Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Core Ultra 5 235
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235
The Verdict
The benchmark data splits these two desktop processors into clearly different roles. The Intel Core 5 221E dominates legacy rendering workloads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 leads in modern compute and data-centric tasks. The Core 5 221E wins 7 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, and the Core Ultra 5 235 wins 10. The decisive factor is workload type: the Core 5 221E uses its 20 threads to sweep Cinebench tests, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses its newer architecture to win PassMark's broader suite.
The average benchmark score confirms the split. The Core Ultra 5 235 records an average score of 46062 across all tests, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 221E averages 40144, sitting in the 87th percentile. The Core Ultra 5 235 sits near the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, 0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, 0.1% behind). The Core 5 221E trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40081, 0.2% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048, 0.2% ahead), while trailing the AMD Ryzen 9 270 by 0.3% and the Intel Core i9-13905H by 0.4%.
For rendering and single-threaded legacy tests, the Core 5 221E is the clear choice. For encryption, compression, extended instructions, physics calculations, and general multithreaded PassMark performance, the Core Ultra 5 235 delivers higher scores. The data does not support a single overall winner; it supports two distinct usage profiles.
Where Each One Wins
The Core 5 221E wins every Cinebench test in the comparison. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 25933 against 14769 for the Core Ultra 5 235, a 75.6% advantage. The same margin repeats across R15, R20, and single-core variants, with the Core 5 221E leading by 75.2% to 75.7% in every case. This consistency suggests the Core 5 221E's 20 threads provide a structural advantage in Cinebench's rendering workload. The Core 5 221E also wins PassMark integer math with 117813 against 87948, a 34% lead.
The Core Ultra 5 235 wins the remaining PassMark tests by substantial margins. Its largest win is in extended instructions, where it scores 32752 against 18216, a 44.4% lead. Data encryption shows a 34.4% advantage (29293 vs 19205), and floating-point math shows a 33% lead (117951 vs 79028). Prime number finding favors the Core Ultra 5 235 by 53.4% (371 vs 173). Data compression, multithread, physics, and random string sorting all go to the Core Ultra 5 235 with leads between 13.2% and 23.1%. Single-thread PassMark shows a narrower 8.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 235 (4516 vs 4147).
The pattern is clear. The Core 5 221E dominates in Cinebench and integer math. The Core Ultra 5 235 dominates in instruction-heavy, encryption, floating-point, and sorting workloads. The Core Ultra 5 235's average score is 14.7% higher overall, driven by its wins across the wider PassMark suite.
Architecture Differences
The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The Core 5 221E is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 257 mm² die, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses TSMC's 3 nm process with a 243 mm² die and 17,800 million transistors. The Core 5 221E belongs to the Bartlett Lake family, while the Core Ultra 5 235 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 with Arrow Lake architecture and the Arrow Lake-S codename.
Both CPUs have 14 cores, but thread counts differ. The Core 5 221E supports 20 threads, indicating hyper-threading on some cores. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports 14 threads, matching its core count with no hyper-threading. The Core 5 221E boosts higher at 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235, but the Core Ultra 5 235 has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 2.70 GHz. Both run at 65 W TDP.
Cache layouts differ significantly. The Core 5 221E has 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB L1 per core and 3 MB L2 per core. Both share 24 MB L3. The Core Ultra 5 235's larger per-core caches likely contribute to its PassMark wins in data-heavy workloads.
The Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700, supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and delivers 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851, supports only DDR5, and delivers 102.4 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 235 also offers more PCIe lanes: Gen 5 with 20 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Core 5 221E. ECC memory support is present on the Core 5 221E but absent on the Core Ultra 5 235. Integrated graphics differ as well: UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 221E versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU on the Core Ultra 5 235.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has better multi-core rendering performance?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins all Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 25933 versus 14769 for the Core Ultra 5 235, a 75.6% lead. The same margin appears in R15 (2613 vs 1488) and R20 (10891 vs 6202).
Q: Which processor is faster in encryption and compression?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 leads in both. Data encryption scores 29293 versus 19205, a 34.4% advantage. Data compression scores 390711 versus 324285, a 17% advantage.
Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?
A: Yes, both have 14 cores. The Core 5 221E supports 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235 supports 14 threads. The Core 5 221E's extra threads come from hyper-threading on some cores.
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?
A: The Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 235 boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 2.70 GHz.
Q: What memory types does each processor support?
A: The Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235 also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 221E does not.
Q: How do the two compare in overall average benchmark score?
A: The Core Ultra 5 235 averages 46062 and sits in the 89th percentile. The Core 5 221E averages 40144 and sits in the 87th percentile. The Core Ultra 5 235's average is 14.7% higher.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The single largest margin in the comparison belongs to the Core 5 221E in Cinebench R23 multicore. It scores 25933 against 14769, a 75.6% lead. Every Cinebench test shows the same pattern. R15 multicore gives 2613 versus 1488, R15 single-core gives 368 versus 210, R20 multicore gives 10891 versus 6202, R20 single-core gives 1537 versus 875, and R23 single-core gives 3661 versus 2085. The margins are nearly identical across all six tests, ranging from 75.2% to 75.7%. This uniformity indicates a workload-specific advantage rather than a general performance edge.
The Core 5 221E also wins PassMark integer math with 117813 versus 87948, a 34% lead. This is its only PassMark win. It loses the other eight PassMark comparisons.
The Core Ultra 5 235's largest win is in prime number finding, where it scores 371 versus 173, a 53.4% lead. Extended instructions follow with 32752 versus 18216, a 44.4% lead. Data encryption shows 29293 versus 19205, a 34.4% lead. Floating-point math delivers 117951 versus 79028, a 33% lead. Random string sorting favors the Core Ultra 5 235 by 23.1% (48980 vs 37686). Multithread PassMark shows 37816 versus 30510, a 19.3% lead. Data compression gives 390711 versus 324285, a 17% lead. Physics shows 2570 versus 2230, a 13.2% lead. Single-thread PassMark is the narrowest Core Ultra 5 235 win at 8.2% (4516 vs 4147).
The wins break down as 7 for the Core 5 221E and 10 for the Core Ultra 5 235. The Core 5 221E's wins are concentrated in Cinebench and one PassMark test. The Core Ultra 5 235's wins span the rest of the PassMark suite. The Core Ultra 5 235's average score advantage of 14.7% reflects its broader dominance across more test categories.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ at 2.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, and boost clocks differ at 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. Both have a 65 W TDP.
The socket changes from Intel Socket 1700 on the Core 5 221E to Intel Socket 1851 on the Core Ultra 5 235. The process node moves from Intel's 10 nm to TSMC's 3 nm. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 5 221E uses a 257 mm² die with no transistor count listed.
Cache differs per core. The Core 5 221E has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core. Shared L3 is identical at 24 MB.
Memory support differs. The Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is available on the Core 5 221E but not on the Core Ultra 5 235.
PCIe lanes increase from 16 on the Core 5 221E to 20 on the Core Ultra 5 235, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics change from UHD Graphics 730 to Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The Core 5 221E was released on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $232. The Core Ultra 5 235 was released on 2025-01-06 with a launch MSRP of $257. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.