Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

Intel Core 5 221TE and Intel Core 9 273PE are both desktop processors from Intel's Bartlett Lake family, but they occupy very different positions in the performance spectrum. The Core 9 273PE is the clear performance leader, winning all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while the Core 5 221TE is positioned as a more modest mainstream part. The database shows the Core 9 273PE delivers roughly 2.5 to 3.5 times the performance of the Core 5 221TE across most workloads, with the single-thread gap being the narrowest at just over double. These results indicate the Core 9 273PE is aimed at demanding multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks, while the Core 5 221TE serves users who need solid everyday performance without the top-tier output.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark table is one-sided: the Intel Core 9 273PE wins all 17 recorded tests. The Core 5 221TE does not win a single comparison. This means the use-case split is defined entirely by how much performance is required, not by any workload where the lower-tier chip excels.

The Core 9 273PE shows its largest advantages in heavily parallel workloads. In PassMark's find prime numbers test, it scores 203 versus 59 for the Core 5 221TE, a 70.9% advantage. Floating point math delivers a similar gap, with the Core 9 273PE scoring 107884 against 31661, a 70.7% delta. Integer math follows at 139410 versus 42303, a 69.7% lead. These results indicate the Core 9 273PE is the choice for scientific computing, financial modeling, or any workload that saturates all available cores and execution units.

The Core 9 273PE also dominates in content creation and rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 31288 versus 11305, a 63.9% advantage. The single-core result in the same test shows a 4417 to 1596 split, also a 63.9% delta. This consistency across both multi-threaded and single-threaded tests indicates the Core 9 273PE has both more cores and a higher clock speed working in its favor.

For productivity and general computing, the Core 9 273PE maintains its lead but by slightly smaller margins. PassMark data compression shows 405885 versus 156682, a 61.4% advantage. Data encryption follows at 22719 versus 8963, a 60.5% lead. The smallest gap in the entire comparison is PassMark single thread, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3650 versus 1734, a 52.5% delta. This suggests that for basic tasks like web browsing or office applications, the Core 5 221TE gets relatively closer to the higher-end part, but still trails by a significant margin.

The Core 5 221TE has no winning scenarios in the recorded data. Its only potential advantage is its lower power draw, but the database does not include comparative efficiency metrics. The Core 9 273PE is the outright winner for every workload category represented in the benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Bartlett Lake codename and are built on Intel's 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. They use the same Intel Socket 1700 platform and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses. The integrated graphics are also identical: UHD Graphics 730 on both parts.

The core configurations differ substantially. The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. This represents a 20% increase in core count and a 50% increase in thread count for the higher-tier part. The thread advantage is particularly notable because it indicates the Core 9 273PE uses hyper-threading across all its cores, while the Core 5 221TE's thread count suggests some cores may not have hyper-threading enabled.

Clock speeds also favor the Core 9 273PE. Its base clock is 2.30 GHz and boost clock reaches 5.70 GHz, compared to the Core 5 221TE's 1.80 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The boost clock difference of 0.70 GHz is significant for single-threaded performance, while the base clock difference of 0.50 GHz matters for sustained multi-threaded loads.

Cache hierarchies scale with the core count. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core on both processors, but the L2 cache differs: the Core 5 221TE has 1.25 MB per core while the Core 9 273PE has 2 MB per core. This means the Core 9 273PE has a larger total L2 footprint. The L3 cache also differs, with the Core 5 221TE offering 24 MB shared versus 36 MB shared on the Core 9 273PE, a 50% increase.

Memory bandwidth reflects the platform differences. The Core 5 221TE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core 9 273PE reaches 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is a professional-grade feature. PCIe support is identical: Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The die size is listed for the Core 5 221TE at 215 mm², but no die size is recorded for the Core 9 273PE. The TDP differs, with the Core 5 221TE rated at 45 watts and the Core 9 273PE at 65 watts, though the database does not include power consumption measurements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent pattern of dominance for the Intel Core 9 273PE. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 3153 versus 1139 for the Core 5 221TE, a 63.9% delta. The single-core version shows 445 versus 160, also a 64% delta. These results establish the multi-threaded and single-threaded performance gap from the outset.

Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern. Multi-core shows 13140 versus 4748, a 63.9% advantage for the Core 9 273PE. Single-core delivers 1855 versus 670, again a 63.9% delta. The consistency of these percentages across Cinebench versions indicates the performance scaling is uniform across different rendering workloads.

Cinebench R23, the most recent version in the data, shows 31288 versus 11305 in multi-core and 4417 versus 1596 in single-core, both with a 63.9% delta. This confirms that the Core 9 273PE delivers roughly 2.8 times the multi-core performance and 2.8 times the single-core performance of the Core 5 221TE in Cinebench workloads.

PassMark tests reveal the workload-dependent nature of the performance gap. The largest delta is in find prime numbers, where the Core 9 273PE leads by 70.9% (203 versus 59). Floating point math shows a 70.7% delta (107884 versus 31661), and integer math shows a 69.7% delta (139410 versus 42303). These math-heavy tests favor the Core 9 273PE's higher core count and larger cache.

Physics simulation shows a 68.7% delta (3120 versus 977), while random string sorting shows a 62.5% delta (45098 versus 16929). Extended instructions score 24630 versus 9655, a 60.8% delta. Data compression shows 405885 versus 156682, a 61.4% delta, and data encryption shows 22719 versus 8963, a 60.5% delta.

The smallest gap appears in PassMark single thread, where the Core 9 273PE leads by 52.5% (3650 versus 1734). This is still a substantial margin, but it indicates the Core 5 221TE's single-core performance is relatively closer to the higher-tier part than its multi-core performance.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the hierarchy. The Core 9 273PE has an average benchmark score of 49845 and sits at the 90th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 221TE averages 17860 and sits at the 71st percentile. The Core 9 273PE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (0.1% ahead), Intel Core i5-14600KF (0.9% behind), Intel Core i9-13980HX (1.1% ahead), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (1.2% ahead). The Core 5 221TE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (0.2% ahead), Intel Core 5 120U (0.2% ahead), Intel Core 7 350 (0.5% behind), and AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (0.7% ahead).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 221TE boosts to 5.00 GHz, a difference of 0.70 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Core 9 273PE?

A: The Core 9 273PE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 5 221TE has 24 MB, a 50% increase.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, compared to 76.8 GB/s for the Intel Core 5 221TE.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221TE and Intel Core 9 273PE support ECC memory.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core 9 273PE leads by 70.9% with a score of 203 versus 59.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The core count is 10 for the Core 5 221TE versus 12 for the Core 9 273PE. Thread counts are 16 versus 24. Base clocks are 1.80 GHz versus 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz versus 5.70 GHz. TDP is 45 watts versus 65 watts. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 2 MB per core. L3 cache is 24 MB shared versus 36 MB shared. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. Die size is 215 mm² for the Core 5 221TE, with no recorded die size for the Core 9 273PE. Release dates are 2025-01-12 for the Core 5 221TE and 2026-03-08 for the Core 9 273PE. Launch MSRP is $232 for the Core 5 221TE and $549 for the Core 9 273PE. Part numbers are SRVQS for the Core 5 221TE and SA4QD for the Core 9 273PE.