Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data does not contain any head-to-head benchmark results for these two processors. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a full set of measured scores across Cinebench and Passmark suites, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has no benchmark entries in the database. Consequently, no direct performance comparison with exact numbers can be made between these two parts.

The Intel Core 5 221TE delivers an average benchmark score of 17860, placing it at the 71st percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 (0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994 (0.7% ahead). These deltas indicate the Core 5 221TE sits in a tightly clustered performance band, essentially trading blows with those established desktop and mobile parts.

For the Core 5 221TE specifically, its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11305 and single-core score of 1596 show a strong multi-threaded showing. The Passmark multithread score of 13301 and single-thread score of 1734 reinforce this pattern. Integer math results at 42303 and floating point math at 31661 indicate solid computational throughput, while data compression at 156682 and random string sorting at 16929 point to capable memory and cache subsystem performance. The extended instructions score of 9655 and data encryption score of 8963 suggest reasonable SIMD and cryptographic workloads. The find prime numbers score of 59 and physics score of 977 are notably lower, reflecting that certain workload types do not scale as well on this architecture.

Because the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has no recorded benchmark scores, its average benchmark score is 0 and its percentile rank is 50. The database cannot validate any performance claims for this part. All comparisons below rely exclusively on architectural specifications and feature differences, not measured performance outcomes.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally at the silicon level. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, with a die size of 215 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1, uses the Meteor Lake architecture with the Meteor Lake-PS codename, and is fabricated on a 7 nm process node, also at Intel. The die size for the Ultra 7 155UL is not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. This means the Core 5 221TE has fewer physical cores but more threads due to its hyperthreading implementation, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has more physical cores but fewer threads, which is typical of Meteor Lake's hybrid architecture that includes both performance and efficiency cores.

Cache hierarchies show clear differences. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 155UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 155UL therefore offers more per-core cache at the L1 and L2 levels, but the Core 5 221TE provides twice the total L3 cache.

Clock speeds also differ. The Core 5 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 155UL has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core 5 221TE holds the advantage on both base and boost frequencies, with a 0.10 GHz higher base and a 0.20 GHz higher boost.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL has a TDP of 15 watts. This places the Core Ultra 7 155UL in a much lower power envelope, indicating its design targets efficiency rather than raw performance. The Core 5 221TE uses three times the TDP of the Ultra 7 155UL.

Sockets are incompatible. The Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory support also differs: the Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL supports DDR5 with the note that it depends on the motherboard. Memory bandwidth favors the Ultra 7 155UL at 89.6 GB/s versus the Core 5 221TE's 76.8 GB/s, despite both using dual-channel memory buses.

PCIe capabilities differ substantially. The Core 5 221TE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with only 8 lanes from the CPU. This gives the Core 5 221TE a significant expansion and bandwidth advantage for discrete GPUs and NVMe storage.

ECC memory support is present on the Core 5 221TE but absent on the Core Ultra 7 155UL. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL uses Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The Arc Xe-LPG architecture is generally more capable than the UHD Graphics 730, though no benchmark scores exist in the database to quantify this.

Release timing and pricing do not form part of the architectural comparison, but the database records a release date of January 12, 2025 for the Core 5 221TE and April 7, 2024 for the Core Ultra 7 155UL. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Part numbers are SRVQS for the Core 5 221TE and SRN97 for the Core Ultra 7 155UL.

Where Each One Wins

The available data supports a clear split based on measured performance versus architectural efficiency.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins on measured multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, as its Cinebench R23 scores of 11305 and 1596, along with Passmark multithread and single-thread scores of 13301 and 1734, represent the only recorded benchmark data in this comparison. Its 71st percentile rank across all CPUs, compared to the Core Ultra 7 155UL's 50th percentile rank, confirms that the Core 5 221TE occupies a higher performance tier in the database. Its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz, larger L3 cache of 24 MB versus 12 MB, and support for PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes all favor the Core 5 221TE for workloads that benefit from high clock speeds, large shared caches, and fast expansion slots. The presence of ECC memory support also makes it suitable for reliability-focused workstation tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL wins on efficiency and per-core cache density. Its 15 watt TDP versus 45 watts indicates substantially lower power consumption, making it the appropriate choice for thermally constrained or power-conscious systems. Its larger L1 cache of 112 KB per core versus 80 KB and larger L2 cache of 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB provide a per-core cache advantage that can benefit workloads with high locality. Its higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s gives it an edge in memory-intensive operations. Its 12 physical cores versus 10 offer more raw core count for highly parallel workloads that do not rely on thread-level parallelism, though this advantage is unverified without benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher measured average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17860, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, resulting in an average benchmark score of 0.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 cores and 14 threads.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: How do the PCIe configurations differ?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

The Verdict

The data supports distinct roles for each processor, though the absence of benchmark scores for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL limits direct performance conclusions.

The Intel Core 5 221TE is the only one of the two with measured performance data. Its average benchmark score of 17860 and 71st percentile ranking demonstrate that it performs in line with established mid-range desktop processors. Its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, all fall within 0.7% of its average score. The Core 5 221TE is the appropriate choice for users who need verified multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, require PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, want ECC memory support, or need a larger 24 MB L3 cache. Its higher TDP of 45 watts indicates a conventional desktop power profile.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL, with no recorded benchmarks, cannot be validated for performance. Its architectural strengths are efficiency (15 watt TDP), higher per-core L1 and L2 caches, higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s, and more physical cores at 12. These features make it architecturally suited for power-sensitive or thermally constrained desktop systems, but the database provides no measured evidence of its performance capabilities. Its 50th percentile rank, based on no benchmark data, should be treated as unverified rather than indicative of actual performance.

For workloads where measured performance, expansion bandwidth, and memory reliability features are priorities, the Intel Core 5 221TE is the data-supported selection. For workloads where low power consumption, per-core cache density, and memory bandwidth take precedence, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL offers the architectural foundation, though its real-world performance remains unquantified in the database.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221TE | Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL |

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

| Cores | 10 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Meteor Lake-PS |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 KB | 112 KB |

| L2 Cache (per core) | 1.25 MB | 2 MB |

| L3 Cache (shared) | 24 MB | 12 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Supported | Not supported |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU |

| Release Date | January 12, 2025 | April 7, 2024 |

| Part Number | SRVQS | SRN97 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |