Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins every single recorded benchmark against the Intel Core 5 221TE. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the Core Ultra 5 235 takes the victory, with no benchmark favoring the Core 5 221TE.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern of advantage. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 14769 against 11305 for the Core 5 221TE, a 23.5% lead. The single-core result in the same test is similarly lopsided: 2085 versus 1596, again a 23.5% gap. Cinebench R20 tells the same story, with the Core Ultra 5 235 delivering 6202 multicore and 875 single-core, compared to 4748 and 670 respectively, both representing 23.4% advantages. Cinebench R15 shows the same margin, with 1488 versus 1139 multicore and 210 versus 160 single-core, each a 23.5% or 23.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 235.

The Passmark suite reveals even larger disparities between the two processors. The most extreme difference appears in the find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 371 versus just 59 for the Core 5 221TE, an 84.1% advantage. Extended instructions show a 70.5% gap, with 32752 against 9655. Floating point math favors the Core Ultra 5 235 by 73.2%, scoring 117951 versus 31661. Data encryption shows a 69.4% edge, with 29293 versus 8963. Data compression delivers 390711 versus 156682, a 59.9% gap. Random string sorting is 65.4% higher at 48980 versus 16929. The multithread score of 37816 compares to 13301, a 64.8% difference, while physics shows 2570 versus 977, a 62% gap. Integer math is 51.9% higher at 87948 versus 42303. Single-thread performance in Passmark shows 4516 versus 1734, a 61.6% advantage.

The average benchmark score places these processors far apart. The Core Ultra 5 235 averages 46062 across all tests, while the Core 5 221TE averages 17860. This places the Core Ultra 5 235 in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Core 5 221TE sits at the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm the positioning: the Core Ultra 5 235 trades blows with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (0.1% behind), and AMD EPYC parts (0.2% delta), while the Core 5 221TE sits within a narrow band around the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (0.2% behind), Intel Core 5 120U (0.2% behind), Intel Core 7 350 (0.5% ahead), and AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (0.7% behind).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel designs and manufacturing approaches. The Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses the Arrow Lake-S codename on Intel Socket 1851. The Core Ultra 5 235 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family and the Arrow Lake architecture, whereas the Core 5 221TE has no listed architecture beyond its Bartlett Lake codename.

Manufacturing differs substantially. The Core 5 221TE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses a 3 nm process fabricated by TSMC, with a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The Core 5 221TE has a die size of 215 mm² with no transistor count recorded. These process differences likely contribute to the performance gap observed in the benchmarks.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, indicating hyperthreading support. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. Despite having fewer threads, the Core Ultra 5 235 still outperforms the Core 5 221TE in every multithreaded test, which points to substantial per-core efficiency gains from the newer architecture and process node.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. The Core 5 221TE features 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The Core Ultra 5 235 doubles the L1 to 192 KB per core and more than doubles L2 to 3 MB per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache, so the total cache capacity at the L3 level is identical, but the per-core L1 and L2 allocations are much larger on the Core Ultra 5 235.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 235 does not.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 5 221TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 235 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics are different as well: the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Power and clock specifications show notable differences. The Core 5 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a TDP of 45 watts. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a TDP of 65 watts. Both reach a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, so the maximum single-core frequency is identical, but the Core Ultra 5 235 maintains a much higher base frequency.

Release timing is close. The Core 5 221TE launched on January 12, 2025, while the Core Ultra 5 235 launched on January 6, 2025. Both are currently active in production, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows no workload category where the Core 5 221TE comes out ahead. In every measured test, the Core Ultra 5 235 delivers higher scores. However, the magnitude of the advantage varies by workload type, which helps characterize where each processor has its relative strengths.

The Core 5 221TE is closest to the Core Ultra 5 235 in the Cinebench rendering workloads. The 23.4% to 23.8% gaps in these tests are the smallest margins recorded. This suggests that in heavily threaded rendering tasks, the Core 5 221TE's 16 threads help it remain competitive, even though it still loses decisively. The Core 5 221TE also shows its smallest deficits in integer math (51.9% behind) and data compression (59.9% behind), indicating that general integer workloads are relatively less punishing for the older chip.

The Core Ultra 5 235 shows its largest advantages in specialized computational tasks. The 84.1% lead in prime number finding, 73.2% in floating point math, and 70.5% in extended instructions demonstrate that the newer architecture excels at mathematically intensive workloads. Data encryption shows a 69.4% edge, and random string sorting shows 65.4%. These are substantial margins that indicate the Core Ultra 5 235 is in a different performance class for compute-heavy applications.

For single-threaded workloads, the Core Ultra 5 235 maintains a strong edge. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2085 versus 1596, and Passmark single-thread shows 4516 versus 1734. The consistency of the Cinebench single-core margin (23.4% to 23.8% across R15, R20, and R23) contrasts with the larger Passmark single-thread gap of 61.6%, which may reflect different measurement methodologies between the two benchmark suites.

The average benchmark score difference is stark: 46062 versus 17860, meaning the Core Ultra 5 235 averages roughly 2.6 times the score of the Core 5 221TE across the full benchmark suite. The percentile ranking confirms the separation, with the Core Ultra 5 235 at the 89th percentile versus the 71st percentile for the Core 5 221TE.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core 5 221TE uses hyperthreading to reach 16 threads from 10 cores, while the Core Ultra 5 235 does not use simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What is the performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: In Cinebench R23, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 14769 multicore versus 11305 for the Core 5 221TE, a 23.5% advantage. In single-core, it scores 2085 versus 1596, also a 23.5% advantage.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 235 does not. Both processors use dual-channel memory configurations.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: What are the launch dates of these processors?

A: The Core 5 221TE launched on January 12, 2025, and the Core Ultra 5 235 launched on January 6, 2025. Both are listed as active in production.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235 has an average score of 46062, placing it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, Intel Core i9-13900HX, AMD EPYC 4364P, and AMD EPYC 7303. The Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860, sitting within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, Intel Core 5 120U, Intel Core 7 350, and AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221TE | Intel Core Ultra 5 235 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 10 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake-S |

| Architecture | Not listed | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | $257 |

| Part Number | SRVQS | SRQAS |

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is the substantially faster processor in every measured category. Its 17-0 record in head-to-head tests, combined with an average benchmark score of 46062 versus 17860, establishes a performance hierarchy that is not close. The Core Ultra 5 235 belongs to the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 221TE sits at the 71st percentile.

The architecture explains much of the gap. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses a 3 nm TSMC process with 17,800 million transistors and an Arrow Lake architecture, while the Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm Intel process. The newer chip also has more cores (14 versus 10), larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, higher memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s), and more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16). Despite lacking hyperthreading, the Core Ultra 5 235's per-core efficiency and higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 1.80 GHz) allow it to dominate multithreaded workloads.

The Core 5 221TE retains advantages in specific areas that matter for certain use cases. It supports ECC memory, which the Core Ultra 5 235 does not. It also supports DDR4 memory, which may be relevant for systems reusing existing memory modules. Its lower TDP of 45 watts versus 65 watts indicates lower power draw, and its Socket 1700 compatibility may suit existing platforms. Its launch MSRP is $232, while the Core Ultra 5 235 has a launch MSRP of $257.

For users prioritizing raw performance across rendering, computation, encryption, compression, and general productivity, the data points to the Core Ultra 5 235. For users requiring ECC memory support or DDR4 compatibility, the Core 5 221TE is the only option between the two, despite its significant performance deficit. The benchmark results do not show any workload where the Core 5 221TE outperforms the Core Ultra 5 235, so the decision hinges on platform and feature requirements rather than performance.