Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core i7-14650HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a decisive sweep for the Intel Core i7-14650HX across all seventeen head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 221TE does not record a single win. The most lopsided margin appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-14650HX scores 3470.5 against 1139 for the Core 5 221TE, a delta of -67.2 percent. That gap represents the raw thread-count advantage of 16 cores and 24 threads versus 10 cores and 16 threads.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though with a smaller margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-14650HX posts 1969 against 1596, a -18.9 percent delta. That is the closest result in the entire comparison. The boost clocks explain part of this: the i7-14650HX reaches 5.20 GHz while the Core 5 221TE tops out at 5.00 GHz. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-14650HX records 285.5 against 160, a -44 percent delta, which indicates the older architecture of the Core 5 221TE limits its peak frequency efficiency.

Multi-core workloads amplify the hardware differences. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i7-14650HX at 11946 versus 4748, a -60.3 percent delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 20454 versus 11305, a -44.7 percent delta. The PassMark suite reinforces this dominance. Integer math delivers 116661 for the i7-14650HX against 42303, a -63.7 percent delta, the largest single-workload margin recorded. Floating point math shows 84999 versus 31661, a -62.8 percent delta. Data compression reaches 398418 versus 156682, a -60.7 percent delta.

Encryption and extended instruction workloads show consistent gaps around -60 percent. Data encryption scores 22917 versus 8963, a -60.9 percent delta. Extended instructions score 24150 versus 9655, a -60 percent delta. Prime number finding, a workload sensitive to memory latency and core scaling, records 152 versus 59, a -61.2 percent delta. The multithread PassMark score, 33495 versus 13301, lands at -60.3 percent.

Physics and sorting workloads show slightly smaller but still decisive margins. PassMark physics records 2202 versus 977, a -55.6 percent delta. Random string sorting shows 43035 versus 16929, a -60.7 percent delta. The single-thread PassMark score, measured twice as both "single_thread" and "singlethread", records 3841 versus 1734, a -54.9 percent delta in both entries.

The average benchmark score for the i7-14650HX is 41576, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 221TE averages 17860, sitting in the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 221TE include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with an average score of 17891 and a delta of -0.2 percent, the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898 with -0.2 percent, and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 with 0.5 percent. For the i7-14650HX, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41621 with -0.1 percent, the Intel Core 7 251TE at 41650 with -0.2 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at 41376 with 0.5 percent.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX wins with a score of 20454, a -44.7 percent delta relative to the Intel Core 5 221TE's 11305.

Q: How large is the single-core gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The i7-14650HX scores 1969, while the Core 5 221TE scores 1596, a -18.9 percent delta. This is the narrowest margin in any head-to-head test.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference in the PassMark suite?

A: Integer math shows the largest gap: 116661 for the i7-14650HX versus 42303 for the Core 5 221TE, a -63.7 percent delta.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the database lists ECC memory support as true for both the Intel Core 5 221TE and the Intel Core i7-14650HX.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The i7-14650HX averages 41576, placing it in the 88th percentile. The Core 5 221TE averages 17860, placing it in the 71st percentile.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-14650HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core 5 221TE boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14650HX wins in every recorded workload category. The data shows no workload where the Intel Core 5 221TE takes a lead. The i7-14650HX delivers its strongest relative advantage in integer math, floating point math, and data compression, all PassMark tests that scale heavily with core count and cache capacity. The 16 cores, 24 threads, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache give it a structural edge in parallel workloads.

The Core 5 221TE, despite losing every head-to-head test, still holds a meaningful position in the database. Its 71st percentile ranking places it above a majority of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and the Intel Core 5 120U, both within 0.2 percent of its average score. That means the Core 5 221TE is competitive with mainstream desktop and mobile processors from the same era, just not with the high-end mobile HX part.

For workloads that favor single-core performance, the i7-14650HX still leads, but the margin shrinks. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a -18.9 percent delta, and PassMark single-thread shows -54.9 percent. The boost clock difference of 0.20 GHz and the newer Raptor Lake architecture contribute to this advantage. The Core 5 221TE, built on Bartlett Lake, uses the same 10 nm process node but lacks the higher base clock and larger core count.

Applications that stress memory bandwidth and cache hierarchy favor the i7-14650HX. Its L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core on the Core 5 221TE, and its L3 cache is 30 MB shared versus 24 MB shared. Those cache differences show up in the PassMark data compression and random string sorting results, where the i7-14650HX leads by roughly 60 percent in both cases.

For desktop users constrained by a 45 W TDP, the Core 5 221TE offers a lower power envelope. The i7-14650HX, at 55 W TDP, is a mobile part designed for larger laptops or workstations with more thermal headroom. The data does not include power efficiency metrics, but the TDP figures indicate different thermal design targets.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several core specifications. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14650HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks differ: 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 221TE versus 2.20 GHz for the i7-14650HX. Boost clocks also differ: 5.00 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. TDP is 45 W for the Core 5 221TE and 55 W for the i7-14650HX.

Socket types are entirely different. The Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket, while the i7-14650HX uses Intel BGA 1964, a mobile socket. Market segments reflect this: the Core 5 221TE is listed as Desktop, the i7-14650HX as Mobile.

Cache configurations show clear differences. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the Core 5 221TE versus 2 MB per core on the i7-14650HX. L3 cache is 24 MB shared versus 30 MB shared.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 221TE ships with UHD Graphics 730, while the i7-14650HX ships with UHD Graphics 710. Memory bandwidth is listed as 76.8 GB/s for the Core 5 221TE, with no bandwidth figure recorded for the i7-14650HX. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and both support ECC memory.

The multiplier is unlocked on the i7-14650HX, while the Core 5 221TE has a locked multiplier. The i7-14650HX has a launch MSRP of $232 for the Core 5 221TE. The i7-14650HX has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates differ: the Core 5 221TE launched on 2025-01-12, the i7-14650HX on 2024-01-07.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 221TE is built on Bartlett Lake, a desktop-oriented architecture. The Intel Core i7-14650HX uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX refresh, designed for high-performance mobile systems. Both use a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel, but the die sizes differ: 215 mm² for the Core 5 221TE versus 257 mm² for the i7-14650HX. The larger die on the i7-14650HX accommodates the additional cores, threads, and cache.

The generation labels in the database differ. The Core 5 221TE is listed as "Core 5 (Bartlett Lake)", while the i7-14650HX is listed as "Core i7 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh)". This indicates the i7-14650HX is a refresh of the Raptor Lake-HX line, while the Core 5 221TE belongs to a newer Bartlett Lake family.

PCIe support is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Memory support is also identical: DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. Both support ECC memory. The i7-14650HX has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking on supported platforms, while the Core 5 221TE does not.

The integrated graphics differ in model number, with UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 221TE and UHD Graphics 710 on the i7-14650HX. The database does not record performance figures for either iGPU, so the comparison is limited to model identification.

The production status for both is Active. Part numbers are recorded as SRVQS for the Core 5 221TE and SRMXH for the i7-14650HX. The i7-14650HX belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, while the Core 5 221TE has no series designation listed. These architectural differences, combined with the core and cache disparities, explain the consistent performance gap recorded across all benchmark tests.