Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i5-14500HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 5 221E, which wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Core 5 221E dominates across the Cinebench suite, taking all six tests with a consistent 7% margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core 5 221E scores 25933 against 24234 for the Core i5-14500HX, while the single-core result shows 3661 versus 3421. The R20 results follow the same pattern: 10891 against 10178 in multicore and 1537 against 1436 in single-core. The R15 tests complete the sweep at 2613 versus 2442 in multicore and 368 versus 344 in single-core.

The Passmark suite reinforces this trend with several substantial wins for the Core 5 221E. The largest gap appears in the find prime numbers test, where the Core 5 221E scores 173 against 130, a 33.1% advantage. Integer math shows a 23.3% lead with 117813 versus 95584. Floating point math follows at 79028 versus 69442, a 13.8% margin. Single-thread performance favors the Core 5 221E at 4147 versus 3629, a 14.3% difference. Physics testing shows 2230 against 1911, a 16.7% lead. The multithread score sits at 30510 versus 28508, a 7% gap, and random string sorting closes at 37686 versus 36219, a 4.1% edge.

The Core i5-14500HX does claim wins in three Passmark workloads. Extended instructions shows its strongest result: 20019 versus 18216, a 9% advantage. Data compression also goes to the mobile chip at 333851 versus 324285, a 2.9% lead. Data encryption comes in at 19502 versus 19205, a narrower 1.5% margin. These wins demonstrate that the Core i5-14500HX holds specific advantages in certain specialized workloads, even as the overall benchmark average favors the Core 5 221E.

The aggregate data confirms this split. The Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40144, placing it at the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i5-14500HX averages 35094, sitting at the 84th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 221E include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 with an average score of 40081 and a delta of 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 with a 0.2% delta, the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246 with a -0.3% delta, and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 with a -0.4% delta. The Core i5-14500HX, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i9-12900HX at 35003 with a 0.3% delta, the Intel Core i7-13800H at 34988 with a 0.3% delta, the Intel Core 7 253PTE at 34962 with a 0.4% delta, and the Intel Core i7-12700K at 35287 with a -0.5% delta. The Core 5 221E operates in a higher performance class entirely.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E establishes itself as the stronger processor for general compute, rendering, and single-threaded workloads. Its perfect sweep of the Cinebench suite, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore modes, points to consistent advantages in content creation and CPU-bound productivity tasks. The 7% margins across all six tests indicate a uniform performance uplift rather than workload-specific tuning. The physics score of 2230 against 1911 adds further evidence for simulation and calculation tasks, while the integer math score of 117813 against 95584 suggests an edge in general-purpose arithmetic. The 14.3% single-thread lead matters for applications that rely on one or two heavily loaded threads, where the Core 5 221E's 5.20 GHz boost clock provides a clear advantage over the 4.90 GHz of the Core i5-14500HX.

The Core i5-14500HX wins in three specific Passmark categories. Extended instructions at 20019 versus 18216 indicates stronger performance in workloads that leverage advanced instruction sets, which can matter for encryption, compression, and certain scientific or media processing routines. Data compression at 333851 versus 324285 shows the mobile chip handles compressed file operations more efficiently. Data encryption at 19502 versus 19205, while a narrow margin, still represents a measurable win for security-related tasks. These wins do not offset the overall score gap, but they define a small set of workloads where the Core i5-14500HX is the better choice.

The benchmark distribution shows no mixed results within the Cinebench family: every Cinebench test goes to the Core 5 221E, and every Passmark test splits cleanly between the two chips. The Core 5 221E takes seven Passmark tests, including the two largest margins in the entire comparison. The Core i5-14500HX takes three. This separation suggests the Core 5 221E delivers better raw compute throughput, while the Core i5-14500HX retains an edge in instruction-level optimization and data-oriented routines.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Intel 10 nm process node and a 257 mm² die size. Each ships with 14 cores, 20 threads, 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory controllers support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, and both feature ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity matches as well, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes available from the CPU.

The architectural split appears in the platform and design details. The Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and fits the Intel Socket 1700 desktop platform. The Core i5-14500HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename and fits the Intel BGA 1964 mobile socket. The Core 5 221E belongs to the Core 5 generation under Bartlett Lake, while the Core i5-14500HX belongs to the Core 14th Gen series under Raptor Lake-HX Refresh. The desktop part targets the Desktop market segment, and the mobile part targets the Mobile segment.

Clock speeds differ notably. The Core 5 221E runs a 2.70 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.20 GHz. The Core i5-14500HX runs a 2.60 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.90 GHz. The 0.30 GHz boost advantage for the Core 5 221E aligns with its single-thread benchmark lead. The TDP also differs, with the Core 5 221E rated at 65 watts and the Core i5-14500HX at 55 watts, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design targets.

Integrated graphics separate the two as well. The Core 5 221E carries UHD Graphics 730, while the Core i5-14500HX carries UHD Graphics 770, a higher-tier iGPU. The Core i5-14500HX also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Core 5 221E does not. The memory bandwidth field records 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E, with no corresponding figure recorded for the Core i5-14500HX. The release dates differ by roughly a year, with the Core i5-14500HX released on 2024-01-07 and the Core 5 221E on 2025-01-12. The Core 5 221E carries a launch MSRP of $232. Both processors remain in active production.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core 5 221E as the stronger processor in nearly every meaningful benchmark category. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, takes all six Cinebench tests with a uniform 7% margin, and holds double-digit leads in single-thread, integer math, floating point math, prime number finding, and physics workloads. Its average benchmark score of 40144 against 35094 places it roughly 14.4% ahead of the Core i5-14500HX in aggregate performance, and its 87th percentile ranking versus 84th confirms the gap in broader CPU population terms. The 5.20 GHz boost clock against 4.90 GHz explains part of the single-thread advantage, and the 65 watt TDP against 55 watts reflects a desktop part designed for sustained throughput rather than mobile efficiency.

The Intel Core i5-14500HX holds a narrower but real set of advantages. Its extended instructions score of 20019 beats the Core 5 221E by 9%, and its data compression and data encryption wins, while smaller, show that the Raptor Lake-HX architecture handles certain data-centric workloads more efficiently. The UHD Graphics 770 iGPU is a higher-tier integrated graphics solution than the UHD Graphics 730 in the Core 5 221E. The unlocked multiplier on the mobile chip also offers overclocking flexibility that the desktop part lacks, although the desktop socket and higher base clock may compensate in practical use.

Users choosing between these two should weigh the benchmark evidence directly. The Core 5 221E suits workloads dominated by rendering, math, physics, and single-threaded responsiveness, where its margins range from 7% to 33.1%. The Core i5-14500HX suits workloads involving extended instruction sets, data compression, and encryption, where its wins range from 1.5% to 9%. The desktop market segment of the Core 5 221E and the mobile segment of the Core i5-14500HX also inform platform decisions, as the sockets are not interchangeable.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147 in Passmark single-thread testing, against 3629 for the Intel Core i5-14500HX, a 14.3% advantage. It also leads in Cinebench R23 single-core at 3661 versus 3421.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933, and the Intel Core i5-14500HX scores 24234, giving the Core 5 221E a 7% lead.

Q: In which benchmarks does the Intel Core i5-14500HX win?

A: The Core i5-14500HX wins Passmark extended instructions at 20019 versus 18216, Passmark data compression at 333851 versus 324285, and Passmark data encryption at 19502 versus 19205.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Passmark find prime numbers, where the Intel Core 5 221E scores 173 against 130, a 33.1% advantage.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 14 cores and 20 threads, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a 2.70 GHz base clock and a 5.20 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core i5-14500HX has a 2.60 GHz base clock and a 4.90 GHz boost clock.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221E | Intel Core i5-14500HX |

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

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Architecture | None recorded | Raptor Lake |

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

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Release Date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | None recorded |

| Part Number | SRQDVQ659 | SRMXJ |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | None recorded |