Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark record is entirely one-sided. Across all 17 recorded comparisons, the Intel Core i5-14500 wins every single test. The Intel Core 5 221TE does not register a single victory in any workload category, whether single-threaded, multi-threaded, or specialized instruction sets. This is a complete sweep in favor of the Core i5-14500.

The Core 5 221TE is positioned as a lower-power desktop part with a 45 W TDP, while the Core i5-14500 operates at a 65 W TDP. The performance gap reflects that power and core-count difference across every measured workload. The Core i5-14500 holds the 86th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 221TE sits at the 71st percentile. That 15-point percentile gap places the two processors in clearly different performance tiers.

For workloads that stress all cores simultaneously, the Core i5-14500 dominates. Its 14 cores and 20 threads give it a substantial parallel processing advantage over the 10 cores and 16 threads of the Core 5 221TE. Multi-threaded benchmarks such as Cinebench R20 multicore and PassMark multithread show the Core i5-14500 running roughly 56 to 57 percent ahead. The Core 5 221TE does offer a 45 W TDP, making it the more power-conscious option, but that efficiency comes with a large performance cost.

Single-threaded workloads also favor the Core i5-14500, though by a smaller margin than the multi-threaded tests. Both processors share a 5.00 GHz boost clock, yet the Core i5-14500 still leads by 16.7 percent in Cinebench R23 single-core and by 56.1 percent in PassMark single-thread. The base clock difference is notable: the Core i5-14500 starts at 2.60 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 221TE. This gives the Core i5-14500 an advantage in lightly threaded tasks that do not reach boost frequencies.

The Core 5 221TE does have one distinguishing trait: it is a Bartlett Lake part with a 45 W TDP, designed for systems where thermal and power envelopes are constrained. Its launch MSRP is $232, identical to the Core i5-14500. The data shows no workload category where the Core 5 221TE pulls ahead, so its role is best understood as a lower-power alternative rather than a performance alternative.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core i5-14500 scores 1917 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 16.7 percent higher than the Core 5 221TE score of 1596.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Core i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Core i5-14500 leads by 60.9 percent with a score of 108124 versus 42303.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both processors support ECC memory, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent and substantial lead for the Intel Core i5-14500 across all benchmark categories. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i5-14500 scores 2435 against 1139 for the Core 5 221TE, a 53.2 percent advantage. The R20 multicore test shows an even larger gap: 10985 versus 4748, a 56.8 percent lead. Cinebench R23 multicore narrows the gap somewhat, with the Core i5-14500 scoring 15012 versus 11305, a 24.7 percent advantage. This smaller delta in R23 suggests that the longer-running workload allows the Core 5 221TE to sustain relatively better throughput, though it still trails decisively.

Single-core results follow the same direction. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core i5-14500 scores 273 versus 160, a 41.4 percent lead. R20 single-core shows 1550 versus 670, a 56.8 percent gap. R23 single-core shows 1917 versus 1596, a 16.7 percent lead. The R23 single-core result is the closest head-to-head margin in the entire dataset, indicating that the Core 5 221TE's single-core architecture is more competitive in sustained single-threaded workloads than in shorter bursts.

PassMark results amplify the multi-threaded advantage. Data compression shows 371294 for the Core i5-14500 versus 156682, a 57.8 percent lead. Data encryption shows 21457 versus 8963, a 58.2 percent gap. Extended instructions show 22473 versus 9655, a 57 percent lead. Floating point math shows 79576 versus 31661, a 60.2 percent gap. Integer math shows 108124 versus 42303, a 60.9 percent lead, the largest margin in the dataset. Random string sorting shows 40980 versus 16929, a 58.7 percent gap. The PassMark multithread score is 30777 versus 13301, a 56.8 percent lead.

Physics and prime number tests also favor the Core i5-14500. PassMark physics shows 1746 versus 977, a 44 percent lead. PassMark find prime numbers shows 106 versus 59, a 44.3 percent gap. The single-thread PassMark score is 3952 versus 1734, a 56.1 percent lead, which is notably larger than the Cinebench single-core deltas. This suggests the PassMark single-thread workload is more sensitive to the base clock and microarchitecture differences between the two parts.

The data shows no benchmark where the Core 5 221TE comes within single digits of the Core i5-14500. The closest margins are Cinebench R23 single-core at 16.7 percent and Cinebench R23 multicore at 24.7 percent. All other tests show gaps of at least 41 percent. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the Core i5-14500 averages 38531, while the Core 5 221TE averages 17860, which is a 53.6 percent deficit. The Core 5 221TE's nearest rival in the database is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891, a 0.2 percent difference, while the Core i5-14500's closest competitor is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T at 38561, a 0.1 percent difference.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The Core i5-14500 offers 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 5 221TE offers 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds differ significantly: the Core i5-14500 runs at 2.60 GHz, while the Core 5 221TE runs at 1.80 GHz. Both share a 5.00 GHz boost clock.

TDP is another differentiator. The Core i5-14500 has a 65 W TDP, while the Core 5 221TE has a 45 W TDP. Both processors use Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The Core i5-14500 does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database, while the Core 5 221TE lists 76.8 GB/s.

The integrated graphics differ: the Core i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770, and the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730. Both support ECC memory, and both use Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The launch MSRP for both is $232. The Core i5-14500 was released in January 2024, while the Core 5 221TE was released in January 2025. The Core 5 221TE has the part number SRVQS, and the Core i5-14500 has the part number SRN3T.

Architecture Differences

The Core i5-14500 belongs to the Core 14th Gen series and uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. The Core 5 221TE is a Bartlett Lake part without a listed series name. Both processors are built on a 10 nm process at Intel foundries, and both have a die size of 215 mm².

Cache configurations are identical on paper. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The transistor counts are not recorded for either part. The core count difference is the primary architectural separation: the Core i5-14500 brings four additional cores and four additional threads, which explains much of its multi-threaded advantage.

The Bartlett Lake codename of the Core 5 221TE represents a different product family within Intel's desktop lineup, aimed at a lower power envelope with the 45 W TDP. The Raptor Lake Refresh generation of the Core i5-14500 is a higher-power mainstream desktop design. Despite the architectural differences, both processors share the same socket, memory support, PCIe configuration, and ECC capability, indicating that they are targeted at similar system platforms with different thermal budgets.