Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i7-14700HX Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Core i7-14700HX
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i7-14700HX
The Intel Core 5 221E and Intel Core i7-14700HX occupy different corners of the Intel lineup, yet their benchmark profiles overlap in interesting ways. The 14700HX is a mobile part with more cores, while the 221E is a desktop chip built on the Bartlett Lake design. The data shows a split: the 14700HX dominates in most multi-threaded and data-heavy workloads, while the 221E counters with decisive wins in specific single-thread tests. The overall average benchmark score favors the 14700HX at 45953 versus 40144 for the 221E, and the 14700HX sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs compared to the 87th percentile for the 221E.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest single victory in the comparison belongs to the Intel Core 5 221E in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3661 against 2103 for the 14700HX, a 74.1% advantage. That gap is enormous and not repeated elsewhere. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 221E also wins with 368 versus 296, a 24.3% lead. The PassMark single-thread test confirms the pattern, with the 221E scoring 4147 against 3947, a 5.1% edge. The 221E also wins PassMark find prime numbers, 173 to 165, a 4.8% margin.
The Intel Core i7-14700HX answers in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 14700HX scores 3812 versus 2613, a 31.5% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 13059 against 10891, a 16.6% advantage. Interestingly, the 221E flips the result in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 25933 versus 24595, a 5.4% win. That reversal suggests the 221E scales better in that specific test, despite having fewer cores.
The 14700HX dominates the PassMark suite. Data compression shows 438539 for the 14700HX versus 324285, a 26.1% lead. Data encryption goes 26092 versus 19205, a 26.4% advantage. Extended instructions favor the 14700HX at 25718 versus 18216, a 29.2% margin. Floating point math scores 93836 against 79028, a 15.8% lead. Integer math shows 131296 versus 117813, a 10.3% edge. Random string sorting goes 48544 to 37686, a 22.4% win for the 14700HX. The PassMark multi-thread test also favors the 14700HX, 36566 versus 30510, a 16.6% lead. The closest race in the entire set is PassMark physics, where the 14700HX wins by just 1%, 2252 to 2230.
The Cinebench R20 single-core result is a notable outlier in the single-thread story. The 14700HX wins that test, 1843 versus 1537, a 16.6% margin. That contradicts the other single-thread results, where the 221E leads. The recorded data shows the 221E with six total wins and the 14700HX with eleven wins across the head-to-head tests.
Architecture Differences
The Intel Core 5 221E is a desktop processor using the Bartlett Lake codename. It has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i7-14700HX is a mobile processor from the Core 14th Gen series, using the Raptor Lake-HX architecture and the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh generation. It has 20 cores and 28 threads. Both are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel, and both have the same die size of 257 mm². The core count difference explains much of the multi-thread performance gap, though the 221E still manages to win Cinebench R23 multi-core.
The 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The 14700HX has a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The higher boost clock on the 14700HX does not translate into single-thread wins, where the 221E leads in most tests. The 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 14700HX has 33 MB of shared L3 cache. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core.
The 221E is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1700. The 14700HX is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP and an Intel BGA 1964 socket. The 221E has an unlocked multiplier set to false, while the 14700HX has an unlocked multiplier set to true. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, both use dual-channel memory, and both support ECC memory. The 221E lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the 14700HX has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ: the 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the 14700HX uses UHD Graphics 770.
The 221E was released on 2025-01-12 and has a launch MSRP of $232. The 14700HX was released on 2024-01-07 and has no launch MSRP recorded. The 221E has a part number of SRQDVQ659, and the 14700HX has a part number of SRMXG.
The Verdict
The benchmark data points to different buyers for each processor. The Intel Core i7-14700HX is the stronger overall performer, with a higher average benchmark score of 45953 against 40144 for the 221E. It wins the majority of the head-to-head tests, eleven out of seventeen, and its leads in data compression, encryption, and extended instructions are substantial. For workloads that rely on many threads and heavy data processing, the 14700HX is the clear choice.
The Intel Core 5 221E has a specific strength: single-thread performance. Its 74.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and it also wins Cinebench R15 single-core and PassMark single-thread. It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 5.4%, which is unexpected given the core count disadvantage. The 221E is a desktop part with a higher base clock, and it uses an LGA 1700 socket. The 14700HX is a mobile part, so the socket difference alone will determine which system each processor fits into.
The nearest rivals in the database reinforce the positioning. The 221E sits within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, AMD Ryzen 9 270, and Intel Core i9-13905H. The 14700HX sits within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 7303, AMD EPYC 4364P, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, and Intel Core Ultra 5 235. The 14700HX is competitive with server-class parts in average score, while the 221E is competitive with mainstream desktop and mobile chips.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has an average benchmark score of 45953, compared to 40144 for the Intel Core 5 221E.
Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 3661 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 74.1% higher than the 2103 scored by the Intel Core i7-14700HX.
Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221E win any multi-core tests?
A: Yes, the 221E wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 25933, which is 5.4% higher than the 24595 scored by the 14700HX.
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.
Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?
A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.
Q: Are both processors built on the same process node?
A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i7-14700HX are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel, and both have a die size of 257 mm².
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core i7-14700HX wins in data-heavy and multi-threaded tasks. Its 26.1% lead in data compression and 26.4% lead in data encryption make it the stronger option for archiving, database work, and any workload that moves large amounts of data. The 29.2% advantage in extended instructions points to a clear edge in SIMD-heavy code. Floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting all favor the 14700HX by margins ranging from 10.3% to 22.4%. The PassMark multi-thread score of 36566 versus 30510 confirms that the 14700HX is the better choice for rendering, compilation, and other parallel tasks. It also wins Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, with leads of 31.5% and 16.6% respectively.
The Intel Core 5 221E wins in single-thread and latency-sensitive tasks. The 74.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the standout result, and the 24.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core reinforces it. The PassMark single-thread score of 4147 versus 3947 gives the 221E a 5.1% edge, and the find prime numbers test adds a 4.8% win. The 221E also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is the only multi-core test where it beats the 14700HX. The 221E has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, which likely contributes to its single-thread strength. It is also a desktop part with an LGA 1700 socket, so it fits into standard desktop builds rather than mobile platforms.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in core count, with the 14700HX offering 20 cores and 28 threads against 14 cores and 20 threads for the 221E. Base clocks differ: the 221E runs at 2.70 GHz, while the 14700HX runs at 2.10 GHz. Boost clocks also differ: the 221E reaches 5.20 GHz, while the 14700HX reaches 5.50 GHz. The TDP is 65 W for the 221E and 55 W for the 14700HX. The socket is Intel Socket 1700 for the 221E and Intel BGA 1964 for the 14700HX.
The 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, while the 14700HX uses Raptor Lake-HX. The 14700HX belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, while the 221E has no series listing. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared on the 221E and 33 MB shared on the 14700HX. The 221E has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the 14700HX has no recorded bandwidth. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 on the 221E and UHD Graphics 770 on the 14700HX. The market segment is Desktop for the 221E and Mobile for the 14700HX. The 221E has a launch MSRP of $232, while the 14700HX has no launch MSRP recorded. The multiplier is unlocked on the 14700HX but not on the 221E. The release dates differ, with the 221E released in 2025 and the 14700HX released in 2024.