Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses no hyper-threading on its core count, whereas the Core 5 221TE supports hyper-threading to reach 16 threads from 10 cores.

Q: What is the difference in process node and foundry between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE is built on a 10 nm process by Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is also larger in die size at 243 mm² versus 215 mm² for the Core 5 221TE.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Intel Core 5 221TE. The base clocks differ more substantially: 4.20 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus versus 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 221TE.

Q: How do the two compare in average benchmark score and percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus records an average benchmark score of 66855 and sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 221TE records 17860 and sits in the 71st percentile. The nearest rival to the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66925, a delta of -0.1%, while the Core 5 221TE's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994, a delta of -0.7%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221TE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus support ECC memory. Both also use dual-channel memory buses, but the Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on either processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has a locked multiplier. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also uses Intel Socket 1851, whereas the Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core 5 221TE is based on Bartlett Lake, belongs to the Core 5 generation, and is manufactured on a 10 nm node by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, and is built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. This foundry shift is significant: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus packs 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die, while the Core 5 221TE has no listed transistor count but carries a 215 mm² die on the older node.

Core organization differs as well. The Core 5 221TE offers 10 cores and 16 threads, indicating that some cores support simultaneous multi-threading. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offers 18 cores and 18 threads, meaning each core maps to exactly one thread. Cache structures reflect this divergence. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. Every level of cache favors the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in capacity, which aligns with its higher core count and newer architecture.

Memory and I/O also differ. The Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but with 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. PCIe connectivity is not identical: the Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ too. The Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730, whereas the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Production status is active for both, but release timing differs. The Core 5 221TE appeared in the database with a release date of 2025-01-12, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a release date of 2026-03-10. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also has a higher TDP at 125 watts versus 45 watts for the Core 5 221TE, which is consistent with its larger core count and higher clocks.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record shows a complete sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 221TE records zero wins in those direct comparisons. That said, the Core 5 221TE is not without a role. Its 45-watt TDP and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 make it a lower-power, more flexible platform option for builds where memory compatibility matters. Its 10 cores and 16 threads still provide multi-threaded performance, and its 71st percentile ranking places it above many CPUs in the database.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, by contrast, dominates every measured workload category. Its wins span Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests, plus every PassMark workload: data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread. The largest margins appear in prime number finding and encryption, while the smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core.

For users prioritizing raw compute, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the clear choice based on the data. For users who need a lower-power desktop chip with memory flexibility, the Core 5 221TE remains viable, but it cannot match the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in any recorded benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database.

• Cores: 10 (Core 5 221TE) versus 18 (Core Ultra 5 250K Plus)
• Threads: 16 versus 18
• Base clock: 1.80 GHz versus 4.20 GHz
• Boost clock: 5.00 GHz versus 5.30 GHz
• TDP: 45 watts versus 125 watts
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851
• Codename: Bartlett Lake versus Arrow Lake Refresh
• Generation: Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) versus Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake)
• Process node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: not listed versus 17,800 million
• Die size: 215 mm² versus 243 mm²
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 3 MB per core
• L3 cache: 24 MB shared versus 30 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR5 only
• Memory bandwidth: 76.8 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s
• PCIe lanes: Gen 5, 16 lanes versus Gen 5, 20 lanes
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU
• Multiplier unlocked: no versus yes
• Release date: 2025-01-12 versus 2026-03-10
• Part number: SRVQS versus SA4UZ

Both support ECC memory, both are desktop market segments, and both are active in production. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 221TE is $232, and the launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is $199.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table shows a one-sided comparison. Every single test favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The smallest delta appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 2261 against 1596 for the Core 5 221TE, a delta of -29.4%. That is still a substantial gap, but it is the closest the Core 5 221TE comes in any test.

The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 486 versus 59 for the Core 5 221TE, a delta of -87.9%. That test measures a specific integer workload, and the result shows a dramatic difference in raw number-crunching capability. PassMark data encryption shows a -78.7% delta (42144 versus 8963), and PassMark extended instructions shows -78.3% (44565 versus 9655). Floating point math also shows a wide gap: 162692 versus 31661, a delta of -80.5%.

Cinebench multi-core results are similarly lopsided. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30867 against 11305, a delta of -63.4%. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 18442 versus 4748, a delta of -74.3%, and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 4640 versus 1139, a delta of -75.5%. The single-core Cinebench results also favor the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus: R15 single-core is 328 versus 160 (-51.2%), R20 single-core is 2603 versus 670 (-74.3%), and R23 single-core is 2261 versus 1596 (-29.4%).

PassMark multithread shows 51596 versus 13301, a delta of -74.2%. PassMark physics shows 3494 versus 977, a delta of -72%. PassMark random string sorting shows 69090 versus 16929, a delta of -75.5%. PassMark integer math shows 125091 versus 42303, a delta of -66.2%. PassMark data compression shows 568721 versus 156682, a delta of -72.5%. PassMark single-thread shows 4757 versus 1734, a delta of -63.5%, and the duplicate passmark_singlethread entry matches at 4757 versus 1734.

The average benchmark score gap is also large: 66855 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus versus 17860 for the Core 5 221TE. The percentile gap is 93rd versus 71st. The nearest rival data reinforces the positioning. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus trades nearly evenly with the AMD EPYC 4465P (-0.1%), the Intel Xeon 6515P (-0.2%), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (-0.9%), while sitting 1.1% above the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The Core 5 221TE sits within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and within 0.5% of the Intel Core 7 350.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus outperforms the Intel Core 5 221TE in all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The margins vary from -29.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core to -87.9% in PassMark find prime numbers, but the direction is consistent. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also holds a substantial average score advantage, 66855 versus 17860, and sits 22 percentile points higher in the database.

The Core 5 221TE has its own profile. It uses 45 watts of TDP, supports DDR4 and DDR5, and uses Intel Socket 1700. It is a lower-power option with a smaller physical footprint in terms of die size, though not by much: 215 mm² versus 243 mm². Its 10 cores and 16 threads are sufficient for general desktop tasks, and its 71st percentile ranking means it is not a weak processor by database standards. But the recorded benchmark data does not show any workload where it beats the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the choice for compute-heavy workloads. Its 18 cores, 18 threads, 5.30 GHz boost clock, 3 nm process, and 30 MB of L3 cache all point to a processor built for throughput. Its support for DDR5 with 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and an unlocked multiplier add to its flexibility. Its launch MSRP is $199.

The Core 5 221TE is the choice for lower-power desktop builds. Its 45-watt TDP, dual memory type support, and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility make it a practical option for systems that do not need extreme multi-core performance. Its launch MSRP is $232.

The benchmark record does not leave room for ambiguity. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins every measured test. The Core 5 221TE remains a functional desktop processor, but it operates in a different performance class. Users who need maximum throughput should select the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Users who prioritize power efficiency and memory flexibility may consider the Core 5 221TE, though they should expect significantly lower scores in every workload category.