Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V is overwhelmingly one-sided. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core 5 221E claims 16 wins, while the Core Ultra 7 268V manages a single victory.

The largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where the Core 5 221E scores 117,813 against 42,669 for the Ultra 7 268V, a 176.1% advantage. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 143.4% gap, with scores of 25,933 versus 10,653. The Core 5 221E also leads Cinebench R23 singlecore by 90.6%, posting 3,661 points compared to 1,921.

The multicore pattern holds across every Cinebench generation. In R15, the Core 5 221E delivers 2,613 points versus 1,616, a 61.7% lead. R20 multicore shows a 58.1% gap (10,891 versus 6,887), and the same 58.1% delta appears in R20 singlecore, with 1,537 against 972. R15 singlecore favors the Core 5 221E by 25.6%, at 368 points to 293.

PassMark data compression gives the Core 5 221E a 78.7% edge, with 324,285 points versus 181,443. Random string sorting shows a 68.1% lead (37,686 versus 22,416), and multithread performance is 58.1% higher at 30,510 compared to 19,297. Floating point math favors the Core 5 221E by 37.1%, with 79,028 points against 57,628. The physics test shows a 37.9% advantage, 2,230 versus 1,617. Data encryption is 39.4% higher on the Core 5 221E, at 19,205 points against 13,779. Extended instructions show a narrower 18.9% lead, with 18,216 points versus 15,323.

The closest result is PassMark single-thread performance, where the Core 5 221E scores 4,147 against 4,051, a modest 2.4% lead. That near tie is the only area where the two processors approach parity.

The single win for the Core Ultra 7 268V comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 192 versus 173 for the Core 5 221E, a 9.9% advantage.

Average benchmark scores reinforce the chasm. The Core 5 221E sits at 40,144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 7 268V averages 20,897, good for the 74th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E is the clear choice for heavily threaded workloads. Its 20 threads, enabled by 14 cores, drive massive leads in Cinebench multicore tests across R15, R20, and R23. The 143.4% margin in R23 multicore indicates that content creation, rendering, and other parallel tasks will complete in a fraction of the time on the desktop part.

Integer-heavy workloads are also dominated by the Core 5 221E. The 176.1% lead in PassMark integer math suggests strong performance in general productivity, compilation, and database-style workloads. Data compression, with a 78.7% advantage, points to file archiving and storage-related tasks favoring the Core 5 221E as well.

The Core 5 221E also wins in encryption tasks by 39.4%, a meaningful margin for anyone handling encrypted storage or secure communications. Its physics score is 37.9% higher, which can benefit simulation workloads.

The Core Ultra 7 268V has a narrow but real niche. Its 9.9% lead in PassMark find prime numbers indicates an edge in prime-number computation, a workload that can be relevant for cryptography research and certain mathematical applications. Outside of that specific test, the Ultra 7 268V trails in every other recorded benchmark, often by substantial margins.

Single-thread performance is the closest contest. The 2.4% gap in PassMark single-thread tests means the two chips are effectively equivalent for lightly threaded, bursty tasks, though the Core 5 221E still holds the edge.

In the broader database context, the Core 5 221E sits among rivals such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, which has a 0.2% higher average score, and the AMD Ryzen 9 270, which leads by 0.3%. The Intel Core i9-13905H trails by 0.4%. The Core Ultra 7 268V, by contrast, is bracketed by the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE at parity, the Intel Core i5-12600T at 0.1% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U at 0.3% higher.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families with fundamentally different designs. The Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process node, while the Core Ultra 7 268V uses the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process node.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, whereas the Core Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading on the mobile part. The Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz from a 2.70 GHz base clock. The Core Ultra 7 268V boosts to 5.00 GHz from a 2.20 GHz base clock.

Cache layouts differ by core design. The Core 5 221E provides 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 268V offers 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3.

Power targets are very different, reflecting their intended markets. The Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP and is classified as a desktop part. The Core Ultra 7 268V has a 17 W TDP and is a mobile part. The desktop chip uses Intel Socket 1700, while the mobile chip uses Intel BGA 2833.

Memory support also separates them. The Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth and ECC memory support. The Core Ultra 7 268V also uses dual-channel memory, but the recorded data lists its memory support as dependent on the motherboard, and it does not support ECC.

PCIe connectivity differs substantially. The Core 5 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 268V provides Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 268V uses Arc 140V.

The die size for the Core 5 221E is recorded at 257 mm², while no die size is listed for the Core Ultra 7 268V. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 221E launched on January 12, 2025, with a launch MSRP of $232. The Core Ultra 7 268V launched earlier, on September 23, 2024.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a straightforward conclusion. The Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V in 16 of 17 benchmark comparisons, with an average score of 40,144 versus 20,897. The desktop part is 87th percentile among all CPUs, while the mobile part sits at 74th.

Buyers who need maximum multithreaded throughput should choose the Core 5 221E. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25,933 is more than double the Ultra 7 268V's 10,653, and its PassMark multithread result of 30,510 outpaces the mobile chip by 58.1%. The Core 5 221E also offers ECC memory support, 16 Gen 5 CPU lanes, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5, making it the more flexible platform for workstation-style builds.

The Core Ultra 7 268V has one clear advantage: energy efficiency. Its 17 W TDP is dramatically lower than the 65 W TDP of the Core 5 221E. For compact mobile systems where battery life and thermal headroom matter more than raw compute, the Ultra 7 268V is the sensible option. Its 2.4% single-thread deficit means everyday responsive tasks will feel nearly identical, and its 9.9% lead in prime-number finding gives it a niche mathematical edge.

The architecture differences reinforce the positioning. The Core 5 221E uses 14 cores with 20 threads on a larger 10 nm process and a 257 mm² die. The Core Ultra 7 268V uses 8 cores with 8 threads on a denser 3 nm TSMC process. The Core 5 221E has double the shared L3 cache at 24 MB versus 12 MB, which contributes to its dominant multicore and integer results.

The Core Ultra 7 268V does not support ECC, offers only 4 Gen 5 CPU lanes, and has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Those limitations, combined with its lower benchmark scores, make it unsuitable for the same workloads as the Core 5 221E. Its role is confined to power-constrained mobile platforms where the 17 W TDP is the defining factor.

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 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Core 5 221E scores 25,933, while the Core Ultra 7 268V scores 10,653, giving the Core 5 221E a 143.4% lead.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 268V win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark find prime numbers with 192 points versus 173 for the Core 5 221E, a 9.9% advantage.

Q: What are the power consumption figures for each processor?

A: The Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 268V has a 17 W TDP.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 7 268V does not.

Q: What is the difference in single-thread PassMark scores?

A: The Core 5 221E scores 4,147 and the Core Ultra 7 268V scores 4,051, a 2.4% difference in favor of the Core 5 221E.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Core 5 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 268V provides Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes.