasks.