Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Processor N150 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Processor N150. In every overlapping workload, the Core 5 221E emerges as the winner, with margins that range from substantial to overwhelming. The most dramatic result appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 221E scores 25,933 against the N150's 2,590.5, a 901.1% advantage. That margin speaks directly to the architectural gulf between a 14-core desktop processor and a 4-core mobile chip.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though with a narrower gap. The Core 5 221E posts 3,661 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 935 for the N150, a 291.6% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 5 221E scores 368 against 153.15, a 140.3% advantage. These results confirm that the Core 5 221E does not merely scale better with more cores; its per-thread performance is also in a different class. The boost clock difference, 5.20 GHz against 3.60 GHz, aligns with that observed single-thread advantage.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 518.5% lead for the Core 5 221E, with scores of 2,613 and 422.5 respectively. This older benchmark still responds strongly to core count and frequency, so the 14-core, 20-thread configuration of the Core 5 221E naturally dominates the 4-core, 4-thread N150. Across all four head-to-head tests, the Core 5 221E records a perfect 4-0 win tally.

The average benchmark score places the Core 5 221E at 40,144, which ranks it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40,081 (0.2% slower), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40,048 (0.2% slower), the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40,246 (0.3% faster), and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40,313 (0.4% faster). These deltas are small, indicating that the Core 5 221E sits in a tightly contested performance band near the top of the desktop stack.

The N150, by contrast, averages just 1,025 points, placing it in the 28th percentile. Its nearest rivals are far older or lower-power parts: the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T at 1,024 (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i3-4340 at 1,026 (0.1% faster), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1,024 (0.1% slower), and the Intel Core i7-5650U at 1,027 (0.2% faster). The N150's performance class is therefore roughly equivalent to a 2010-era six-core Phenom or a mid-range fourth-generation Core i3, which frames its role as a low-power entry point rather than a compute workhorse.

The Core 5 221E also records additional workload data that the N150 lacks. In PassMark tests, the Core 5 221E scores 117,813 in integer math, 79,028 in floating-point math, 30,510 in multithread, 4,147 in single-thread, 324,285 in data compression, 19,205 in data encryption, 18,216 in extended instructions, 37,686 in random string sorting, 2,230 in physics, and 173 in prime number finding. The N150 has no recorded PassMark results in the database, so direct comparisons in those workloads are unavailable. The absence of those numbers, however, does not change the pattern established by the Cinebench results: the Core 5 221E holds a commanding lead in every measurable shared workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins all four recorded head-to-head tests. It leads by 518.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 140.3% in R15 single-core, 901.1% in R23 multi-core, and 291.6% in R23 single-core.

Q: How does the Core 5 221E compare to its nearest rivals in average score?

A: The Core 5 221E averages 40,144 points. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 scores 40,081 (0.2% slower), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 scores 40,048 (0.2% slower), the AMD Ryzen 9 270 scores 40,246 (0.3% faster), and the Intel Core i9-13905H scores 40,313 (0.4% faster).

Q: Where does the N150 rank relative to other CPUs?

A: The N150 sits in the 28th percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 1,025. Its closest rival, the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T, scores 1,024, a 0.1% difference.

Q: Is the Core 5 221E's performance lead consistent across single-core and multi-core tests?

A: Yes, but the multi-core margin is larger. The Core 5 221E leads by 901.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while its single-core lead in the same benchmark is 291.6%. Both margins favor the Core 5 221E decisively.

Q: What memory and PCIe configurations do the two processors support?

A: The Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 in single-channel mode with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both use Intel UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5 221E is a desktop part, while the N150 is a mobile processor.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation of roles. The Intel Core 5 221E is a high-performance desktop processor that stands within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 9 270 and within 0.4% of the Intel Core i9-13905H, its nearest rivals. Its 87th percentile ranking and 40,144 average score place it firmly in the upper tier of the database. The N150, with a 28th percentile ranking and a 1,025 average score, occupies a completely different performance class, one where its closest comparables are legacy desktop parts and low-power mobile chips.

For workloads that demand multi-threaded throughput, the Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the defining metric: the Core 5 221E delivers 25,933 points, roughly ten times the N150's 2,590.5. Single-thread work also favors the Core 5 221E by nearly four times in Cinebench R23. There is no benchmark category in the recorded data where the N150 closes the gap or takes a lead.

The N150's role is defined by its 6 W TDP and mobile socket rather than by raw performance. Its single-channel memory bus, 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 lanes indicate a design aimed at low-power, compact systems. The Core 5 221E, with a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory, 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 5, is built for sustained compute. Users selecting between these two parts should base the decision on the workload class: the Core 5 221E for compute-heavy desktop tasks, the N150 for low-power mobile or embedded scenarios where the performance gap is an acceptable trade.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Core 5 221E uses 14 cores and 20 threads, while the N150 uses 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E and 0.10 GHz for the N150; boost clocks are 5.20 GHz and 3.60 GHz respectively. The Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP, the N150 a 6 W TDP.

Sockets differ as well: the Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700, the N150 uses Intel BGA 1264. The Core 5 221E is a desktop part, the N150 is mobile. Memory support on the Core 5 221E includes DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The N150 adds LPDDR5 to its support list but runs single-channel with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 221E but not on the N150. PCIe capability also diverges: Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Core 5 221E, Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the N150.

The Core 5 221E carries a launch MSRP of $232. The N150 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors have locked multipliers. Integrated graphics are identical in name, UHD Graphics 730, for both parts. The Core 5 221E has a die size of 257 mm²; the N150's die size is not recorded.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 221E is built on the Bartlett Lake architecture and belongs to the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation. The N150 uses the Twin Lake architecture and is listed under the Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) generation. Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, but the design priorities diverge sharply.

Cache layouts reflect the different core counts. The Core 5 221E allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The N150 uses 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2, with 6 MB of shared L3. The per-core L1 figure is higher on the N150, but the shared L2 and much smaller L3 pool indicate a leaner, lower-power design. The Core 5 221E's larger L3 and per-core L2 allocation support its higher thread count and sustained multi-core workloads.

The N150's low 0.10 GHz base clock is notable. It suggests an aggressive low-power idle state, with the boost clock of 3.60 GHz available for short bursts. The Core 5 221E's 2.70 GHz base clock and 5.20 GHz boost clock point to a design that maintains high frequency under load. The production status for both parts is Active, with the N150 releasing in November 2024 and the Core 5 221E in January 2025.