Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V, which wins 16 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Core 5 221TE manages a single win. The margin in most tests is substantial, with the Ultra 7 delivering consistently higher scores across Cinebench and Passmark workloads.

In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ultra 7 266V scores 16544 against the Core 5 221TE's 11305, a 31.7% difference. The single-core gap is similar in percentage terms: 2335 versus 1596, also a 31.6% delta. Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern, with the Ultra 7 posting 6948 multicore and 980 single-core, versus 4748 and 670 for the Core 5 221TE, again around 31.7% and 31.6% faster. Cinebench R15 replicates this trend almost exactly: 1667 versus 1139 in multicore and 235 versus 160 in single-core, deltas of 31.7% and 31.9%.

The largest single-core margin appears in Passmark single-thread testing. The Ultra 7 266V scores 3943, while the Core 5 221TE scores 1734. That is a 56% advantage for the Ultra 7, more than double the older desktop part's result. This is the biggest percentage gap in the entire comparison and indicates a major difference in per-thread execution capability.

Passmark floating point math also shows a large gap. The Ultra 7 266V scores 56923 versus 31661 for the Core 5 221TE, a 44.4% difference. The extended instructions test favors the Ultra 7 by 39.4%, with scores of 15928 and 9655. Physics simulation in Passmark goes to the Ultra 7 at 1608 versus 977, a 39.2% delta. Data encryption shows a 35.2% advantage for the Ultra 7 (13822 versus 8963). Data compression is closer but still favors the Ultra 7: 187050 versus 156682, a 16.2% delta. Random string sorting goes to the Ultra 7 by 26.1%, with scores of 22905 and 16929.

The find prime numbers test produces the second-largest percentage gap. The Ultra 7 266V scores 191, while the Core 5 221TE scores 59. That is a 69.1% difference, meaning the Ultra 7 completes this workload roughly three times as fast. Passmark multithread follows the broader trend: 19461 for the Ultra 7 versus 13301 for the Core 5 221TE, a 31.7% delta.

The Core 5 221TE's lone win is in Passmark integer math. It scores 42303 against 41558 for the Ultra 7 266V, a narrow 1.8% margin. This is the only test where the desktop chip outpaces the mobile part, and the difference is small enough to be within run-to-run variation.

Looking at the broader database context, the Core 5 221TE sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17860. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, 0.2% higher), the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, 0.2% higher), the Intel Core 7 350 (17779, 0.5% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (17994, 0.7% higher). The Ultra 7 266V, by contrast, sits at the 76th percentile with an average score of 23297. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (23277, 0.1% higher), the Intel Core i9-11900F (23254, 0.2% higher), the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (23219, 0.3% higher), and the AMD EPYC 4124P (23167, 0.6% higher). The percentile gap, five points, reflects the consistent score advantage the Ultra 7 holds across most workloads.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to one clear conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the faster processor in nearly every measurable workload. Its 56% lead in single-thread performance and 31.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore are not marginal differences. The Ultra 7 also carries a higher database percentile (76 versus 71) and a higher average benchmark score (23297 versus 17860).

The Core 5 221TE does have one useful trait: it wins Passmark integer math by 1.8%. But that single narrow win does not offset 16 losses across the rest of the benchmark suite. The Ultra 7 266V also does this while using a 17W TDP, compared to the Core 5 221TE's 45W TDP. The data indicates the Ultra 7 delivers more performance per watt, though the TDP figures themselves describe different market segments.

The Core 5 221TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 7 266V is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833. Anyone building a desktop system with a Socket 1700 motherboard would choose the Core 5 221TE for platform compatibility, not for performance. Anyone selecting a mobile platform would find the Ultra 7 266V strictly faster in the benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has an average benchmark score of 23297, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: In Passmark single-thread testing, the Ultra 7 266V scores 3943 versus 1734 for the Core 5 221TE, a 56% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2335 versus 1596, a 31.6% gap.

Q: Does the Core 5 221TE win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Passmark integer math with a score of 42303 versus 41558 for the Ultra 7 266V, a 1.8% margin.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Ultra 7 266V scores 16544, and the Core 5 221TE scores 11305. The Ultra 7 leads by 31.7%.

Q: What percentile does each processor hold in the database?

A: The Core 5 221TE is at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, and the Ultra 7 266V is at the 76th percentile.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The Core 5 221TE's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with an average score of 17891, 0.2% higher. The Ultra 7 266V's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with an average score of 23277, 0.1% higher.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in core and thread counts. The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer threads, the Ultra 7 wins most multithreaded benchmarks.

Base clocks differ: the Core 5 221TE runs at 1.80 GHz, and the Ultra 7 266V runs at 2.20 GHz. Both boost to 5.00 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: the Core 5 221TE is rated at 45W, and the Ultra 7 266V is rated at 17W.

The socket and market segment differ. The Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700 and is a desktop part. The Ultra 7 266V uses Intel BGA 2833 and is a mobile part. Memory support also differs: the Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X, with capacity depending on the motherboard. Memory bandwidth favors the Ultra 7 at 136.5 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the Core 5 221TE. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 221TE but not on the Ultra 7 266V.

PCIe lanes differ, with the Core 5 221TE offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and the Ultra 7 266V offering Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730, and the Ultra 7 266V uses Arc 140V. The Core 5 221TE has a launch MSRP of $232; the Ultra 7 266V has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates differ, with the Core 5 221TE released in January 2025 and the Ultra 7 266V released in September 2024.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different manufacturing processes. The Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Ultra 7 266V uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The process node difference likely contributes to the Ultra 7's higher performance at lower TDP.

The Core 5 221TE carries the Bartlett Lake codename, and the Ultra 7 266V uses Lunar Lake. The Ultra 7 is part of the Core Ultra Series 2. Cache layouts differ significantly. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 has more L1 and L2 per core, while the Core 5 221TE has double the L3 capacity.

Die size is recorded for the Core 5 221TE at 215 mm², but no die size is listed for the Ultra 7 266V. Transistor counts are not recorded for either part. The Ultra 7 266V has a recorded part number of SRPMMSRPMY, while the Core 5 221TE is SRVQS.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins in every category except one. It leads in single-thread performance by a wide margin, which shows in Passmark single-thread (3943 versus 1734) and all three Cinebench single-core tests. It leads in multithreaded performance across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, with consistent 31.7% deltas. It leads in floating point math, extended instructions, physics simulation, data encryption, data compression, random string sorting, and prime number finding. It also leads in Passmark multithread overall.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in Passmark integer math by 1.8%. This is the only workload where the desktop chip outruns the mobile chip. The narrow margin suggests the Core 5 221TE has a slight edge in that specific integer-heavy calculation pattern, but the result does not carry over to other integer-based tasks like data compression or encryption.

The use-case split follows the data closely. For any workload that depends on single-thread speed, the Ultra 7 266V is the clear choice. For multithreaded rendering or general productivity, the Ultra 7 266V also leads. The Core 5 221TE is only preferable in the narrow integer math scenario, and even there by a small margin. The Ultra 7 266V also holds the efficiency advantage with a 17W TDP against 45W, making it the stronger option for thermally constrained systems. The Core 5 221TE's only structural advantages are platform compatibility for Socket 1700 builds, ECC memory support, DDR4 and DDR5 memory flexibility, and a larger shared L3 cache.