Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core i7-14700HX Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core i7-14700HX wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The Core i7-14700HX delivers substantially higher scores across every recorded workload, from single-threaded tasks to heavily parallelized rendering. The Core 5 221TE occupies the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i7-14700HX sits at the 89th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 5 221TE is 17860, compared to 45953 for the Core i7-14700HX, a gap of roughly 2.6 times.

The Core i7-14700HX is the clear choice for users who need maximum throughput in multi-threaded applications, as its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 24595 is nearly double the 11305 posted by the Core 5 221TE. The Core 5 221TE, however, offers a lower power envelope at 45 W TDP versus 55 W for the Core i7-14700HX, and it uses the desktop Socket 1700 platform, which may suit fixed-position systems where the mobile-oriented BGA 1964 socket of the Core i7-14700HX is not an option. The data shows no scenario where the Core 5 221TE outperforms the Core i7-14700HX, so the only reason to select the former is platform compatibility or power constraints, not performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel lineages. The Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Core i7-14700HX is built on the Raptor Lake-HX architecture. Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses. The Core 5 221TE has a die size of 215 mm², whereas the Core i7-14700HX measures 257 mm².

Core counts differ significantly. The Core 5 221TE provides 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i7-14700HX delivers 20 cores and 28 threads. That extra silicon translates directly into the multicore performance gap seen in the benchmarks. Cache hierarchies also diverge: the Core 5 221TE has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i7-14700HX has 2 MB of L2 per core and 33 MB of shared L3. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core.

Clock speeds favor the Core i7-14700HX. The base clock is 2.10 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 221TE, and the boost clock reaches 5.50 GHz compared to 5.00 GHz. The Core i7-14700HX also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 221TE is locked. Both processors support ECC memory and use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 221TE has UHD Graphics 730, while the Core i7-14700HX has UHD Graphics 770.

The market segments are distinct. The Core 5 221TE is a desktop processor with a launch MSRP of $232, released in January 2025. The Core i7-14700HX is a mobile processor released in January 2024, and the database records no launch MSRP for it. The Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core i7-14700HX uses Intel BGA 1964, meaning the two are not socket-compatible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i7-14700HX dominates every recorded benchmark. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core i7-14700HX scores 2103 against 1596 for the Core 5 221TE, a 24.1% advantage. The largest single-core gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Core i7-14700HX leads by 63.6%, scoring 1843 versus 670. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 45.9% lead for the Core i7-14700HX, 296 versus 160.

Multicore results widen the gap further. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i7-14700HX scores 3812 versus 1139, a 70.1% deficit for the Core 5 221TE. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 13059 versus 4748, a 63.6% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore, the most demanding of the three, gives the Core i7-14700HX a 54% edge with 24595 against 11305.

PassMark results follow the same pattern. Data compression favors the Core i7-14700HX by 64.3%, with 438539 versus 156682. Data encryption shows a 65.6% lead for the Core i7-14700HX, 26092 versus 8963. Extended instructions score 25718 versus 9655, a 62.5% gap. Prime number finding, a heavily single-threaded integer workload, gives 165 versus 59, a 64.2% margin. Floating point math scores 93836 versus 31661, a 66.3% difference. Integer math shows 131296 versus 42303, a 67.8% lead. Multithread performance is 36566 versus 13301, a 63.6% margin. Physics simulation scores 2252 versus 977, a 56.6% gap. Random string sorting shows 48544 versus 16929, a 65.1% difference. Single-thread PassMark results give 3947 versus 1734, a 56.1% lead for the Core i7-14700HX.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for each processor's standing. The Core 5 221TE sits within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and within 0.2% of both the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and the Intel Core 5 120U, while also trailing the Intel Core 7 350 by 0.5%. The Core i7-14700HX matches the AMD EPYC 7303 and AMD EPYC 4364P within 0%, trails the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 by 0.2%, and trails the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 by 0.2%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Core i7-14700HX in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Core i7-14700HX scores 24595, which is 54% higher than the Core 5 221TE's 11305.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses. The Core 5 221TE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core i7-14700HX has no memory bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: Are the two processors socket-compatible?

A: No. The Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core i7-14700HX uses Intel BGA 1964.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-14700HX boosts to 5.50 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Core 5 221TE.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Core 5 221TE has UHD Graphics 730, while the Core i7-14700HX has UHD Graphics 770.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark wins for the Core 5 221TE. The Core i7-14700HX wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Core 5 221TE's only advantages lie in its lower 45 W TDP versus 55 W, its desktop socket compatibility, and its launch MSRP of $232, which the database records for it but not for the Core i7-14700HX.

For multi-threaded workloads such as video rendering, data compression, or physics simulation, the Core i7-14700HX is the stronger option. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 24595 and PassMark multithread score of 36566 demonstrate a clear throughput advantage. The 20-core, 28-thread configuration with 33 MB of L3 cache supports heavy parallel processing.

For single-threaded tasks, the Core i7-14700HX still leads, though by a smaller margin. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2103 is 24.1% above the Core 5 221TE's 1596, and its PassMark single-thread score of 3947 beats 1734 by 56.1%. The higher 5.50 GHz boost clock contributes to this edge.

The Core 5 221TE is positioned for desktop systems where the lower 45 W TDP and Socket 1700 compatibility matter more than raw performance. Its 10 cores and 16 threads still produce respectable scores, placing it at the 71st percentile of all CPUs. It handles typical desktop workloads without issue, but the benchmark record shows it cannot match the Core i7-14700HX in any measured category. Users choosing between the two should base the decision on platform requirements and power constraints rather than performance, as the data favors the Core i7-14700HX across the board.