Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 228V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40144, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V posts 21440. The 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, compared to the 75th percentile for the 228V.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Core 5 221E leads decisively in multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 25933 versus 9932 for the Core Ultra 5 228V, a 161.1% advantage. PassMark multithread shows a 67.4% lead for the 221E (30510 versus 18227).

Q: Is the single-thread performance gap as large as the multi-thread gap?

A: No, the single-thread gap is smaller but still favors the Core 5 221E. In PassMark singlethread, the 221E scores 4147 versus 3836 for the 228V, a modest 8.1% lead. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows a larger 108.2% delta, with the 221E at 3661 and the 228V at 1758.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning it does not support simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor targets the desktop market?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1700, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V is a mobile processor using Intel BGA 2833.

Q: What is the power envelope difference between the two?

A: The Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65, while the Core Ultra 5 228V has a TDP of 17. The mobile chip draws substantially less power.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 221E uses Bartlett Lake silicon built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V uses Lunar Lake architecture fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. These process differences are stark: the 221E is a larger, more power-hungry desktop chip, while the 228V is a compact mobile part.

Core configurations diverge sharply. The 221E provides 14 cores and 20 threads, while the 228V provides 8 cores and 8 threads. The 228V lacks hyperthreading entirely. Cache hierarchies also differ. The 221E uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The 228V uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3. The 221E has three times the L3 capacity, which benefits large working sets.

Memory support distinguishes the two. The 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel operation and a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The 228V's memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard, with no bandwidth figure recorded and no ECC support. The 228V does maintain dual-channel memory bus operation.

PCIe connectivity differs. The 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 228V provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). That is a substantial reduction in available expansion bandwidth for the mobile part.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The 221E ships with UHD Graphics 730, while the 228V ships with Arc 130V. The mobile processor's integrated GPU is the more capable part for graphics work, though the benchmark data in this comparison focuses on CPU workloads.

Clock speeds favor the desktop chip. The 221E has a base clock of 2.70 and a boost clock of 5.20. The 228V has a base clock of 2.10 and a boost clock of 4.50. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The 221E was released on 2025-01-12, while the 228V was released on 2024-09-23, making the mobile part earlier to market.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows a one-sided matchup. The Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. There are no wins for the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V.

The Core 5 221E dominates in heavily threaded workloads. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the largest percentage advantage at 161.1%, and PassMark integer math shows a 196.9% lead. These results reflect the core and thread advantage: 14 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 8 threads. For rendering, video encoding, compilation, and other parallel tasks, the 221E delivers roughly two to three times the throughput.

The Core 5 221E also wins in single-thread performance, though by a smaller margin. PassMark singlethread shows only an 8.1% lead, while Cinebench R23 singlecore shows a 108.2% lead. The discrepancy between PassMark and Cinebench single-core results suggests the 221E's higher boost clock of 5.20 versus 4.50 helps in boost-sensitive workloads, while the 228V's newer architecture narrows the gap in others.

The Core Ultra 5 228V does not win any benchmark category, but its profile suits a different use case. Its TDP of 17 makes it appropriate for thin-and-light mobile systems where power draw matters more than peak performance. The 228V's Arc 130V integrated graphics and smaller physical footprint position it for portable devices, even though the CPU benchmark data does not favor it.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221E | Intel Core Ultra 5 228V |

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

| Cores | 14 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 | 17 |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Bartlett Lake | Lunar Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 257 mm² | not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 24 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | depends on motherboard |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | not recorded |

| ECC memory | true | false |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc 130V |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | not recorded |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core 5 221E comes in PassMark integer math. The 221E scores 117813 against 39679 for the Core Ultra 5 228V, a 196.9% advantage. Integer math exercises the ALUs heavily, and the 221E's extra cores and threads translate directly into a near-tripling of throughput.

Cinebench R23 multicore shows the second-largest gap. The 221E posts 25933 versus 9932, a 161.1% lead. This benchmark scales well with core count, so the 14-core, 20-thread configuration outperforms the 8-core, 8-thread part by a wide margin.

PassMark data compression favors the 221E by 86.5%, with scores of 324285 versus 173924. PassMark random string sorting shows a 77.3% lead for the 221E (37686 versus 21254). Both tests reward parallel execution and memory bandwidth, where the 221E's larger L3 and higher TDP help.

Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 73.9% advantage for the 221E (2613 versus 1502.5). Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 67.8% advantage (10891 versus 6491), and PassMark multithread shows a 67.4% advantage (30510 versus 18227). These consistent multi-threaded results confirm the 221E's dominance in parallel workloads.

PassMark floating point math favors the 221E by 48.2% (79028 versus 53310). PassMark data encryption favors the 221E by 47.4% (19205 versus 13032). PassMark physics shows a 45% lead (2230 versus 1538). PassMark extended instructions shows a 23.1% lead (18216 versus 14801).

Cinebench R15 singlecore favors the 221E by 37.8% (368 versus 267). Cinebench R20 singlecore shows a 67.8% lead (1537 versus 916). Cinebench R23 singlecore shows a 108.2% lead (3661 versus 1758). The R23 single-core result is notable because it exceeds the multi-core deltas seen in some other tests, indicating a substantial per-thread performance advantage in that specific workload.

The narrowest win for the 221E is PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 173 versus 168, a 3% lead. PassMark singlethread shows an 8.1% lead (4147 versus 3836). These close results show that in certain latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks, the newer Lunar Lake architecture on the 228V nearly closes the gap with the higher-clocked desktop chip.

The overall pattern is unambiguous. The Core 5 221E wins every benchmark, with advantages ranging from 3% to 196.9%. The Core Ultra 5 228V's only counterargument is its 17 TDP, which allows it to fit into mobile chassis where the 65 TDP desktop chip cannot operate. Within the benchmark suite, the 221E is the faster processor in every measured category.