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

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a decisive hierarchy: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every single recorded head-to-head test, 17 out of 17, with no wins for the Intel Core 5 221TE. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is 66159, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 221TE averages 17860 and sits in the 71st percentile. This is not a close contest; it is a generational and architectural gap.

The Core 5 221TE is positioned for systems where lower power consumption and integrated graphics are priorities, but the data shows it cannot match the raw throughput of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The Ultra 5 part delivers roughly 3.8 times the average score of the 221TE. The 221TE does have a lower TDP of 45 watts compared to 125 watts for the Ultra 5, and it includes UHD Graphics 730, whereas the Ultra 5 has no integrated graphics. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the only choice when workloads demand high multi-threaded or single-threaded output. The 221TE launch MSRP is $232, and the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus launch MSRP is $184, but this analysis does not weigh cost; the performance delta is vast enough that the Ultra 5 dominates on every measured metric.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221TE does not win any of the 17 recorded benchmark tests. Its only advantages in the database are structural: it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, includes UHD Graphics 730, and has a TDP of 45 watts, which implies lower thermal output. The Core 5 221TE also uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which may be relevant for existing motherboard compatibility, but the data does not quantify that benefit.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all compute-oriented categories. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 42718 against 11305, a delta of -73.5% for the 221TE (meaning the 221TE is 73.5% lower). In single-threaded workloads, the Ultra 5 leads with 6030 in Cinebench R23 singlecore versus 1596. The PassMark suite shows similar margins: multithread 50146 versus 13301, integer math 123030 versus 42303, and floating point math 159824 versus 31661. The Ultra 5 also leads in memory bandwidth with 115.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s, and it provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 16 lanes. For any user prioritizing CPU-bound tasks, the Ultra 5 is the only part with a winning record.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different process nodes and foundries. The Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process built by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, with a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The Ultra 5 is built on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture (Core Ultra Series 2), while the 221TE is based on Bartlett Lake (Core 5 generation).

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 5 has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Ultra 5 has no hyperthreading, which explains the equal core and thread counts, but its higher physical core count drives the multicore results. The 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, whereas the Ultra 5 has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Ultra 5 also has a larger cache hierarchy: L1 at 192 KB per core versus 80 KB per core, L2 at 3 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core, and L3 at 30 MB shared versus 24 MB shared.

Memory support diverges: the 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory, but the Ultra 5 has a higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The socket changes from Intel Socket 1700 for the 221TE to Intel Socket 1851 for the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier, while the 221TE is locked. The 221TE has integrated UHD Graphics 730; the Ultra 5 has no integrated graphics, which is a notable trade-off for systems that require a discrete GPU anyway.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has an average benchmark score of 66159, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 17860. The Ultra 5 sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, the 221TE in the 71st percentile.

Q: Does the Core 5 221TE beat the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head list contains 17 tests, and the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 17. The closest margin is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the 221TE trails by -63.1%, and the largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the 221TE trails by -86.9%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: Which processor supports integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A).

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory, with the Ultra 5 providing 115.2 GB/s bandwidth versus 76.8 GB/s for the 221TE.

Q: Are these CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 221TE does not (multiplier unlocked is false).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records 17 head-to-head tests, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every one. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Ultra 5 at 4305 versus 1139 for the 221TE, a delta of -73.5%. The single-core R15 result is 607 versus 160, also -73.6%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap remains at -73.5% (17941 versus 4748), and the single-core gap is -73.5% (2532 versus 670). Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multicore 42718 versus 11305 (-73.5%) and singlecore 6030 versus 1596 (-73.5%).

The PassMark suite shows a wider range of deltas. Data compression scores 553155 for the Ultra 5 versus 156682 for the 221TE, a -71.7% difference. Data encryption is 41292 versus 8963, a -78.3% gap. Extended instructions: 42880 versus 9655 (-77.5%). Find prime numbers delivers the most lopsided result: 452 versus 59, a -86.9% gap. Floating point math: 159824 versus 31661 (-80.2%). Integer math: 123030 versus 42303 (-65.6%), the smallest multicore delta in the suite. Multithread: 50146 versus 13301 (-73.5%). Physics: 3183 versus 977 (-69.3%). Random string sorting: 67209 versus 16929 (-74.8%). Single-thread: 4698 versus 1734 (-63.1%), the smallest delta overall.

The pattern is consistent: the Ultra 5 leads by roughly 63% to 87% depending on the workload. The smallest gap is in single-threaded tests, which still shows a massive advantage for the Ultra 5. The largest gaps appear in prime number finding and floating point math, indicating that the Ultra 5's higher core count, larger caches, and newer process node provide disproportionate gains in compute-heavy tasks. The 221TE's lower TDP and integrated graphics do not translate into any benchmark win. The data confirms that the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the superior processor across every recorded metric, with no exceptions.