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

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40144, while the Intel Core i5-14500T records 28065. That places the Core 5 221E in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 80th percentile for the i5-14500T.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, versus 11790 for the i5-14500T. That is a 120% advantage, the largest single delta recorded across all head-to-head tests.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket and memory type?

A: Yes. Both use Intel Socket 1700, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and run dual-channel memory. Both also support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Q: What are the base and boost clock differences?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a 2.70 GHz base clock and 5.20 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core i5-14500T has a 1.70 GHz base clock and 4.80 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which processor has a higher power envelope?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65, while the Intel Core i5-14500T has a TDP of 35.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the i5-14500T wins?

A: No. The recorded data shows the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the i5-14500T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same core and thread counts, both offering 14 cores and 20 threads. The underlying designs, however, differ in several respects. The Intel Core 5 221E is built on the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Intel Core i5-14500T uses the Raptor Lake-R codename. The Core 5 221E belongs to the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation, whereas the i5-14500T is part of the Core 14th Gen series and carries the Raptor Lake Refresh generation label. Both processors are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, but the die sizes differ: the Core 5 221E measures 257 mm², and the i5-14500T measures 215 mm².

Cache organization is another point of divergence. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core for both. The L2 cache differs, with the Core 5 221E using 2 MB per core and the i5-14500T using 1.25 MB per core. Shared L3 cache is the same at 24 MB. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 221E carries UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14500T carries UHD Graphics 770. Memory bandwidth is only listed for the Core 5 221E, which records 89.6 GB/s; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for the i5-14500T. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier, and both are currently marked as Active in production. The release dates place the i5-14500T earlier, with a 2024 release, while the Core 5 221E was released in 2025. Both share a launch MSRP of $232.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy between these two desktop processors. The Intel Core 5 221E leads the Intel Core i5-14500T in every recorded benchmark, and the margins are substantial in most categories. The average benchmark score difference is approximately 43% in favor of the Core 5 221E, and the percentile ranking difference, 87th versus 80th, confirms that the Core 5 221E sits in a higher performance tier overall. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 221E include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, which trails by 0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 270, which leads by 0.3%; the i5-14500T, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE, with a 0% delta, and the Intel Core i9-12900H, which leads by 0.2%.

For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, the Core 5 221E provides a meaningful advantage. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3661 is 99.2% higher than the i5-14500T's 1838. The PassMark single-thread score of 4147 versus 3736 is a smaller but still clear 11% lead. For multi-threaded rendering and compute, the Core 5 221E extends its lead further, as shown by the 120% margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The i5-14500T, on the other hand, has a lower TDP of 35, which may be preferable in power-constrained system designs. The choice depends on whether the priority is maximum compute throughput, where the Core 5 221E is the clear selection, or lower power draw, where the i5-14500T's 35 TDP stands out.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The base clock is 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E and 1.70 GHz for the i5-14500T. The boost clock is 5.20 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP is 65 for the Core 5 221E and 35 for the i5-14500T. The codename differs: Bartlett Lake versus Raptor Lake-R. The generation labels differ as well, with the Core 5 221E listed as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) and the i5-14500T as Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh). Die size is 257 mm² for the Core 5 221E and 215 mm² for the i5-14500T. L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus UHD Graphics 770. Memory bandwidth is recorded at 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E, with no figure listed for the i5-14500T. Release dates differ, with the i5-14500T released in 2024 and the Core 5 221E in 2025. The part numbers also differ: SRQDVQ659 for the Core 5 221E and SRN3P for the i5-14500T. The series field is empty for the Core 5 221E, while the i5-14500T belongs to Core 14th Gen.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark set covers 17 tests, and the Intel Core 5 221E wins all of them. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 221E scores 25933 against 11790, a 120% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core also shows a near-doubling, with 3661 versus 1838, a 99.2% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 46% advantage, with scores of 368 and 252. PassMark find prime numbers delivers a 113.6% delta, with 173 versus 81. PassMark physics shows a 73.1% advantage, with 2230 versus 1288. Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core both show 33.2% deltas, with scores of 10891 versus 8177 and 1537 versus 1154 respectively. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 29.2% delta, with 2613 versus 2022.

PassMark integer math shows a 45.6% delta, with 117813 versus 80922. PassMark floating point math shows 79028 versus 58869, a 34.2% delta. PassMark multithread shows 30510 versus 22910, a 33.2% delta. PassMark random string sorting shows 37686 versus 28462, a 32.4% delta. PassMark data encryption shows 19205 versus 15410, a 24.6% delta. PassMark data compression shows 324285 versus 262417, a 23.6% delta. PassMark extended instructions shows 18216 versus 16043, a 13.5% delta. The smallest margins are in PassMark single-thread and singlethread, both with 4147 versus 3736, an 11% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in every measured category, but the size of the win varies by workload type. The greatest advantages appear in heavily multi-threaded rendering and CPU-intensive compute tasks. Cinebench R23 multi-core, a common proxy for sustained all-core rendering workloads, shows the largest gap at 120%. Prime number finding and physics simulations also show very large gaps, at 113.6% and 73.1% respectively. These results indicate that the Core 5 221E is particularly strong in compute-heavy, multi-threaded scenarios where the higher boost clock and larger L2 cache contribute to throughput.

The i5-14500T does not win any benchmark category, but its profile is defined by its lower TDP of 35. The data does not record any performance scenario where the i5-14500T outperforms the Core 5 221E; its advantage is limited to power draw. For systems where the 35 TDP envelope is a design constraint, the i5-14500T may fit a more constrained thermal or power budget. The Core 5 221E, with a TDP of 65, delivers higher performance across the board, including the smallest single-thread gap of 11%, which still favors it. The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: performance-oriented builds favor the Core 5 221E, while power-oriented builds may consider the i5-14500T despite its lower scores.