Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL Comparison

Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL

The Intel Core 5 221E and Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL occupy distinct positions in the desktop processor market, with the data showing a clear performance hierarchy. The Core 5 221E delivers substantially higher benchmark scores across all recorded workloads, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL operates at a significantly lower power envelope. The database records the Core 5 221E at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Core Ultra 7 155UL sits at the 50th percentile, a gap that reflects their divergent design goals.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 221E holds a decisive advantage in every benchmark category recorded in the database. The Core Ultra 7 155UL has no recorded benchmark scores, which means all quantitative comparisons rely on the Core 5 221E's measurements and its positioning relative to its nearest rivals.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 5 221E scores 25933 points. This result places it 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, which averages 40081 points across all benchmarks, and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 points. The single-core result in Cinebench R23 reaches 3661 points, showing strong per-thread performance that contributes to its overall ranking.

The Cinebench R20 results reinforce this pattern. The multi-core score of 10891 and single-core score of 1537 demonstrate consistent scaling across rendering workloads. Cinebench R15 shows similar dominance with a multi-core score of 2613 and a single-core score of 368.

PassMark tests reveal specific strengths. The data compression score of 324285 indicates substantial throughput in compression workloads. Integer math reaches 117813, while floating point math hits 79028. Extended instructions score 18216, and data encryption achieves 19205. The multithread score of 30510 and single-thread score of 4147 confirm balanced performance across both parallel and single-threaded tasks.

The Core 5 221E's nearest rival comparisons show narrow margins. It sits 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, and 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen 9 270, which averages 40246 points. The Intel Core i9-13905H trails by 0.4% with an average score of 40313 points. These tight deltas indicate the Core 5 221E competes directly with upper-midrange processors from both AMD and Intel.

The Core Ultra 7 155UL's lack of recorded benchmarks makes direct head-to-head scoring impossible. Its 50th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 0 in the database indicate that no performance measurements have been logged, leaving its capabilities undocumented in the current dataset.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E reaches 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL tops out at 4.80 GHz.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 cores and 14 threads.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has a TDP of 15 watts, a difference of 50 watts.

Q: Which processor uses a newer socket?

A: The Core Ultra 7 155UL uses Intel Socket 1851, while the Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, but the Core Ultra 7 155UL does not.

Q: What is the difference in cache sizes?

A: The Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 155UL has a larger L1 cache at 112 KB per core versus 80 KB per core, while both have 2 MB of L2 cache per core.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins on raw compute performance across every recorded benchmark. Its Cinebench scores, PassMark results, and overall 87th percentile ranking demonstrate superiority in rendering, data processing, and general computation. The 25933-point Cinebench R23 multi-core score and 324285 data compression score indicate strong capability for demanding workloads such as 3D rendering, video encoding, and data-heavy applications.

The Core Ultra 7 155UL wins on power efficiency and platform features. Its 15-watt TDP versus the Core 5 221E's 65-watt TDP makes it suitable for thermally constrained systems. The Core Ultra 7 155UL also features a newer socket, Intel Socket 1851, and a more advanced 7 nm process node compared to the Core 5 221E's 10 nm node. Its integrated Arc Xe-LPG 64EU graphics unit provides a different integrated graphics solution than the UHD Graphics 730 found in the Core 5 221E.

The Core 5 221E offers broader memory compatibility with support for both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL only supports DDR5 with motherboard-dependent configurations. The Core 5 221E also provides more PCIe lanes at Gen 5 with 16 lanes, compared to the Core Ultra 7 155UL's Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E versus 1.70 GHz for the Core Ultra 7 155UL. Boost clocks also differ: 5.20 GHz versus 4.80 GHz.

Power consumption presents the largest gap. The Core 5 221E uses a 65-watt TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL uses 15 watts. This 50-watt difference makes the Core Ultra 7 155UL substantially more power-efficient on paper.

The processors use different sockets: the Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL uses Intel Socket 1851. Process nodes differ as well, with the Core 5 221E built on a 10 nm process and the Core Ultra 7 155UL on a 7 nm process. The die size of the Core 5 221E measures 257 mm², while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has no recorded die size.

Memory support differs. The Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL supports DDR5 with motherboard-dependent configurations. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory; the Core Ultra 7 155UL does not.

PCIe capabilities differ notably. The Core 5 221E offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL uses Arc Xe-LPG 64EU.

The launch MSRP for the Core 5 221E is $232. The launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 7 155UL is $426. Release dates differ, with the Core Ultra 7 155UL released earlier. Both processors have locked multipliers and are listed as active production parts.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 221E belongs to the Bartlett Lake codename family within the Core 5 generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Core Ultra 7 155UL belongs to the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS codename within the Core Ultra Series 1 generation, built on a 7 nm process. The die size of the Core 5 221E is recorded at 257 mm², while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has no recorded die size.

Cache hierarchies differ. The Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 155UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 221E's L3 cache is double the size of the Core Ultra 7 155UL's.

The Core 5 221E uses a 14-core, 20-thread configuration that suggests a hybrid architecture mixing performance and efficiency cores. The Core Ultra 7 155UL uses a 12-core, 14-thread configuration, also likely hybrid in nature but with fewer total threads. The Core Ultra 7 155UL includes an Arc Xe-LPG 64EU integrated GPU, which represents a more advanced graphics architecture than the UHD Graphics 730 in the Core 5 221E.

The Core Ultra 7 155UL's Meteor Lake architecture introduces a newer process node and socket generation. The Core 5 221E's Bartlett Lake design leverages the mature Intel Socket 1700 platform with broader compatibility including DDR4 memory support.

The Verdict

The data clearly separates these two processors by design intent. The Intel Core 5 221E delivers top-tier performance with its 87th percentile ranking, 25933-point Cinebench R23 multi-core score, and competitive positioning against AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen AI 9 365. It wins on core count, thread count, clock speeds, cache size, memory compatibility, ECC support, and PCIe bandwidth. Its lower launch MSRP of $232 makes it the performance-oriented choice.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL targets efficiency and platform modernity. Its 15-watt TDP represents a fraction of the Core 5 221E's power draw, making it suitable for power-constrained systems. The 7 nm process node, Intel Socket 1851, and Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics represent newer technology. However, with no recorded benchmark scores, the database cannot confirm its performance characteristics.

Users requiring maximum compute throughput should select the Core 5 221E based on its extensive benchmark record. Users prioritizing power efficiency, newer platform features, and integrated graphics capability should consider the Core Ultra 7 155UL, though its performance remains unverified in the database. The 50-watt TDP difference and the Core 5 221E's complete benchmark dominance provide the clearest basis for differentiation.