Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Processor U300L Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Processor U300L occupy entirely different segments of Intel's Socket 1700 lineup, despite sharing the same socket and process node. The Core 5 221E is a desktop processor with 14 cores, 20 threads, a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, and a 65 W TDP. The U300L is a mobile processor with 5 cores, 6 threads, a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, and a 15 W TDP. The recorded data shows the Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, while the U300L sits at the 50th percentile. The Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, while the U300L has no recorded benchmark scores in the database.

The Core 5 221E should be selected by users who need desktop-class multi-threaded throughput. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache put it in direct competition with AMD's Ryzen 7 7700, which scores an average of 40081 against the Core 5 221E's 40144, a delta of 0.2%. The U300L should be selected for low-power mobile designs where the 15 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 48EU are the primary considerations. The U300L also supports ECC memory, which the U300L does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins on core count, thread count, clock speed, cache, memory bandwidth, PCIe generation, and ECC support. It offers 14 cores versus 5, 20 threads versus 6, a 5.20 GHz boost versus 4.40 GHz, 24 MB of shared L3 versus 8 MB, and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus no recorded bandwidth figure for the U300L. The Core 5 221E also uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the U300L uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes. The Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the U300L includes UHD Graphics 48EU.

The U300L wins on power efficiency and physical footprint considerations. At 15 W TDP, it draws substantially less power than the Core 5 221E's 65 W TDP. The U300L also launched earlier, with a release date of 2024-04-07, compared to the Core 5 221E's 2025-01-12. The U300L's mobile market segment designation and 5-core configuration make it suitable for compact systems, but benchmark data does not exist to quantify its performance.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is listed as generation "Core 5 (Bartlett Lake)". The U300L uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename and is listed as generation "Intel Processor (Raptor Lake)". Both processors use Intel's 10 nm process node and are manufactured by Intel. The Core 5 221E has a die size of 257 mm², while the U300L has no die size recorded in the database.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Core 5 221E uses 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The U300L uses 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the Core 5 221E three times the shared L3 capacity of the U300L.

Memory support is similar in type: both support DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. The Core 5 221E records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the U300L has no memory bandwidth figure recorded. ECC memory support is present on the Core 5 221E but absent on the U300L.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The Core 5 221E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the U300L offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 221E versus UHD Graphics 48EU on the U300L. The Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232, and the U300L has a launch MSRP of $107.

The market segments also differ. The Core 5 221E is classified as Desktop, while the U300L is classified as Mobile. Both processors are currently in Active production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SRQDVQ659 for the Core 5 221E and SRPEKSRPEM for the U300L.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Processor U300L has 5 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 5 221E has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the U300L's 4.40 GHz boost clock.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, while the U300L does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP, while the U300L has a 15 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the U300L has 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. They also both use Intel's 10 nm process node.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Processor U300L. The U300L has no benchmark scores recorded at all, with an average benchmark score of 0 and no nearest rivals listed. The Core 5 221E, in contrast, has a substantial set of benchmark scores across Cinebench and Passmark tests.

The Core 5 221E records a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25933 and a singlecore score of 3661. In Cinebench R20, it scores 10891 multicore and 1537 singlecore. In Cinebench R15, it scores 2613 multicore and 368 singlecore. Passmark results include a multithread score of 30510, a single thread score of 4147, integer math at 117813, floating point math at 79028, data compression at 324285, data encryption at 19205, extended instructions at 18216, find prime numbers at 173, physics at 2230, and random string sorting at 37686.

The Core 5 221E's average benchmark score of 40144 places it at the 87th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 with an average score of 40081 and a delta of 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 with an average score of 40048 and a delta of 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen 9 270 with an average score of 40246 and a delta of -0.3%, and the Intel Core i9-13905H with an average score of 40313 and a delta of -0.4%. These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating the Core 5 221E performs essentially on par with the Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen AI 9 365, while sitting marginally behind the Ryzen 9 270 and Core i9-13905H.

Because the U300L has no recorded benchmarks, no direct comparison of scores is possible. The data does show the U300L's 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs, which is based on the absence of recorded performance data rather than measured performance. The Core 5 221E's 87th percentile ranking, by contrast, reflects an active set of benchmark results.

The biggest performance differential between the two processors is structural rather than measured. The Core 5 221E provides 9 additional cores, 14 additional threads, 16 MB more shared L3 cache, a 0.80 GHz higher boost clock, PCIe Gen 5 instead of Gen 4, and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth where the U300L records none. The U300L counters with a 50 W lower TDP, a smaller 5-core configuration for power-sensitive designs, and a launch MSRP of $107 versus the Core 5 221E's $232.

The data indicates the Core 5 221E is a high-performance desktop part designed to compete with AMD's mid-range Ryzen 7000 series, as evidenced by its near-identical average score to the Ryzen 7 7700. The U300L is a low-power mobile processor whose performance profile cannot be evaluated from the database due to missing benchmark entries. Users requiring quantified performance data should consider the Core 5 221E, while those prioritizing a 15 W TDP for mobile deployment will find the U300L's specifications aligned with that goal.