Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 221TE has a complete set of benchmark results in the database, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has no recorded benchmark scores. The head-to-head comparison is therefore one-sided: every measurable performance data point belongs to the Core 5 221TE. The database shows the Core 5 221TE averaging a score of 17,860 across all tests, placing it at the 71st percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 7 165HL holds a 50th percentile position, but with an average benchmark score of 0, meaning no test results have been recorded for that part.

Focusing on the Core 5 221TE's actual numbers, the multi-threaded Cinebench results are substantial. It scores 11,305 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 4,748 in R20 multi-core, and 1,139 in R15 multi-core. Single-core results are also recorded: 1,596 in R23, 670 in R20, and 160 in R15. These figures place the chip in a performance tier comparable to the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, which has an average score of 17,891, a mere 0.2% difference. The Intel Core 5 120U also sits at a 0.2% delta, with an 17,898 average, and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 trails by 0.7% with a 17,994 average. The Intel Core 7 350 leads the group slightly, with a 0.5% higher average score at 17,779.

PassMark results for the Core 5 221TE show strong integer and floating-point work: 42,303 in integer math and 31,661 in floating-point math. Extended instructions score 9,655, data compression hits 156,682, and data encryption reaches 8,963. The single-thread PassMark score is 1,734, and the multithread score is 13,301. Random string sorting completes at 16,929, physics scores 977, and find prime numbers scores 59. These are the only recorded benchmark values in the database for either processor, so any cross-CPU analysis necessarily relies on the Core 5 221TE's numbers alone.

The lack of benchmark data for the Core Ultra 7 165HL is a decisive factor. The database shows zero wins for the Ultra 7 and zero wins for the Core 5 in head-to-head tests, but the Core 5 has a full benchmark profile while the Ultra 7 has none. The 71st percentile versus 50th percentile gap is also notable, though the percentile figures are based on different data availability, the Core 5 has 17 recorded test scores, the Ultra 7 has none.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different underlying designs. The Intel Core 5 221TE is based on Bartlett Lake, fabricated on a 10 nm process, and belongs to the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL uses the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS variant, and is built on a 7 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process node difference is significant: 10 nm for the Core 5, 7 nm for the Ultra 7.

The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has 16 cores and 22 threads. The Ultra 7 has a lower base clock of 1.40 GHz compared to the Core 5's 1.80 GHz, but both boost to 5.00 GHz. The Core 5 has a die size of 215 mm², while the Ultra 7's die size is not recorded in the database.

Cache configurations differ as well. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has 112 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Ultra 7 may benefit certain workloads, but without benchmark data, this cannot be confirmed.

Memory support differs. The Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL supports DDR5, with the database noting that support depends on the motherboard. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The memory bandwidth is higher on the Ultra 7: 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the Core 5. The Core 5 supports ECC memory; the Ultra 7 does not.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core Ultra 7 165HL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG 128EU.

Sockets are different: the Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 7 165HL uses Intel Socket 1851. The launch dates differ, the Ultra 7 released on 2024-04-07, and the Core 5 released on 2025-01-12. Both are currently marked as Active production status and both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17,860. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has an average benchmark score of 0, as no benchmark results are recorded in the database.

Q: What is the core and thread count for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has 16 cores and 22 threads.

Q: Do both processors boost to the same clock speed?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221TE and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL have a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Their base clocks differ: 1.80 GHz for the Core 5 and 1.40 GHz for the Ultra 7.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE is built on a 10 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL is built on a 7 nm process.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 221TE | Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL |

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

| Cores | 10 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 22 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Meteor Lake-PS |

| Generation | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) | Ultra 7 (Meteor Lake-PS) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | Not recorded |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 (depends on motherboard) |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG 128EU |

| Release Date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-04-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | $459 |

| Part Number | SRVQS | SRN32 |

The TDP is identical at 45 W for both. The L3 cache is also identical at 24 MB shared. Both have locked multipliers. Both are desktop market segment parts with Active production status.

The Verdict

The data in the database presents a clear situation: the Intel Core 5 221TE is the only one of the two with recorded benchmark results. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has no benchmark scores, making a direct performance comparison impossible from the available data. The Core 5 221TE's average score of 17,860 and 71st percentile placement indicate a capable mid-range desktop processor, one that sits within 0.7% of several known rivals like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U.

The Core Ultra 7 165HL has a higher core count, higher thread count, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, higher memory bandwidth, a smaller process node, and a newer socket. These specifications suggest potential advantages in multi-threaded or memory-sensitive workloads, but the absence of any benchmark data means those advantages are not demonstrated. The 50th percentile placement for the Ultra 7 is based on no recorded scores, so it does not reflect measured performance.

Users with existing Intel Socket 1700 platforms may find the Core 5 221TE easier to adopt, as it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory and offers ECC support. The Core Ultra 7 165HL requires Intel Socket 1851 and DDR5 memory only. The Core 5 also provides Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes, while the Ultra 7 provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in every measurable benchmark category because it is the only part with recorded scores. It demonstrates verified performance in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core, and across a range of PassMark tests covering integer math, floating-point math, encryption, compression, and sorting. The 71st percentile ranking confirms that it outperforms a majority of all CPUs in the database.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL wins on specification-driven attributes. It has more cores, more threads, faster memory bandwidth, a smaller process node, and larger per-core cache. It also has a higher launch MSRP of $459 compared to $232 for the Core 5, which reflects its positioning as a higher-tier product. The integrated graphics are more advanced on paper, with Arc Xe-LPG 128EU versus UHD Graphics 730.

For workloads where the database has no recorded evidence, such as the Ultra 7's theoretical multi-threaded capacity given its 16 cores and 22 threads, the data cannot confirm a win. The only concrete advantages for the Ultra 7 are architectural: the 7 nm node, the 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, and the larger L1 and L2 caches. The Core 5 221TE's advantages are all empirical: every benchmark score, the 71st percentile, and the 17,860 average.

The choice between the two depends on whether measured performance or architectural headroom matters more. The database records performance only for the Core 5 221TE. The Core Ultra 7 165HL remains an unverified specification sheet with no test data to support its claims.