Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark comparison is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H wins all 17 recorded benchmark comparisons. There are zero wins for the Intel Core 5 221TE across the tested workloads. This is not a close contest; the data shows a decisive performance advantage for the mobile processor.

The Core Ultra 5 225H holds its largest advantages in workloads that stress raw execution throughput. The biggest single delta appears in the prime number search test, where the Core Ultra 5 225H posts a 73.2% advantage. Floating point math shows a 63.4% gap, while single-threaded PassMark performance sits 59.3% ahead. These results indicate that the Core Ultra 5 225H is substantially stronger in both scalar integer loops and floating point heavy code.

The Core 5 221TE does not carve out any niche where it leads. Even in tests that favor desktop parts, such as memory bandwidth dependent workloads, the data shows no advantage. The Core 5 221TE is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor with a 45 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 5 225H is a 14-core, 14-thread mobile processor with a 28 W TDP. Despite the desktop part's higher power envelope, the mobile part outscores it everywhere.

The average benchmark score confirms the overall positioning. The Core 5 221TE averages 17860 points, placing it at the 71st percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 5 225H averages 31508 points, placing it at the 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 221TE include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (average 17891, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core 5 120U (average 17898, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core 7 350 (average 17779, delta 0.5%). The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 5 225H include the Intel Core i5-13500 (average 31510, delta 0%), the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX (average 31495, delta 0%), and the Intel Core 7 240H (average 31483, delta 0.1%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and target different platforms. The Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, belongs to the Core 5 generation, and is built on Intel's 10 nm process node. The Core Ultra 5 225H uses the Arrow Lake-H codename, belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, and is built on TSMC's 3 nm process node. The foundry difference is notable: Intel for the 221TE, TSMC for the 225H.

Core counts differ. The 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads. The 225H has more physical cores but no hyperthreading, so its thread count equals its core count. The 221TE relies on hyperthreading to reach 16 threads from 10 cores.

Clock speeds are close. The 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 225H has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The desktop part has a slightly higher boost clock, but that does not translate into benchmark wins.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The 221TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The 225H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The mobile part has larger per-core caches but a smaller shared pool. The die size for the 221TE is 215 mm²; no die size is recorded for the 225H.

Memory support diverges. The 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The 225H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The mobile part has higher memory bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the 221TE but not on the 225H.

PCIe lanes also differ. The 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 225H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The desktop part has more PCIe lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the 225H uses Arc Graphics 130T.

Socket and market segment separate the two. The 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700 and is a desktop part. The 225H uses Intel BGA 2049 and is a mobile part. Both were released on the same date, 2025-01-12. The 221TE has a launch MSRP of $232; no launch MSRP is recorded for the 225H. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results reveal the scale of the performance gap. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 225H scores 2397.5 versus the 221TE's 1139, a 52.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the 225H scores 288.5 versus 160, a 44.5% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the 225H scores 10041 versus 4748, a 52.7% advantage. In R20 singlecore, the 225H scores 1417 versus 670, again a 52.7% advantage.

Cinebench R23 shows a somewhat narrower gap. In multicore, the 225H scores 14629.5 versus 11305, a 22.7% advantage. In singlecore, the 225H scores 1969 versus 1596, an 18.9% advantage. The R23 results indicate that the gap shrinks somewhat under longer rendering workloads, but the 225H still leads clearly.

PassMark tests show consistent dominance. Data compression: 283451 versus 156682, a 44.7% advantage. Data encryption: 21428 versus 8963, a 58.2% advantage. Extended instructions: 21915 versus 9655, a 55.9% advantage. Prime number search: 220 versus 59, a 73.2% advantage. Floating point math: 86540 versus 31661, a 63.4% advantage. Integer math: 68520 versus 42303, a 38.3% advantage. Multithread: 28119 versus 13301, a 52.7% advantage. Physics: 1877 versus 977, a 47.9% advantage. Random string sorting: 33654 versus 16929, a 49.7% advantage. Single thread: 4258 versus 1734, a 59.3% advantage.

The Geekbench results are recorded only for the 225H, with a multicore score of 11526 and a singlecore score of 2151. No comparable Geekbench scores exist for the 221TE in the database, so a direct comparison is not possible. The PassMark single-thread test also shows the 225H at 4258 versus 1734 for the 221TE.

The pattern is consistent. The 225H leads by roughly 20% to 70% depending on the workload. The largest margins appear in prime number search, floating point math, and single-thread performance. The smallest margins appear in Cinebench R23, both multicore and singlecore.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores. However, the 221TE has 16 threads versus 14 threads for the 225H, due to hyperthreading on the desktop part.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Core 5 221TE is built on Intel's 10 nm node. The Core Ultra 5 225H is built on TSMC's 3 nm node. The 225H uses a more advanced manufacturing process.

Q: Does the Core 5 221TE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 225H does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225H has 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Core 5 221TE has 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. The mobile part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the desktop part supports DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 5 221TE averages 17860 points, placing at the 71st percentile. The Core Ultra 5 225H averages 31508 points, placing at the 82nd percentile. The 225H has a 76.5% higher average score.

Q: What are the PCIe lane counts?

A: The Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core Ultra 5 225H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The desktop part has more PCIe lanes available.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear separation between these two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is the superior performer in every recorded benchmark. It wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons and holds the higher average benchmark score, 31508 versus 17860. Its percentile ranking of 82 versus 71 further confirms the overall positioning.

The Core 5 221TE is a desktop processor with a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz) and more PCIe lanes (16 versus 8). It also supports ECC memory and has a larger shared L3 cache (24 MB versus 18 MB). These features may matter for specific desktop use cases. However, the recorded performance data does not show any workload where the 221TE leads.

The Core Ultra 5 225H benefits from a more advanced process node (TSMC 3 nm versus Intel 10 nm), larger per-core caches (192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core versus 80 KB and 1.25 MB), and higher memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s). Its 14 cores provide more parallel execution capacity, even without hyperthreading. The 28 W TDP versus 45 W TDP indicates the mobile part achieves this performance at a lower power envelope.

The desktop part's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, have average scores close to the 221TE. The mobile part's nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-13500 and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX, have average scores nearly identical to the 225H. This means the 225H competes with higher-tier desktop-class processors despite being a mobile part.

For users selecting between these two, the data is unambiguous. The Core Ultra 5 225H delivers substantially higher performance across rendering, encryption, compression, math, and single-thread workloads. The Core 5 221TE offers ECC memory support, more PCIe lanes, and a desktop socket, but it does not match the 225H in any benchmark recorded in the database. The choice depends on platform requirements rather than performance, since performance clearly favors the Core Ultra 5 225H.