Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 is dramatically faster. In PassMark single-thread testing, it scores 4021 versus 1734 for the Core 5 221TE, a 131.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core results show the same pattern: 1832 versus 1596, a 14.8% lead.

Q: Does the Core 5 221TE win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, but only two. It wins PassMark data compression (156682 versus 146143, a 6.7% edge) and PassMark integer math (42303 versus 31690, a 25.1% advantage). Those are the only two tests where it comes out ahead out of 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The Core 5 315 leads in every Cinebench multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 12981 versus 11305, a 14.8% margin. The same 14.8% delta appears in R15, R20, and PassMark multithread results.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the Core 5 315 still wins most multi-threaded workloads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 5 221TE boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Core 5 315 boosts to 4.40 GHz. The Core 5 315 has a lower base clock at 1.50 GHz versus 1.80 GHz, yet it still posts faster single-core scores.

Q: Do the two processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus. The Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and higher peak bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different Intel design lineages. The Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node, while the Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. The process difference is substantial and helps explain why the smaller, lower-power chip outperforms the larger one in most tests.

Core configuration differs sharply. The Core 5 315 packs 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The Core 5 221TE offers 10 cores and 16 threads, implying a hybrid or hyperthreaded arrangement that nearly triples the thread count. The Core 5 315 compensates with a fundamentally newer core design and a much higher single-thread score.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 24 MB shared L3 cache. The 221TE's L3 is four times larger, which likely aids in its two benchmark wins involving data compression and integer math.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 5 315 runs DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 5 221TE runs DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the 221TE but not on the 315. The 221TE also provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the 315 provides PCIe Gen 4 with only 6 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ in brand and capability: the 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730. The 315 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516, whereas the 221TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 315 is the faster processor in nearly every workload category. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, it wins 15. The only wins for the Core 5 221TE come in data compression and integer math, both by meaningful margins, but those are narrow use cases.

Users prioritizing raw compute, single-thread responsiveness, encryption, floating-point math, or rendering should choose the Core 5 315. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12981 beats the 221TE's 11305 by 14.8%, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4021 more than doubles the 221TE's 1734.

The Core 5 221TE is the pick only for workloads that specifically benefit from integer-heavy math or data compression, where it leads by 25.1% and 6.7%, respectively. Its larger L3 cache and dual-channel memory may also matter in memory-sensitive scenarios, though the recorded benchmarks show no further wins.

The Core 5 315 also sits at a higher performance percentile, ranking in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs versus the 71st for the 221TE. Its average benchmark score of 18188 is higher than the 221TE's 17860. The launch MSRP for the 315 is $340, while the 221TE launched at $232.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 315 | Intel Core 5 221TE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 6 | 16 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.40 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | Not recorded | 215 mm² |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2026-04-15 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $340 | $232 |

| Part number | SAEFC | SRVQS |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single most striking result is PassMark single-thread performance. The Core 5 315 scores 4021 against the 221TE's 1734, a 131.9% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and reflects the massive generational leap in per-core efficiency between Wildcat Lake and Bartlett Lake.

Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the Core 5 315. In R15 multi-core, the 315 scores 1308 versus 1139, a 14.8% lead. R15 single-core shows 184 versus 160, a 15% lead. R20 multi-core gives 5452 versus 4748, again 14.8%. R20 single-core gives 769 versus 670, 14.8%. R23 multi-core gives 12981 versus 11305, 14.8%. R23 single-core gives 1832 versus 1596, 14.8%. The consistency of that 14.8% margin across every Cinebench iteration indicates a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific fluke.

PassMark extended instructions show a 36.1% win for the 315, with scores of 13143 versus 9655. Floating-point math favors the 315 by 34%, at 42441 versus 31661. Prime number finding favors the 315 by an enormous 89.8%, at 112 versus 59. Data encryption favors the 315 by 24.1%, at 11119 versus 8963. Physics simulation favors the 315 by 19%, at 1163 versus 977. Multithread scoring favors the 315 by 14.8%, at 15272 versus 13301. Random string sorting favors the 315 by a slim 3.7%, at 17551 versus 16929.

The Core 5 221TE's two wins are notable. In data compression, it scores 156682 against 146143, a 6.7% edge. In integer math, it scores 42303 against 31690, a dominant 25.1% margin. These wins align with its larger L3 cache and higher thread count, which allow better parallel handling of integer-heavy data flows.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 315 wins across the broadest possible range of compute scenarios. Rendering workloads, represented by Cinebench, go to the 315 in every single test. Encryption workloads go to the 315, which matters for secure data handling and VPN throughput. Scientific and engineering workloads involving floating-point math also favor the 315 by 34%. Even physics simulation, often sensitive to memory latency and thread scheduling, favors the 315 by 19%.

The 315 is also the clear choice for any single-thread-dependent application. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4021 versus 1734 means spreadsheet macros, scripting, light database queries, and general desktop responsiveness will all feel snappier. The 131.9% delta is not incremental; it is transformative.

The Core 5 221TE wins only in two niches. Integer math is its strongest category, with a 25.1% lead. This makes it suitable for workloads like compression algorithms, hashing, and certain financial calculations that rely heavily on integer operations. Data compression is its other strength, with a 6.7% lead, suggesting that archiving and backup workloads would run slightly faster on the 221TE.

For everything else, the data points to the Core 5 315. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, ranks higher in the overall CPU percentile, and posts a higher average benchmark score. The 221TE is a respectable desktop part with more cores, more threads, and a larger cache, but the 315's architectural efficiency overcomes those raw specification advantages in nearly every measured task.