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

The Verdict

The recorded data shows two Intel processors with fundamentally different design targets. The Intel Core 5 221TE is a desktop-oriented part with a 45 W TDP, 10 cores, and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL is a low-power Meteor Lake-PS part with a 15 W TDP, 12 cores, and 14 threads. Benchmark results for the 221TE place it at the 71st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17860. The 165UL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so its average score is listed as 0 and its percentile is 50. For any workload where measured performance matters, the 221TE is the only option with data to support a choice. The 165UL offers a lower TDP, a newer socket, and a different core configuration, but without benchmark results, no performance claim can be made from the database.

Architecture Differences

The 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, which indicates a hybrid arrangement where some cores support hyper-threading. Its L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 24 MB shared. The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, and PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The 165UL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1 and uses the Meteor Lake-PS codename with Meteor Lake architecture. It is fabricated on a 7 nm process node. It has 12 cores and 14 threads, a combination that implies some cores lack hyper-threading. Its L1 cache is 112 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core, and L3 is 12 MB shared. Memory support is DDR5, with the database noting it depends on the motherboard, and the memory bus is dual-channel with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The socket is Intel Socket 1851, and PCIe is Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

The process node difference is notable: 10 nm for the 221TE versus 7 nm for the 165UL. The 221TE has a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 12 MB) and supports ECC, while the 165UL offers a higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s) and a more advanced integrated GPU (Arc Xe-LPG 64EU versus UHD Graphics 730). The 165UL also has a higher L1 and L2 cache per core. The TDP difference is substantial: 45 W for the 221TE versus 15 W for the 165UL.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table in the database is empty, and the 165UL has no individual benchmark scores recorded. Therefore, direct comparisons must rely solely on the 221TE's measured results and its nearest rivals, as listed in the database.

The 221TE's Cinebench scores show a multicore strength. In Cinebench R15, it scores 1139 multicore and 160 singlecore. In R20, the multicore score is 4748 and singlecore is 670. In R23, the multicore score is 11305 and singlecore is 1596. These results indicate that the multicore performance scales well with the 16 threads and 10 cores, while singlecore performance is moderate.

PassMark results for the 221TE show specific strengths. Integer math scores 42303, floating point math scores 31661, and extended instructions score 9655. Data compression scores 156682, data encryption scores 8963, and random string sorting scores 16929. Find prime numbers scores 59, physics scores 977, and multithread scores 13301. The single thread score is 1734.

The nearest rivals for the 221TE provide context. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has an average score of 17891, which is 0.2% lower than the 221TE's 17860. The Intel Core 5 120U scores 17898, also 0.2% lower. The Intel Core 7 350 scores 17779, which is 0.5% higher than the 221TE. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 scores 17994, which is 0.7% lower. This places the 221TE in a tight group where the difference between the best and worst rival is only about 1.2%. The 221TE sits slightly below the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, and slightly above the Intel Core 7 350 and AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

For the 165UL, no benchmark data exists in the database. Its average benchmark score is listed as 0, and it has no nearest rivals. This means the database provides no measured performance evidence for the 165UL. Any comparison between the two processors on a benchmark basis is impossible from the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has 12 cores, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

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

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 W, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE's 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a shared L3 cache of 24 MB, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has a shared L3 cache of 12 MB.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core 5 221TE wins in every measurable benchmark category, simply because the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has no benchmark scores in the database. The 221TE's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11305 and singlecore score of 1596 provide concrete evidence of its capability. Its PassMark multithread score of 13301 and single thread score of 1734 reinforce this.

The 221TE also wins on features that are documented: it has a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 12 MB), supports ECC memory, uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes, and has a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz). Its base clock is also slightly higher at 1.80 GHz versus 1.70 GHz. The 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the 165UL supports only DDR5. The 221TE's socket is Intel Socket 1700, which is different from the 165UL's Intel Socket 1851.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL wins on power efficiency, as indicated by its 15 W TDP versus 45 W for the 221TE. It also has more cores (12 versus 10), a higher per-core L1 cache (112 KB versus 80 KB), a higher per-core L2 cache (2 MB versus 1.25 MB), a higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s), a smaller process node (7 nm versus 10 nm), and a more advanced integrated GPU (Arc Xe-LPG 64EU versus UHD Graphics 730). The 165UL also has a lower launch MSRP of $447, compared to the 221TE's $232, though pricing should not be interpreted as a value judgment.

The 165UL's 12 cores and 14 threads suggest a design that uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores, which could provide better power scaling. However, without benchmark scores, the database cannot confirm how that translates into real performance. The 221TE's 10 cores and 16 threads, on the other hand, are backed by measurable results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded fields:

• Name: Intel Core 5 221TE versus Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
• Series: The 165UL is in the Core Ultra Series 1; the 221TE has no series listed
• Cores: 10 versus 12
• Threads: 16 versus 14
• Base Clock: 1.80 GHz versus 1.70 GHz
• Boost Clock: 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz
• TDP: 45 W versus 15 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851
• Codename: Bartlett Lake versus Meteor Lake-PS
• Generation: Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) versus Ultra 7 (Meteor Lake-PS)
• Process Node: 10 nm versus 7 nm
• Die Size: 215 mm² for the 221TE; no die size recorded for the 165UL
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core versus 112 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 2 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 24 MB shared versus 12 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 versus DDR5 (depends on motherboard)
• Memory Bandwidth: 76.8 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s
• ECC Memory: true versus false
• PCIe: Gen 5, 16 lanes versus Gen 4, 8 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc Xe-LPG 64EU
• Release Date: 2025-01-12 versus 2024-04-07
• Launch MSRP: $232 versus $447
• Part Number: SRVQS versus SRN95
• Architecture: none listed for the 221TE versus Meteor Lake for the 165UL
• Benchmarks: The 221TE has 17 recorded benchmark scores; the 165UL has none
• Percentile: 71 for the 221TE versus 50 for the 165UL
• Average Benchmark Score: 17860 for the 221TE versus 0 for the 165UL
• Nearest Rivals: The 221TE has four listed rivals; the 165UL has none

The process node and TDP differences are the most significant architectural divergences. The 165UL's 15 W TDP and 7 nm node indicate a design focused on low power consumption, while the 221TE's 45 W TDP and 10 nm node indicate a design focused on sustained throughput. The socket difference means they are not interchangeable on a motherboard. The cache hierarchy also differs: the 165UL has smaller total L3 but larger per-core L1 and L2, while the 221TE has a larger shared L3. The 221TE's PCIe Gen 5 support with 16 lanes versus the 165UL's Gen 4 with 8 lanes gives the 221TE a connectivity advantage in the recorded data.