Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Core Ultra 5 238V
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 5 221E and Intel Core Ultra 5 238V serve different market segments, and the recorded benchmark data reflects that split. The Core 5 221E, a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. Its advantages are largest in heavily multithreaded workloads, where its 14 cores and 20 threads provide substantial throughput. The Core Ultra 5 238V, a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833, wins only the prime number search test, and even that margin is minimal.
The Core 5 221E dominates in integer math, data compression, and multi-core rendering. In passmark integer math, it scores 117813 against 38889 for the Ultra 5, a delta of 202.9%. Data compression shows a similar story: 324285 versus 176532, a 83.7% advantage. These are workloads that scale with core count and thread count, and the Core 5 221E has a decisive structural edge.
The Core Ultra 5 238V is competitive only in single-threaded efficiency, where its 3 nm process from TSMC and Lunar Lake architecture narrow the gap. In passmark single thread, the Core 5 221E leads by just 6.6%, scoring 4147 against 3890. The Ultra 5 also wins the prime number test by a razor-thin 0.6%, scoring 174 versus 173. These are the only areas where the mobile chip approaches parity.
For use-case selection, the data points to the Core 5 221E for desktop workloads that demand sustained multi-core performance, including rendering, compression, and encryption. The Core Ultra 5 238V fits scenarios where low power draw (17 W TDP versus 65 W) and a compact mobile platform matter more than raw throughput, but the benchmark scores do not favor it in any meaningful computational category.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 5 221E is codenamed Bartlett Lake, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 238V is codenamed Lunar Lake, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. This process gap explains much of the efficiency difference: the Ultra 5 draws only 17 W TDP, while the Core 5 221E draws 65 W.
Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid layout with performance and efficiency cores. The Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading on any core. The Core 5 221E also boosts higher, to 5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, and has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.
Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Core 5 221E uses 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 238V has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and only 8 MB shared L3. The larger L3 on the desktop part helps in multi-core workloads, while the larger per-core L1 and L2 on the mobile part may assist single-thread latency, though the benchmark data does not show a single-thread win for the Ultra 5.
Memory support also differs. The Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory, delivering 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC capability. The Core Ultra 5 238V has dual-channel memory support that depends on the motherboard, with no ECC and no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe lanes also favor the desktop part: 16 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU versus 4 Gen 5 lanes.
Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Arc 130V. The market segments reinforce the split: Desktop for the 221E, Mobile for the 238V. The Core 5 221E launched on 2025-01-12, while the Ultra 5 launched earlier on 2024-09-23. The Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232; the Ultra 5 has no recorded launch MSRP.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest single win for the Core 5 221E comes in passmark integer math. Its score of 117813 is 202.9% ahead of the Ultra 5's 38889. This is not a close contest; the desktop part delivers more than three times the integer throughput. The reason is clear from the core and thread counts: 14 cores with hyper-threading versus 8 cores without.
Data compression follows with an 83.7% advantage. The Core 5 221E scores 324285, the Ultra 5 scores 176532. Compression algorithms often parallelize well, and the extra threads pay off. Random string sorting shows a 74.6% lead, with scores of 37686 and 21585 respectively. Both tests indicate that the Core 5 221E is the stronger choice for data-heavy desktop tasks.
The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 65.8% advantage for the Core 5 221E across all six tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the scores are 25933 versus 15645. In single-core, 3661 versus 2208. The same 65.8% delta appears in R15 and R20, both multi-core and single-core. This uniformity suggests a fixed performance ratio between the two chips across different rendering loads.
Passmark multi-thread also shows a 65.8% lead, with scores of 30510 and 18407. Floating point math favors the Core 5 221E by 48.7%, scoring 79028 versus 53160. Data encryption shows a 46.9% advantage, with 19205 versus 13072. Physics simulation, a Passmark subtest, gives the Core 5 221E a 44.2% lead, scoring 2230 versus 1546.
The closest wins for the Core 5 221E are in single-threaded tests. Passmark single thread shows only a 6.6% lead, 4147 versus 3890. Extended instructions, which test SIMD and vector workloads, show an 18.5% lead, 18216 versus 15377. These margins are modest compared to the multi-core results, but they still favor the desktop chip.
The only loss for the Core 5 221E is in passmark find prime numbers. The Ultra 5 scores 174, the Core 5 221E scores 173, a 0.6% difference. This test is a single-threaded integer workload that may be sensitive to per-core cache or branch prediction. The Ultra 5's larger per-core L1 cache, 192 KB versus 80 KB, could contribute to this narrow win. Still, a single test with a one-point score difference does not offset the overall pattern.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads.
Q: What is the process node difference between the two?
A: The Core 5 221E is built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 238V is built on TSMC's 3 nm process.
Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?
A: The Core 5 221E wins every multi-core benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 25933 versus 15645, a 65.8% advantage. In Passmark multi-thread, it scores 30510 versus 18407, also a 65.8% lead.
Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 238V win any benchmark?
A: Yes, it wins the passmark find prime numbers test with a score of 174 versus 173 for the Core 5 221E, a 0.6% margin.
Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?
A: The Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 W. The Core Ultra 5 238V has a TDP of 17 W.
Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?
A: The Core 5 221E leads in passmark single thread with 4147 versus 3890, a 6.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the lead is larger: 3661 versus 2208, a 65.8% difference.
The Verdict
The data supports a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger processor in nearly every computational category. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with advantages ranging from 6.6% in single-thread to 202.9% in integer math. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, 24 MB L3 cache, and 5.20 GHz boost clock give it a decisive edge in rendering, compression, encryption, and physics simulation. The 65.8% lead across all Cinebench tests indicates a consistent throughput advantage that scales with workload.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is not without merit. Its 3 nm process and 17 W TDP make it a far more power-efficient part, and its larger per-core L1 cache allows a narrow win in the prime number test. For mobile platforms where low power draw is critical, the Ultra 5 is the only choice of the two, as the Core 5 221E is a desktop part on Socket 1700.
The percentile rankings reinforce this split. The Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40144. The Core Ultra 5 238V sits at the 75th percentile, with an average score of 21981. The Core 5 221E's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048, are within 0.2% of its average score, placing it in a competitive desktop tier. The Ultra 5 238V's nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-11700F at 21988 and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X at 21992, are essentially tied at 0% delta, indicating a mid-range mobile performance level.
The Core 5 221E also offers ECC memory support, dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5, and 16 Gen 5 PCIe lanes, making it suitable for workstation-style desktop builds. The Ultra 5 238V lacks ECC, offers only 4 Gen 5 PCIe lanes, and depends on the motherboard for memory support. For users who need raw compute, the Core 5 221E is the data-backed choice. For users who prioritize power efficiency in a mobile form factor, the Core Ultra 5 238V is the only option, but its benchmark performance is substantially lower across the board.