Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

The Intel Core 5 221TE and Intel Core 5 223PE are both desktop processors built on the Bartlett Lake architecture, sharing the same Intel Socket 1700 platform and a 10 nm process node. Despite their similar naming and identical launch MSRP of $232, the recorded benchmark data reveals a profound performance gap, with the 223PE winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons. This analysis examines the measured scores, architectural differences, and the implications for each chip’s position in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably one-sided. The Intel Core 5 223PE dominates every single test in the comparison set, with no wins recorded for the 221TE across 17 benchmarks. The largest margin appears in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, where the 223PE scores 159 against the 221TE’s 59, a delta of -62.9%. This indicates a substantial advantage in integer-heavy, latency-sensitive workloads.

Cinebench results follow a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 223PE scores 2666 versus 1139, a -57.3% difference. The R15 single-core test shows 376 versus 160, a -57.4% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the 223PE delivers 11111 in multicore against 4748, and 1568 in single-core against 670, both at -57.3%. Cinebench R23 reinforces the trend: the 223PE reaches 26455 in multicore and 3734 in single-core, while the 221TE manages 11305 and 1596 respectively, again -57.3%.

PassMark’s broader workload suite shows similar disparities. Data compression scores 346623 for the 223PE versus 156682 for the 221TE, a -54.8% delta. Data encryption sees 18448 against 8963, a -51.4% margin. Extended instructions, a measure of SIMD and vector processing, favors the 223PE at 24672 versus 9655, a -60.9% gap. Floating point math scores 76468 versus 31661, a -58.6% difference, while integer math hits 99819 versus 42303, a -57.6% margin.

The multithreaded PassMark score shows the 223PE at 31124 against 13301, a -57.3% delta. Physics simulation, which often stresses both compute and memory, records 2493 versus 977, a -60.8% gap. Random string sorting, a test sensitive to memory latency and cache behavior, scores 35798 versus 16929, a -52.7% difference. Single-thread PassMark results show 4219 versus 1734, a -58.9% margin, with the duplicate singlethread test confirming the same numbers.

The consistency of the -57% to -63% deltas across CPU-bound tests suggests a fundamental throughput advantage for the 223PE rather than a workload-specific quirk. The 221TE’s closest rival in the database is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, with an average score of 17891 against the 221TE’s 17860, a delta of -0.2%. That places the 221TE in a performance tier roughly comparable to older mid-range parts. The 223PE, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core 7 253PE, which averages 40557, a delta of only 0.1% in favor of the 223PE. The 223PE also edges out the Intel Xeon 6357P by -0.1%, meaning the 223PE’s average benchmark score of 40585 is competitive with workstation-class silicon.

The Verdict

The data makes the choice unambiguous for raw performance: the Intel Core 5 223PE outperforms the 221TE in every measured benchmark, often by more than 50%. The 223PE’s average benchmark score of 40585 places it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the 221TE’s average of 17860 sits at the 71st percentile. That 16-percentile gap reflects a difference of roughly 127% in average score, a chasm that no workload in the dataset can bridge.

For users whose priorities align with the recorded tests, the 223PE is the clear option. Cinebench multicore scores, which often correlate with rendering and content creation tasks, show the 223PE at 26455 versus 11305, meaning the 223PE completes such workloads in less than half the time. PassMark multithread scores reinforce this, with 31124 versus 13301. Single-thread performance, critical for lightly threaded applications and responsiveness, also favors the 223PE decisively, with a 3734 Cinebench R23 single-core score against 1596.

The 221TE does have a place in the database, but it is not a competitive one against the 223PE. Its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, both average around 17891 and 17898 respectively, with deltas of -0.2%. That suggests the 221TE is aligned with a mid-range performance tier from a previous generation. The 223PE, meanwhile, rivals the Intel Core 7 253PE and Intel Xeon 6357P, indicating a much higher performance class. Selecting the 221TE over the 223PE would require a reason external to the benchmark data, such as a specific platform constraint, since the recorded scores offer no performance justification.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Bartlett Lake codename, the 10 nm process node, and Intel as the foundry. They also use the same Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The integrated graphics are identical, with UHD Graphics 730 on both chips. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and both support ECC memory.

The core configurations differ significantly. The 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. This means the 221TE has a higher core count, yet it loses every benchmark, including heavily multithreaded tests. The explanation lies in the per-core specifications. The 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 223PE has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The higher base clock of the 223PE, a 1.10 GHz advantage, likely contributes to its superior sustained throughput, while the 0.20 GHz boost advantage also plays a role in single-threaded results.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache, however, is 1.25 MB per core on the 221TE and 2 MB per core on the 223PE. This is a substantial per-core increase, and with fewer cores, the 223PE’s total L2 capacity would be larger. The L3 cache is shared at 24 MB on both processors. Memory bandwidth differs as well: the 223PE records 89.6 GB/s, while the 221TE records 76.8 GB/s. This 12.8 GB/s difference likely benefits the 223PE in memory-intensive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

The die size is listed as 215 mm² for the 221TE, but no die size is recorded for the 223PE. The production status for both is active, though their release dates differ. The 221TE was released on January 12, 2025, and the 223PE on March 8, 2026. The part numbers are SRVQS for the 221TE and SA4QF for the 223PE.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the 221TE. Its base clock is also higher at 2.90 GHz versus 1.80 GHz.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The 223PE scores 26455, while the 221TE scores 11305, a -57.3% difference in favor of the 223PE.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the 221TE wins?

A: No. Across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the 223PE wins every test, with no wins recorded for the 221TE.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. However, the 223PE has a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the 221TE.

Q: Are the integrated graphics the same?

A: Yes, both processors use UHD Graphics 730.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 223PE wins in every category covered by the benchmark data. For multithreaded productivity, rendering, and encoding workloads, its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 26455 versus 11305 positions it far ahead. For single-threaded responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, its R23 single-core score of 3734 versus 1596 is equally dominant. Memory-sensitive tasks such as data compression and random string sorting also favor the 223PE, with scores of 346623 versus 156682 and 35798 versus 16929 respectively.

The 221TE does not win a single recorded benchmark, so there is no performance-based use case where it surpasses the 223PE in this dataset. Its higher core count of 10 versus 8 does not translate into any measured advantage, likely because the 223PE’s higher clocks and larger per-core L2 cache compensate for the core deficit. The 221TE’s nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, have average scores of 17891 and 17898, placing the 221TE in a lower performance tier. Users constrained to the 221TE’s specifications would experience a 223PE-class processor as a significant upgrade in all tested areas.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 1.80 GHz for the 221TE and 2.90 GHz for the 223PE. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 5.20 GHz respectively. The 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the 223PE has a TDP of 65 watts. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the 221TE and 2 MB per core on the 223PE. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the 221TE and 89.6 GB/s for the 223PE. The die size is recorded as 215 mm² for the 221TE, with no die size listed for the 223PE. Release dates differ, with the 221TE launching on January 12, 2025, and the 223PE on March 8, 2026. Part numbers are SRVQS for the 221TE and SA4QF for the 223PE.

Shared specifications include the Bartlett Lake codename, 10 nm process node, Intel Socket 1700, DDR4 and DDR5 support, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), UHD Graphics 730, a 24 MB shared L3 cache, an 80 KB per-core L1 cache, a locked multiplier, and a launch MSRP of $232 for both. The market segment for both is desktop, and both are listed as active in production.