Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the Intel Core i7-8700 and the Intel Core 5 221TE. The newer Core 5 221TE wins the majority of the head-to-head comparisons, taking 11 of the 17 recorded tests, while the i7-8700 secures 6 wins. However, the margin of victory in many of the Core 5 221TE's wins is narrow, while the i7-8700's wins are often decisively large.

In the Cinebench suite, the Core 5 221TE holds a consistent, though modest, advantage across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 5 221TE scores 1139 against the i7-8700's 1091, a delta of 4.2%. The single-core R15 result is similarly close, with 160 versus 153, a 4.4% gap. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the Core 5 221TE posts 4748 multi-core and 670 single-core, versus 4548 and 641 for the i7-8700, respectively, and in Cinebench R23, with scores of 11305 and 1596 for the Core 5 221TE against 10829 and 1528 for the i7-8700. Across all three Cinebench generations, the delta remains tightly clustered between 4.1% and 4.4%, indicating a consistent but small performance edge for the Core 5 221TE in both threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads.

The Passmark results tell a very different story. The i7-8700 dominates in several specific workloads. Its most significant victory is in passmark_single_thread, where it scores 2629 against the Core 5 221TE's 1734, a massive 51.6% advantage. This result is duplicated under the passmark_singlethread entry, confirming the i7-8700's strong single-threaded performance in this benchmark. The i7-8700 also wins decisively in passmark_random_string_sorting, scoring 23963 versus 16929, a 41.6% lead. In passmark_extended_instructions, the i7-8700 scores 12432 against 9655, a 28.8% advantage. The i7-8700 also takes passmark_data_compression with 187009 versus 156682, a 19.4% lead, and passmark_integer_math with 44881 versus 42303, a 6.1% margin.

The Core 5 221TE's wins in the Passmark suite are more varied. Its largest victory is in passmark_data_encryption, where it scores 8963 against the i7-8700's 4488, a 49.9% advantage. It also wins passmark_find_prime_numbers with 59 versus 35, a 40.7% lead, and passmark_physics with 977 versus 732, a 25.1% margin. The Core 5 221TE takes passmark_floating_point_math with 31661 versus 27839, a 12.1% edge, and passmark_multithread with 13301 versus 12756, a 4.1% margin. These results show the Core 5 221TE's strength in encryption, prime number calculations, physics simulation, and general floating-point workloads, while the i7-8700 excels at sorting, compression, integer math, and extended instruction sets.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i7-8700 has an average benchmark score of 18223, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860, placing it in the 71st percentile. The difference in average scores is small, with the i7-8700 holding a nominal lead of about 2%, yet the distribution of wins across individual tests is heavily skewed toward the Core 5 221TE. This suggests that the i7-8700's average is buoyed by its extremely high scores in a few specific workloads, while the Core 5 221TE is more consistently competitive across a broader range of tests.

The neighboring rivals for each CPU further contextualize their standing. The i7-8700's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E with an average score of 18230, showing a delta of 0%. The Core 5 221TE's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with an average score of 17891, a delta of 0.2%. Both CPUs sit in a dense pack of similarly performing processors, with the i7-8700 slightly ahead of the Core 5 221TE in overall average but trailing it in the number of head-to-head wins.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core 5 221TE is the better choice for users who prioritize a broad range of threaded workloads, particularly those involving encryption, physics, prime number finding, and floating-point math. Its 10 cores and 16 threads provide a structural advantage in heavily parallel tasks, and its wins in passmark_multithread, passmark_physics, and passmark_floating_point_math confirm this. The Core 5 221TE also holds a consistent, if small, lead across all Cinebench versions, making it the better option for rendering workloads as well.

The Intel Core i7-8700, however, is the superior choice for specific single-threaded and specialized tasks. Its 51.6% lead in passmark_single_thread is extraordinary, and its dominant wins in passmark_random_string_sorting, passmark_extended_instructions, and passmark_data_compression indicate that it is better suited for workloads that rely on high per-core performance, string manipulation, and compression algorithms. The i7-8700's 6-core, 12-thread configuration with a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz (versus 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 221TE) likely contributes to these results, although the boost clock of the Core 5 221TE is higher at 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz.

For a user building a desktop system with a mix of workloads, the Core 5 221TE is the more balanced performer, winning 11 of 17 tests and offering a larger core count, newer architecture, and more modern platform features. For a user with a specific need for maximum single-threaded performance or compression and sorting tasks, the i7-8700 has a clear edge that should not be overlooked. The database suggests no universal winner, only a clear division of strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE wins 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-8700 wins 6.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: In the passmark_single_thread test, the i7-8700 scores 2629 versus 1734 for the Core 5 221TE, a 51.6% advantage for the i7-8700.

Q: In which workload does the Core 5 221TE show its largest advantage?

A: The Core 5 221TE's largest win is in passmark_data_encryption, scoring 8963 against 4488 for the i7-8700, a 49.9% lead.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core 5 221TE scores 11305, while the i7-8700 scores 10829, giving the Core 5 221TE a 4.2% lead.

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

A: The i7-8700 has an average benchmark score of 18223, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860, placing it in the 71st percentile.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8700 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The base clock of the i7-8700 is 3.20 GHz, compared to 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 221TE. Conversely, the boost clock of the Core 5 221TE is higher at 5.00 GHz, versus 4.60 GHz for the i7-8700.

The thermal design power differs, with the i7-8700 rated at 65 watts and the Core 5 221TE rated at 45 watts. The sockets are different: the i7-8700 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700. The i7-8700 supports DDR4 memory only, while the Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The memory bandwidth is higher for the Core 5 221TE at 76.8 GB/s, versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7-8700. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-8700 includes UHD Graphics 630, while the Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730.

The PCIe capability differs, with the i7-8700 supporting Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 221TE supports Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only). The i7-8700 does not support ECC memory, while the Core 5 221TE does. The production status also differs: the i7-8700 is end-of-life, while the Core 5 221TE is active. The release dates are notably different, with the i7-8700 released in 2017 and the Core 5 221TE released in 2025.

Architecture Differences

The architecture differences are substantial. The i7-8700 is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, while the Core 5 221TE is based on the Bartlett Lake architecture. The process node differs: the i7-8700 uses a 14 nm process, while the Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process. The die size also differs, with the i7-8700 measuring 154 mm² and the Core 5 221TE measuring 215 mm².

The cache hierarchy is different in both size and organization. The i7-8700 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 24 MB L3 cache. This gives the Core 5 221TE significantly more cache at every level.

The generation labels reflect the age gap, with the i7-8700 belonging to the Core i7 (Coffee Lake) generation and the Core 5 221TE belonging to the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation. The foundry for both is Intel, and both CPUs have locked multipliers. The market segment for both is desktop. The memory bus is dual-channel for both CPUs. The part numbers differ, with the i7-8700 carrying the SR3QS part number and the Core 5 221TE carrying the SRVQS part number.