Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i7-14701TE Comparison

Both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i7-14701TE share the same LGA 1700 socket and a 5.20 GHz boost clock, yet they deliver distinctly different performance profiles. The recorded data shows the Core 5 221E is the outright winner in every single benchmark comparison, with a sweep of 17 wins against zero for the i7-14701TE. This complete dominance is reflected in their placement among all CPUs: the Core 5 221E sits in the 87th percentile, while the i7-14701TE sits in the 78th. The average benchmark score for the Core 5 221E is 40144, compared to 26013 for the i7-14701TE, a gap that translates into a massive advantage across both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in every measurable category, but the scale of its victory varies significantly by workload type. In heavily parallel tasks, the Core 5 221E’s advantage is substantial. For example, in PassMark’s integer math test, it scores 117813 against 65792 for the i7-14701TE, a delta of 79.1%. Similarly, in floating point math, the Core 5 221E scores 79028 versus 50219, a 57.4% lead. These results indicate that the Core 5 221E is the superior choice for compute-intensive, multi-threaded applications such as video rendering, scientific simulations, and complex data processing.

The Core 5 221E also wins in memory and data-heavy workloads. Its PassMark data encryption score of 19205 is 64.2% higher than the i7-14701TE’s 11699. In data compression, the Core 5 221E scores 324285 compared to 220520, a 47.1% advantage. Random string sorting shows a 65.6% difference in favor of the Core 5 221E, with scores of 37686 and 22760. These results suggest the Core 5 221E handles database operations, file archiving, and encryption tasks with considerably more headroom.

Even in single-threaded performance, where the i7-14701TE might be expected to compete given its identical boost clock, the Core 5 221E dominates. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 5 221E scores 3661 against 2405, a 52.2% delta. PassMark single-thread scores show the same pattern: 4147 for the Core 5 221E versus 2637 for the i7-14701TE, a 57.3% advantage. The i7-14701TE’s only relative strength is in the PassMark physics test, where its score of 1860 trails the Core 5 221E’s 2230 by just 19.9%, the smallest margin across all tests. Even here, the Core 5 221E still wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, though both are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node and share a 257 mm² die size. The Intel Core 5 221E is based on the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename. The Core 5 221E is listed under the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation, whereas the i7-14701TE is part of the Core 7th Gen series under the Raptor Lake Refresh generation.

The core configurations differ substantially. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads. This six-core difference is the primary driver of the Core 5 221E’s multi-threaded dominance. Both processors share the same per-core L1 cache at 80 KB and L2 cache at 2 MB, but the L3 cache size favors the i7-14701TE, which has 33 MB shared L3 versus 24 MB shared on the Core 5 221E. Despite this larger L3 cache, the i7-14701TE cannot overcome the core count deficit.

The base clocks also differ, with the Core 5 221E running at 2.70 GHz and the i7-14701TE at 2.10 GHz. Both reach the same 5.20 GHz boost clock, but the higher base frequency gives the Core 5 221E an additional advantage in sustained workloads. The Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-14701TE is rated at 45 watts, which explains some of the performance gap but also indicates the i7-14701TE is designed for lower power consumption.

Integrated graphics differ as well, with the Core 5 221E using UHD Graphics 730 and the i7-14701TE using UHD Graphics 770. Memory support is identical for both: DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC support enabled. The Core 5 221E lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i7-14701TE does not have a recorded memory bandwidth number. Both processors support PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU only. The release dates show the i7-14701TE launched earlier on 2024-06-30, while the Core 5 221E followed on 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the Core 5 221E leading by a consistent margin across all versions. In Cinebench R15, the multi-core score is 2613 for the Core 5 221E against 1716 for the i7-14701TE, a 52.3% difference. The single-core score is 368 versus 242, a 52.1% gap. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 10891 versus 7154, and the single-core score is 1537 versus 1010, both showing a 52.2% delta. Cinebench R23 continues the pattern: multi-core scores of 25933 and 17035, single-core scores of 3661 and 2405, again with a 52.2% difference. The consistency of this 52% delta across every Cinebench test indicates a fixed performance ratio driven by the core and thread differences.

PassMark results show even larger deltas, particularly in integer and encryption workloads. The integer math test shows the widest margin of any benchmark, with the Core 5 221E scoring 117813 and the i7-14701TE scoring 65792, a 79.1% difference. Floating point math follows with 79028 versus 50219, a 57.4% delta. Data encryption shows a 64.2% gap, with scores of 19205 and 11699. Random string sorting delivers a 65.6% difference, with 37686 versus 22760. Data compression shows a 47.1% delta, with 324285 versus 220520. Extended instructions score 18216 for the Core 5 221E against 14354, a 26.9% gap, and prime number finding shows 173 versus 143, a 21% difference. The PassMark multi-thread score is 30510 versus 20042, a 52.2% delta, and the single-thread score is 4147 versus 2637, a 57.3% gap. The physics test shows the narrowest margin, with the Core 5 221E scoring 2230 against 1860, a 19.9% difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do the two processors share the same boost clock?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i7-14701TE have a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE scores 17035, a 52.2% difference in favor of the Core 5 221E.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts, and the Intel Core i7-14701TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, compared to 26013 for the Intel Core i7-14701TE.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221E | Intel Core i7-14701TE |

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

| Cores | 14 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Architecture | Not listed | Raptor Lake |

| Generation | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) | Core i7 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| Release Date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRQDVQ659 | Q49GSRNJL |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 87 | 78 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 40144 | 26013 |