Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235A Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a dominant performance profile for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A, which wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The single victory for the Intel Core 5 221E comes in the PassMark integer math test, where it scores 117813 against 88626 for the Core Ultra 5 235A, a 32.9% advantage. This is the only instance where the Core 5 221E leads, and it indicates a specific strength in integer-heavy workloads that the Core Ultra 5 235A does not match.

Across the Cinebench suite, the Core Ultra 5 235A maintains a consistent margin of roughly 20.5% over the Core 5 221E in both single-core and multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23, the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 32633 multi-core and 4607 single-core, while the Core 5 221E records 25933 and 3661 respectively. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 and R20, with deltas of -20.6%, -20.7%, and -20.5% across those tests. This uniformity suggests a broad architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific edge.

The PassMark results amplify that advantage in several areas. The largest gap appears in the find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 392 against 173 for the Core 5 221E, a 55.9% difference. Extended instructions also show a wide spread: 31625 versus 18216, a 42.4% delta. Data encryption follows with 30136 versus 19205, a 36.3% gap. Floating point math shows a 33.5% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235A, with scores of 118778 and 79028.

Other PassMark tests show more moderate but still decisive leads. Random string sorting favors the Core Ultra 5 235A by 23.8%, with 49489 against 37686. The multithread score is 38392 versus 30510, a 20.5% delta. Data compression shows a 17.7% advantage, and physics tests show a smaller 8.5% lead. Single-thread performance in PassMark gives the Core Ultra 5 235A a 9% edge, with 4557 against 4147.

The aggregate picture is clear: the Core Ultra 5 235A delivers higher scores in nearly every measured category, with particularly strong gains in encryption, extended instructions, and prime number calculations. The Core 5 221E only counters in integer math, which is a narrow but notable exception.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their underlying designs. The Intel Core 5 221E is built on the Bartlett Lake codename and uses a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. Its die size is 257 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, with the Arrow Lake-S codename and an Arrow Lake architecture. It uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. The smaller node and die size indicate a denser, more modern manufacturing approach for the Core Ultra 5 235A.

Core counts are identical at 14 cores for both parts, but threading differs. The Core 5 221E supports 20 threads, implying hyper-threading or similar technology. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 threads, matching its core count exactly, which suggests no simultaneous multithreading. This difference is reflected in the benchmark scores, where the Core 5 221E does not gain an advantage in multi-threaded tests despite having 6 more threads.

Cache layouts also differ. The Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core caches in the Core Ultra 5 235A contribute to its superior single-thread performance, as shown by the 20.5% to 20.7% deltas in Cinebench single-core tests.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 235A uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The latter is a newer GPU architecture and aligns with the Arrow Lake platform. Memory support also diverges: the Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 235A supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Core Ultra 5 235A at 102.4 GB/s, compared to 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 221E but not on the Core Ultra 5 235A.

PCIe lane counts differ, with the Core 5 221E offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and the Core Ultra 5 235A offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Sockets are incompatible: the Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 235A uses Intel Socket 1851.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins decisively across rendering, encryption, compression, and general compute workloads. Its Cinebench scores, which are consistently about 20.5% higher in both multi-core and single-core tests, indicate strong performance in 3D rendering and CPU-bound creative applications. The PassMark multithread score of 38392 versus 30510 reinforces this, showing a 20.5% lead in parallel workloads.

For data-heavy tasks, the Core Ultra 5 235A is clearly superior. Data compression scores 393800 versus 324285, a 17.7% advantage. Data encryption shows a larger gap at 36.3%, with 30136 against 19205. Extended instructions, which often matter for cryptography and scientific computing, show a 42.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 235A. The find prime numbers test, a measure of integer and algorithmic efficiency, shows the biggest delta at 55.9%.

The Core 5 221E has a single clear win: PassMark integer math. Its score of 117813 exceeds the Core Ultra 5 235A's 88626 by 32.9%. This suggests that for certain integer-heavy calculations, such as some database operations or financial simulations, the Core 5 221E may hold an advantage. However, this is an isolated result, and the Core Ultra 5 235A wins the PassMark multithread test by 20.5%, indicating better overall throughput.

The physics test shows a narrower margin, with the Core Ultra 5 235A leading by 8.5% (2437 versus 2230). This suggests that in physics simulation workloads, the gap is smaller than in other areas. The single-thread PassMark scores are closer as well, with a 9% delta (4557 versus 4147), compared to the larger Cinebench single-core gaps.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E. The boost clock is higher on the Core 5 221E at 5.20 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235A. Despite the higher boost on the Core 5 221E, the Core Ultra 5 235A still wins all single-thread benchmarks, indicating the architectural efficiency of Arrow Lake outweighs the raw clock advantage.

Thread counts differ: 20 threads for the Core 5 221E versus 14 threads for the Core Ultra 5 235A. The process node is 10 nm for the Core 5 221E and 3 nm for the Core Ultra 5 235A. The foundry is Intel for the former and TSMC for the latter. Transistor count is only listed for the Core Ultra 5 235A at 17,800 million. Die sizes are 257 mm² for the Core 5 221E and 243 mm² for the Core Ultra 5 235A.

L1 cache per core is 80 KB for the Core 5 221E and 192 KB for the Core Ultra 5 235A. L2 cache per core is 2 MB versus 3 MB. L3 cache is identical at 24 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for the Core 5 221E, and only DDR5 for the Core Ultra 5 235A. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E and 102.4 GB/s for the Core Ultra 5 235A. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 221E but not on the Core Ultra 5 235A. PCIe lanes are 16 for the Core 5 221E and 20 for the Core Ultra 5 235A, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ, with UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 221E and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU on the Core Ultra 5 235A. Sockets are Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851. The release dates are 2025-01-12 for the Core 5 221E and 2025-07-28 for the Core Ultra 5 235A. The launch MSRP is $232 for the Core 5 221E and $269 for the Core Ultra 5 235A. Both processors have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has an average benchmark score of 48201, while the Intel Core 5 221E has an average of 40144. The Core Ultra 5 235A also sits at the 90th percentile versus the 87th percentile for the Core 5 221E.

Q: How does the thread count affect multi-threaded performance?

A: The Core 5 221E has 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 threads. Despite having 6 more threads, the Core 5 221E scores lower in the PassMark multithread test, 30510 versus 38392, a 20.5% deficit. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score also favors the Core Ultra 5 235A, 32633 versus 25933.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 392 against 173 for the Core 5 221E, a 55.9% difference. The second largest gap is in extended instructions, with a 42.4% delta.

Q: Does the Core 5 221E win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark integer math test with a score of 117813, which is 32.9% higher than the Core Ultra 5 235A's 88626. This is the only benchmark win for the Core 5 221E out of 17 recorded comparisons.

Q: What are the socket and memory compatibility differences?

A: The Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700 and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Core Ultra 5 235A uses Intel Socket 1851 and supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Core Ultra 5 235A at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the 5.00 GHz boost clock on the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A. However, the Core Ultra 5 235A still achieves higher single-thread scores in both Cinebench and PassMark tests.