Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i7-13700F Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear hierarchy between these two Intel desktop processors. The Intel Core i7-13700F is the dominant performer, winning 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 221E claims only 3 wins. The Core i7-13700F holds a 19.2% advantage across every Cinebench multi-core and single-core test, and its lead extends to 20.5% in Passmark's multithread test. For users who prioritize raw compute throughput, especially in heavily threaded workloads, the i7-13700F is the definitive choice.

However, the Core 5 221E is not without its merits. It wins the Passmark single-thread test by a narrow 0.6% margin (4147 versus 4121) and the prime number finding test by a substantial 10.9% (173 versus 156). These results indicate that for certain single-threaded integer workloads, the newer Bartlett Lake architecture holds a slight edge. The data also shows the Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i7-13700F's 86th percentile, despite the older chip's higher raw scores. This suggests the Core 5 221E offers a more balanced profile relative to the broader market.

The choice between them depends on the workload profile. If the application suite is dominated by multi-threaded rendering, encoding, or simulation, the i7-13700F is the clear winner. If the primary tasks are single-threaded integer operations or if the user values the slight edge in prime number computation, the Core 5 221E is the more sensible pick. The i7-13700F also offers ECC memory support, a feature absent on the Core 5 221E, which may be decisive for certain workstation or server-adjacent use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-13700F wins decisively in multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32101 versus 25933 for the Core 5 221E represents a 19.2% lead, and the pattern repeats in R15 (3235 versus 2613) and R20 (13482 versus 10891). The Passmark suite shows a similar trend: the i7-13700F leads by 31.3% in data compression (471838 versus 324285), 28.8% in data encryption (26956 versus 19205), and 35.6% in extended instructions (28295 versus 18216). The floating-point math test shows a 21.3% advantage (100422 versus 79028), and integer math trails at 16.7% (141370 versus 117813). The i7-13700F also wins the multithread test by 20.5% (38369 versus 30510) and random string sorting by 24.6% (49974 versus 37686). Even the physics test, which is nearly tied, goes to the i7-13700F by a hair (2236 versus 2230, a 0.3% delta).

The Intel Core 5 221E wins three specific tests. The Passmark find prime numbers test shows a 10.9% advantage (173 versus 156), indicating a stronger performance in certain integer loops. The Passmark single-thread test shows a 0.6% lead (4147 versus 4121), a narrow but consistent margin across two identical test entries. These wins suggest the Core 5 221E has a slightly more efficient single-core design for specific instruction patterns, even though the i7-13700F wins the Cinebench single-core tests by 19.2% (for example, R23 single-core 3661 versus 4532). The data indicates the Core 5 221E is not a general-purpose single-thread winner, but it excels in the specific prime number workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share several foundational characteristics. Both use the Intel Socket 1700, are built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, and have the same 257 mm² die size. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both provide Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes. The base clocks differ: the Core 5 221E runs at 2.70 GHz, while the i7-13700F runs at 2.10 GHz. Both boost to 5.20 GHz. The Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP, matching the i7-13700F's 65 W TDP.

The core configurations diverge significantly. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-13700F has 16 cores and 24 threads. This two-core, four-thread advantage explains much of the i7-13700F's multi-threaded dominance. Cache layouts also differ: both have 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core, but the i7-13700F has 30 MB of shared L3 cache versus 24 MB on the Core 5 221E. The i7-13700F is based on the Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-S codename), while the Core 5 221E uses the newer Bartlett Lake design. The i7-13700F does not have integrated graphics, whereas the Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730. The i7-13700F does not support ECC memory, but the Core 5 221E does. The i7-13700F was released on 2023-01-03, while the Core 5 221E was released on 2025-01-12. The i7-13700F's launch MSRP was $359, while the Core 5 221E's launch MSRP was $232. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700F has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-13700F does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score in Passmark?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a Passmark single-thread score of 4147, which is 0.6% higher than the i7-13700F's score of 4121.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the i7-13700F?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700F has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Core i7-13700F has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the boost clock for both processors?

A: Both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i7-13700F have a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 19.2% advantage for the i7-13700F across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-13700F scores 3235 versus 2613 for the Core 5 221E. Single-core R15 shows 456 versus 368. R20 multi-core is 13482 versus 10891, and R20 single-core is 1903 versus 1537. R23 multi-core is 32101 versus 25933, and R23 single-core is 4532 versus 3661. The consistency of the delta across both multi-core and single-core tests suggests the i7-13700F's advantage stems from its additional cores and larger cache, not just thread count.

The Passmark suite reveals where the i7-13700F's strengths are most pronounced. The largest margin is in extended instructions, where the i7-13700F leads by 35.6% (28295 versus 18216). Data compression follows at 31.3% (471838 versus 324285), and data encryption at 28.8% (26956 versus 19205). Random string sorting shows a 24.6% gap (49974 versus 37686), and floating-point math is 21.3% behind on the Core 5 221E (100422 versus 79028). Integer math is closer at 16.7% (141370 versus 117813), and the multithread test shows a 20.5% gap (38369 versus 30510). The physics test is nearly identical, with the i7-13700F winning 2236 versus 2230, a 0.3% difference.

The Core 5 221E's wins are narrow but notable. The Passmark find prime numbers test shows a 10.9% advantage (173 versus 156), which is the only test where the Core 5 221E wins by a double-digit percentage. The Passmark single-thread test shows a 0.6% lead (4147 versus 4121), and the same result appears for the duplicate singlethread entry. These wins indicate that the Core 5 221E's single-core design, despite losing Cinebench single-core tests by 19.2%, has a specific strength in prime number computation that the i7-13700F cannot match. The overall benchmark averages reflect the broader picture: the Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, while the i7-13700F sits at 39009, despite the i7-13700F winning most head-to-head tests. This discrepancy is due to the different benchmark sets recorded for each processor, with the i7-13700F including 3DMark tests that show strong multi-threaded scaling (max threads score of 10716) but also dragging its average down relative to the Core 5 221E's dataset.