Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL occupy different positions in the performance spectrum, and the recorded data shows a clear separation between them. The Core 5 221E is a desktop processor built around the Bartlett Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL belongs to the Meteor Lake-PS family. The former has a full suite of benchmark results in the database; the latter currently has no recorded benchmark scores, which limits direct comparisons to architectural and specification-level analysis.

Looking strictly at the available data, the Core 5 221E wins in every measurable category because it is the only one with benchmark scores recorded. Its average benchmark score stands at 40,144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs tracked by the database. The Core Ultra 5 135HL, by contrast, has a percentile ranking of 50 and an average benchmark score of zero, indicating that no performance data has been captured for it yet.

The Core 5 221E demonstrates particular strength in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 25,933, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, it reaches 10,891. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 30,510, and its PassMark integer math score is 117,813. These figures suggest a processor that can handle heavily parallelized tasks such as video rendering, scientific computation, and data processing with substantial headroom.

Single-thread performance is also notable. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3,661, the Cinebench R20 single-core score is 1,537, and the PassMark single-thread score is 4,147. These results place the Core 5 221E among the faster desktop parts for lightly threaded applications, including legacy software and certain productivity tools.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL cannot be evaluated on the same basis because the database contains no benchmark entries for it. What can be analyzed is its specification sheet, which shows a lower base clock of 1.70 GHz compared to 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E, and a lower boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 135HL also has fewer threads, 18 versus 20, despite both parts featuring 14 cores. These factors, combined with a TDP of 45 watts versus 65 watts, suggest that the Core Ultra 5 135HL is tuned for efficiency rather than raw performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages within Intel's product stack. The Core 5 221E is based on the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It is fabricated on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, with a die size of 257 mm². The Core Ultra 5 135HL uses the Meteor Lake architecture with the Meteor Lake-PS codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 1 generation, and is built on a 7 nm process node, also at Intel. The die size for the Meteor Lake part is not recorded in the database.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. The Core 5 221E has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 2 MB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 24 MB. The Core Ultra 5 135HL has a larger L1 cache at 112 KB per core, the same 2 MB per core L2 cache, but a smaller shared L3 cache at 18 MB. For workloads that benefit from large last-level caches, the Core 5 221E has an advantage of 6 MB of L3.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL supports DDR5 only, with the exact configuration depending on the motherboard. Both parts use a dual-channel memory bus and offer the same memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Core Ultra 5 135HL, which may matter for error-sensitive computing environments.

PCI Express connectivity shows a generational difference. The Core 5 221E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes. This gives the Core 5 221E both a newer PCIe standard and double the lane count, which is relevant for high-bandwidth peripherals such as modern graphics cards and NVMe storage.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL features Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. The Arc graphics solution is a more recent architecture and likely offers superior graphical output, though no benchmark data is available to quantify the difference.

Socket compatibility is another distinguishing factor. The Core 5 221E fits Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL uses Intel Socket 1851. These are not interchangeable, meaning platform choice dictates which processor can be installed.

The release dates place the Core Ultra 5 135HL earlier, with an April 2024 launch, while the Core 5 221E arrived in January 2025. Both processors are listed as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data in the database supports a straightforward conclusion for the Core 5 221E: it is a fully benchmarked desktop processor with strong multi-threaded and single-threaded scores, a high percentile ranking, and a comprehensive feature set including ECC support, PCIe Gen 5, and a 24 MB L3 cache. Its nearest rivals in the database, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, both sit within 0.2 percent of its average score, confirming that the Core 5 221E lands in competitive territory among modern desktop CPUs.

For the Core Ultra 5 135HL, the absence of benchmark data means no performance verdict can be rendered from measurements. The specification sheet indicates a lower-power design with a 45 watt TDP, a lower base clock, and a lower boost clock. It also lacks ECC support, provides fewer PCIe lanes, and uses an older PCIe generation. These characteristics suggest a processor aimed at efficiency-constrained deployments rather than maximum throughput, but without benchmark scores, any quantitative assessment would be speculative.

Users who need a desktop processor with proven performance should look to the Core 5 221E based on the recorded data. Users evaluating the Core Ultra 5 135HL must rely on its specifications alone, as the database has no measurements to confirm its capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Both processors have 14 cores. The Core 5 221E has 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL has 18 threads.

Q: How does the cache compare between the two?

A: The Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 135HL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 2 MB of L2 cache per core.

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

A: Yes, the Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 135HL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: Both processors offer 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL supports DDR5 only.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Core 5 221E?

A: The launch MSRP of the Core 5 221E is $232. The Core Ultra 5 135HL has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Q: How does the Core 5 221E compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40,144. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 scores 40,081, which is 0.2 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 scores 40,048, also 0.2 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 270 scores 40,246, which is 0.3 percent higher, and the Intel Core i9-13905H scores 40,313, which is 0.4 percent higher.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table in the database is empty, meaning no direct comparative measurements exist between the Core 5 221E and the Core Ultra 5 135HL. The Core 5 221E, however, has a full set of scores that establish its performance baseline.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 5 221E scores 25,933, which is a strong result for a 14-core, 20-thread desktop part. Its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 10,891 and Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2,613 follow the same pattern. On the single-core side, Cinebench R23 yields 3,661, Cinebench R20 yields 1,537, and Cinebench R15 yields 368.

PassMark results for the Core 5 221E cover a range of workloads. The multithread score is 30,510, and the single-thread score is 4,147. Integer math reaches 117,813, floating point math reaches 79,028, and extended instructions score 18,216. Data compression scores 324,285, data encryption scores 19,205, and random string sorting scores 37,686. Find prime numbers scores 173, and physics scores 2,230.

These scores place the Core 5 221E in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 40,144 is within a fraction of a percent of its closest rivals, with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 both 0.2 percent behind, and the AMD Ryzen 9 270 and Intel Core i9-13905H both slightly ahead at 0.3 and 0.4 percent respectively.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL has no benchmark scores recorded, so there are no wins to attribute to it in the database. Its specifications indicate a lower-power design, but without measurements, no performance claims can be substantiated. The database records zero wins for both processors in the head-to-head section, reflecting the absence of comparative data.