Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Processor U301L Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Processor U301L
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Processor U301L
The Verdict
The recorded data presents a decisive split between these two Intel Socket 1700 parts. The Intel Core 5 221E is a desktop-class processor aimed at sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel Processor U301L is a low-power mobile part with a much smaller footprint. The Core 5 221E holds an average benchmark score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The U301L has no recorded benchmark scores, an average score of zero, and sits in the 50th percentile. For any workload that depends on compute throughput, the data points exclusively to the Core 5 221E. The U301L, with its 15 W TDP and minimal core count, is positioned for scenarios where power draw and thermal output are the primary constraints, not raw performance.
The Core 5 221E offers 14 cores and 20 threads, a 5.20 GHz boost clock, and a 65 W TDP. The U301L offers 5 cores and 6 threads, a 2.20 GHz boost clock, and a 15 W TDP. The architectural gap is enormous. The Core 5 221E also supports ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5, features absent from the U301L, which uses PCIe Gen 4. The U301L does retain DDR4 and DDR5 memory support and includes integrated UHD Graphics 64EU, but its benchmark data is entirely empty. The database shows no test results for the U301L, meaning all performance comparisons must be inferred from its specifications and the Core 5 221E's measured scores.
Architecture Differences
The Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 257 mm². It provides 14 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support covers DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, with a measured memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The part is marked as a Desktop market segment product, launched on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $232.
The U301L uses the Raptor Lake codename, also on Intel's 10 nm process, but with a different configuration. It has 5 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 1.20 GHz, and a boost clock of 2.20 GHz. The cache sizes are smaller: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. ECC memory is not supported. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU. The PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. This is a Mobile market segment part, launched on 2024-04-07 with a launch MSRP of $107.
The process node is identical at 10 nm, but the core counts, clock speeds, cache sizes, and feature sets differ substantially. The Core 5 221E has nearly three times the cores and more than three times the threads of the U301L. The L3 cache is three times larger on the Core 5 221E (24 MB versus 8 MB). The boost clock is 2.4 times higher on the Core 5 221E. The U301L's TDP of 15 W is less than a quarter of the Core 5 221E's 65 W, which explains its mobile positioning. The U301L also lacks ECC support and uses an older PCIe generation with fewer lanes. Both parts are locked, as neither has an unlocked multiplier.
Where Each One Wins
The Core 5 221E wins in every recorded benchmark category because it is the only part with recorded benchmark data. Its multi-threaded scores are particularly strong. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 25933, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 10891. PassMark multi-thread score is 30510. These results indicate a processor suited for rendering, compilation, and other parallel workloads. The single-core scores are also respectable: Cinebench R23 single-core at 3661, Cinebench R20 single-core at 1537, and PassMark single-thread at 4147. The Core 5 221E delivers high integer math throughput (117813 in PassMark integer math) and floating-point math throughput (79028). Data compression scores are very high (324285), and data encryption scores reach 19205. Its extended instructions score is 18216.
The U301L has no benchmark wins because it has no benchmark records. The database shows zero scores for every test. In practical terms, the U301L's advantage is limited to its power envelope. At 15 W TDP, it is designed for fanless or low-power mobile systems where the Core 5 221E's 65 W TDP would be impractical. The U301L does support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which gives it flexibility in memory choice. Its integrated UHD Graphics 64EU may be sufficient for basic display output, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded.
The Core 5 221E's nearest rivals in the database are AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (average score 40081, delta 0.2 percent), AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (average score 40048, delta 0.2 percent), AMD Ryzen 9 270 (average score 40246, delta -0.3 percent), and Intel Core i9-13905H (average score 40313, delta -0.4 percent). These deltas are all within one percent, meaning the Core 5 221E is statistically tied with these processors in average benchmark score. The U301L has no listed rivals.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Processor U301L has 5 cores and 6 threads.
Q: What is the clock speed difference?
A: The Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The U301L has a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.20 GHz.
Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?
A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. The Core 5 221E has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the U301L has no memory bandwidth figure in the database.
Q: Is ECC memory supported?
A: The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The U301L does not support ECC memory.
Q: What PCIe generations do they use?
A: The Core 5 221E uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The U301L uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.
Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?
A: The Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144 and ranks in the 87th percentile. The U301L has an average benchmark score of zero and ranks in the 50th percentile.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head benchmark list in the database is empty, and the U301L has no recorded scores in any test. Consequently, every numerical comparison relies on the Core 5 221E's absolute scores. The Core 5 221E's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25933 indicates strong parallel processing capability. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3661 shows solid single-thread performance. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 10891 and the single-core score is 1537. In Cinebench R15, the multi-core score is 2613 and the single-core score is 368.
PassMark results for the Core 5 221E include a multi-thread score of 30510 and a single-thread score of 4147. Data compression reaches 324285, data encryption reaches 19205, and extended instructions reach 18216. Integer math scores 117813, floating-point math scores 79028, and random string sorting scores 37686. The find prime numbers test scores 173, and the physics test scores 2230. These figures represent the entirety of the measured performance data for this comparison.
Because the U301L has zero recorded benchmarks, the only meaningful comparison is architectural. The Core 5 221E's 24 MB of shared L3 cache is three times the U301L's 8 MB. The Core 5 221E's L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core on the U301L. Both share the same 80 KB per core L1 cache. The Core 5 221E's 5.20 GHz boost clock is more than double the U301L's 2.20 GHz. The Core 5 221E's 14 cores and 20 threads dwarf the U301L's 5 cores and 6 threads. The U301L's 15 W TDP is the only specification where it leads, being substantially lower than the Core 5 221E's 65 W TDP.
The Core 5 221E's average benchmark score of 40144 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with deltas of 0.2 percent against the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, -0.3 percent against the AMD Ryzen 9 270, and -0.4 percent against the Intel Core i9-13905H. These rivals are all within a fraction of a percent, placing the Core 5 221E in a tightly contested performance tier. The U301L has no rivals listed, reflecting its lack of benchmark data. The Core 5 221E's 87th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms its position as a high-performance desktop processor, while the U301L's 50th percentile ranking with no scores indicates an unmeasured, mid-tier status.