Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear split between the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T. Across the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Core Ultra 5 245T claims 14 wins, while the Core 5 221E takes 3. The overall average benchmark score favors the Core 5 221E at 40144, compared to 38194 for the Core Ultra 5 245T, a difference driven by a few large victories in specific workloads rather than consistent superiority.

The Cinebench results are remarkably close. In cinebench_r15_multicore, the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 2641 against 2613 for the Core 5 221E, a margin of only 1.1%. The pattern repeats in cinebench_r20_multicore with 11007 versus 10891, again a 1.1% edge. Cinebench_r23_multicore shows 26208 for the Core Ultra 5 245T and 25933 for the Core 5 221E, a 1% difference. Single-core Cinebench tests follow the same trend: the Core Ultra 5 245T leads by 1.1% in r15 singlecore (372 vs 368), by 1% in r20 singlecore (1553 vs 1537), and by 1% in r23 singlecore (3699 vs 3661). These margins are small enough to suggest near parity in general rendering tasks, though the Core Ultra 5 245T holds a consistent, if narrow, advantage.

The Passmark results tell a different story. The Core 5 221E dominates in integer math with a score of 117813, which is 32.9% higher than the 88676 posted by the Core Ultra 5 245T. This is the largest single margin in the entire comparison. The Core 5 221E also wins data compression with 324285 versus 283812, a 14.3% advantage, and random string sorting with 37686 versus 34931, a 7.9% lead. These three wins share a common theme: they all involve heavy integer processing and data manipulation, areas where the Core 5 221E clearly holds the advantage.

The Core Ultra 5 245T counters with substantial wins in several other Passmark tests. The most dramatic is find prime numbers, where it scores 324 against 173, a staggering 46.6% advantage. Floating point math shows a 27.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245T with 108499 versus 79028. Data encryption favors the Core Ultra 5 245T by 18.8% (23656 vs 19205), and extended instructions by 17.5% (22071 vs 18216). Single-thread performance also goes to the Core Ultra 5 245T, with 4367 versus 4147, a 5% margin. Passmark multithread is nearly identical at 30833 versus 30510, a 1% difference, while physics shows a 2.1% edge for the Core Ultra 5 245T.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core 5 221E is optimized for integer-heavy workloads. Its 32.9% lead in integer math is the standout result, and it pairs with a 14.3% advantage in data compression and a 7.9% lead in random string sorting. These tasks are common in database operations, file archiving, and certain types of scientific computing. The Core 5 221E also holds the higher average benchmark score at 40144, putting it just ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40081, a 0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048, a 0.2% delta), while slightly trailing the AMD Ryzen 9 270 (40246, a -0.3% delta) and the Intel Core i9-13905H (40313, a -0.4% delta).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T excels in floating-point and encryption workloads. Its 46.6% win in find prime numbers is the most decisive result in the entire comparison, and the 27.2% lead in floating point math reinforces this pattern. The 18.8% advantage in data encryption and 17.5% lead in extended instructions further demonstrate its strength in cryptographic and SIMD-heavy tasks. Single-thread performance also favors the Core Ultra 5 245T by 5%, which suggests better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. Its average benchmark score of 38194 places it near the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38221, a -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-14490F (38149, a 0.1% delta), with the Intel Core i5-13600HX (38261, a -0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38103, a 0.2% delta) also close by.

For general productivity, the two are nearly interchangeable. The Cinebench multicore scores differ by roughly 1% across all three versions, and Passmark multithread shows only a 1% gap. The deciding factors are workload-specific: integer math and compression lean toward the Core 5 221E, while floating point, encryption, and single-thread tasks lean toward the Core Ultra 5 245T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core 5 221E is built on a 10 nm process at Intel foundries, uses the Bartlett Lake codename, and fits the Intel Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T uses a 3 nm process at TSMC, carries the Arrow Lake-S codename under the Arrow Lake architecture, and fits the Intel Socket 1851. The transistor counts reflect this generational gap: the Core Ultra 5 245T integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 5 221E lists no transistor count but uses a 257 mm² die.

Both processors have 14 cores, but the thread counts differ significantly. The Core 5 221E supports 20 threads, indicating hyperthreading or a hybrid core arrangement, while the Core Ultra 5 245T supports 14 threads, meaning one thread per core. This explains why the Core 5 221E can win in integer math despite lower per-core performance: it has more execution threads available for parallel integer work. The cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 5 221E provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Core Ultra 5 245T offers 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache.

Clock speeds show the Core 5 221E with a 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost, while the Core Ultra 5 245T runs at 2.20 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost. The higher boost clock on the Core 5 221E does not translate into single-thread wins, as the Core Ultra 5 245T still leads in single-thread tests by 5%. Memory support differs as well: the Core 5 221E accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 245T supports DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Core Ultra 5 245T at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E. Both use dual-channel memory buses and support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors the Core Ultra 5 245T with Gen 5 and 20 lanes (CPU only), compared to Gen 5 and 16 lanes for the Core 5 221E.

Integrated graphics differ substantially. The Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, a more modern GPU architecture that likely contributes to its advantages in floating-point and encryption workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245T also has a newer release date of 2025-01-06, six days before the Core 5 221E on 2025-01-12.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T as the better all-around processor for most users. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including all six Cinebench tests, and holds the single-thread advantage at 4367 versus 4147. Its wins in floating point math, encryption, and find prime numbers are decisive, and the 3 nm TSMC process gives it a modern architectural foundation with higher memory bandwidth and more PCIe lanes.

The Intel Core 5 221E is the specialist choice for integer-heavy workloads. Its 32.9% lead in integer math and 14.3% advantage in data compression are significant, and the higher thread count of 20 versus 14 likely drives these wins. The average benchmark score of 40144 also edges out the Core Ultra 5 245T, though this is heavily influenced by the large integer math margin. For users whose primary tasks involve integer calculations, compression, or sorting, the Core 5 221E delivers measurable gains. For everyone else, the Core Ultra 5 245T offers broader strength across rendering, encryption, and single-thread performance, with the 5% single-thread lead suggesting snappier everyday responsiveness.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, compared to 38194 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench multicore tests?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T wins all three Cinebench multicore tests by about 1%: 2641 vs 2613 in r15, 11007 vs 10891 in r20, and 26208 vs 25933 in r23.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in either direction?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T leads by 46.6% in Passmark find prime numbers (324 vs 173). The Core 5 221E leads by 32.9% in Passmark integer math (117813 vs 88676).

Q: Which processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T supports DDR5 only.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 14 cores, but the Core 5 221E supports 20 threads while the Core Ultra 5 245T supports 14 threads.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The Core 5 221E uses a 10 nm process at Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221E | Intel Core Ultra 5 245T |

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

| Threads | 20 | 14 |

| Base clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

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

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | $270 |

| Release date | 2025-01-12 | 2025-01-06 |

| Average benchmark score | 40144 | 38194 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 87 | 86 |