Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core i9-14901TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 221E holds a decisive performance advantage across the recorded benchmark suite, despite the Intel Core i9-14901TE lacking any benchmark entries in the database. The Core 5 221E posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25933 and a single-core score of 3661, while the i9-14901TE has no recorded scores for comparison. This absence of data for the i9-14901TE means the Core 5 221E wins every measurable category by default, but its absolute scores still place it competitively against other processors in the database.

The Core 5 221E achieves an average benchmark score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, scores 40081, a delta of only 0.2% in favor of the Core 5 221E. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 trails by the same margin at 40048, while the AMD Ryzen 9 270 leads the Core 5 221E by 0.3% with a score of 40246. The Intel Core i9-13905H sits 0.4% ahead at 40313. These narrow margins indicate the Core 5 221E is positioned directly in a cluster of high-performing desktop and mobile chips.

PassMark results for the Core 5 221E show a multi-thread score of 30510 and a single-thread score of 4147. Data compression reaches 324285, while data encryption scores 19205. Extended instructions produce 18216, floating point math yields 79028, and integer math hits 117813. The processor finds 173 prime numbers, sorts 37686 random strings, and delivers 2230 in physics tests. These figures collectively drive the 40144 average benchmark score, confirming consistent throughput across mixed workloads rather than specialization in a single area.

The i9-14901TE, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile ranking of 50, which reflects its absence of recorded measurements rather than actual performance. No head-to-head benchmark comparisons exist between the two processors, and neither processor has a recorded win count. The Core 5 221E's 14 cores and 20 threads give it a structural advantage in parallel workloads, while the i9-14901TE's 8 cores and 16 threads suggest a different design priority, but the database contains no direct test results to quantify the difference.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share several fundamental architectural traits but diverge in core configuration and cache allocation. Both are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, and both use the Intel Socket 1700. The Core 5 221E is based on the Bartlett Lake codename, while the i9-14901TE uses the Raptor Lake-R codename under the Raptor Lake architecture. The Core 5 221E belongs to the Core 5 generation, whereas the i9-14901TE is part of the Core 14th Gen series under the Raptor Lake Refresh generation.

Die size is identical at 257 mm² for both processors, and both allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs substantially: the Core 5 221E provides 24 MB shared, while the i9-14901TE offers 36 MB shared. This 12 MB difference gives the i9-14901TE a larger last-level cache, which can benefit workloads with high cache reuse, though the Core 5 221E compensates with more physical cores.

Core counts separate the two clearly. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that supports substantial parallel execution. The i9-14901TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, a lower core count but a higher thread-per-core ratio. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E and 2.30 GHz for the i9-14901TE, while boost clocks are 5.20 GHz and 5.50 GHz respectively. The i9-14901TE reaches a higher peak frequency, but the Core 5 221E starts from a higher base.

Thermal design power differs as well: the Core 5 221E is rated at 65 W TDP, while the i9-14901TE is rated at 45 W TDP. Both processors support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus, and both support ECC memory. The memory bandwidth for the Core 5 221E is recorded as 89.6 GB/s, while the i9-14901TE has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes.

Integrated graphics differ between the two. The Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i9-14901TE includes UHD Graphics 770. Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning they are not unlocked for overclocking. The release dates place the Core 5 221E at January 12, 2025, and the i9-14901TE at June 30, 2024, making the Core 5 221E the newer product by roughly half a year.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins in every benchmark category where data exists, because the i9-14901TE has no recorded benchmarks in the database. The Core 5 221E's multi-core performance, as measured by Cinebench R23 at 25933 and PassMark multi-thread at 30510, indicates strong suitability for heavily threaded workloads such as rendering, encoding, and scientific computation. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide the parallel headroom necessary for these tasks, and its 87th percentile ranking places it above the majority of all CPUs.

The i9-14901TE's potential strengths lie in its specifications rather than measured results. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock exceeds the Core 5 221E's 5.20 GHz, suggesting higher peak single-thread capability, though no single-thread benchmark confirms this. Its 36 MB L3 cache is 50% larger than the Core 5 221E's 24 MB, which could improve performance in cache-sensitive applications. The 45 W TDP is lower than the Core 5 221E's 65 W, indicating lower power draw under sustained load, though the database does not record power consumption figures.

For workloads that rely on integrated graphics, the i9-14901TE's UHD Graphics 770 is a higher-tier iGPU than the Core 5 221E's UHD Graphics 730. This could matter for systems without discrete GPUs, though no graphics benchmarks exist in the database. The i9-14901TE also supports ECC memory, as does the Core 5 221E, making both viable for reliability-focused builds.

The Core 5 221E wins decisively in multi-threaded throughput based on its core count and benchmark scores. The i9-14901TE wins on paper in clock speed, cache size, and iGPU tier, but without recorded benchmarks, these advantages remain unverified. The database's percentile rankings reflect this: the Core 5 221E sits at 87, while the i9-14901TE sits at 50, a direct consequence of the latter's missing data.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core i9-14901TE:

• Cores: 14 (Core 5 221E) vs 8 (i9-14901TE)
• Threads: 20 (Core 5 221E) vs 16 (i9-14901TE)
• Base clock: 2.70 GHz (Core 5 221E) vs 2.30 GHz (i9-14901TE)
• Boost clock: 5.20 GHz (Core 5 221E) vs 5.50 GHz (i9-14901TE)
• TDP: 65 W (Core 5 221E) vs 45 W (i9-14901TE)
• Codename: Bartlett Lake (Core 5 221E) vs Raptor Lake-R (i9-14901TE)
• Architecture: null (Core 5 221E) vs Raptor Lake (i9-14901TE)
• Generation: Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) vs Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh)
• Series: null (Core 5 221E) vs Core 14th Gen (i9-14901TE)
• L3 cache: 24 MB shared (Core 5 221E) vs 36 MB shared (i9-14901TE)
• Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s (Core 5 221E) vs null (i9-14901TE)
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 (Core 5 221E) vs UHD Graphics 770 (i9-14901TE)
• Release date: January 12, 2025 (Core 5 221E) vs June 30, 2024 (i9-14901TE)
• Launch MSRP: $232 (Core 5 221E) vs null (i9-14901TE)
• Part number: SRQDVQ659 (Core 5 221E) vs Q49CSRNJJ (i9-14901TE)
• Average benchmark score: 40144 (Core 5 221E) vs 0 (i9-14901TE)
• Percentile vs all CPUs: 87 (Core 5 221E) vs 50 (i9-14901TE)

Identical specifications include the 10 nm process node, Intel foundry, 257 mm² die size, 80 KB L1 cache per core, 2 MB L2 cache per core, Intel Socket 1700, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes, locked multiplier, and active production status. The i9-14901TE has no recorded benchmark scores, no nearest rivals, and no launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14901TE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each processor?

A: The Core 5 221E has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, and the i9-14901TE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: How does the L3 cache compare between the two?

A: The Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-14901TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Core 5 221E is rated at 65 W TDP, and the i9-14901TE is rated at 45 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher benchmark percentile?

A: The Core 5 221E ranks in the 87th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 40144, while the i9-14901TE ranks in the 50th percentile with an average benchmark score of 0.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory and the same socket?

A: Yes, both support ECC memory and use the Intel Socket 1700. Both also support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 221E for anyone prioritizing measured performance. Its average benchmark score of 40144 versus the i9-14901TE's 0, its 87th percentile ranking versus 50, and its complete benchmark suite all indicate a processor that has been validated across multiple workloads. The Core 5 221E delivers strong multi-core results with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25933 and a PassMark multi-thread score of 30510, making it suitable for threaded applications. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide the parallelism needed for rendering, encoding, and computational tasks.

The i9-14901TE, however, should not be dismissed solely on missing benchmarks. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock is 0.30 GHz higher than the Core 5 221E's 5.20 GHz, potentially offering better peak single-thread performance. Its 36 MB L3 cache is 12 MB larger, which can reduce memory latency in cache-sensitive workloads. Its 45 W TDP is lower than 65 W, suggesting greater power efficiency. The UHD Graphics 770 is a higher-tier integrated GPU than the UHD Graphics 730. These specifications point to a processor designed for efficiency and single-thread responsiveness, though the database provides no numerical confirmation.

The choice depends on the workload profile. For multi-threaded throughput and validated performance, the Core 5 221E is the clear pick based on recorded data. For scenarios where clock speed, cache capacity, and lower TDP matter more than core count, the i9-14901TE offers a compelling specification sheet, but its lack of benchmark data means any performance claims remain speculative. The Core 5 221E's release date of January 2025 also makes it the newer product, while the i9-14901TE dates to June 2024. Users requiring ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5, and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 will find both processors equally capable, as these features are shared. The verdict from the database is straightforward: the Core 5 221E is the only one of the two with measured results, and those results place it in the upper tier of all CPUs.