Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data separates these two processors cleanly by platform and workload. The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V is the stronger performer in nearly every measured benchmark, taking 16 of 17 head-to-head tests. Its biggest advantages appear in single-threaded work, encryption, and floating-point math, where it leads by large margins. The Intel Core 5 221TE wins only one direct comparison, Cinebench R23 multicore, and even there the margin is modest at 6.1%.

The Core Ultra 7 268V suits users who need maximum throughput per watt in a mobile package. Its 17 W TDP, 3 nm process from TSMC, and 74th percentile ranking among all CPUs make it the obvious choice for thin-and-light systems where sustained performance and efficiency matter. The Core 5 221TE, with a 45 W TDP, 10 nm process, and 71st percentile ranking, targets desktop builders who need a Socket 1700 part with ECC memory support and a 215 mm² die on Intel's own foundry.

Desktop users on Socket 1700 who cannot move to a BGA 2833 mobile platform have only one of these two options. For everyone else, the data consistently favors the Core Ultra 7 268V, especially in single-core responsiveness and math-heavy tasks. The Core 5 221TE does hold a real advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore, which suggests its 10 cores with 16 threads sustain long all-core loads better than the 8-core, 8-thread Lunar Lake part.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from opposite ends of Intel's design philosophy. The Core 5 221TE uses Bartlett Lake on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a 215 mm² die. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, so it relies on hyperthreading to fill its thread count. The Core Ultra 7 268V uses Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm process from TSMC, with 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning every core is a physical core with no hyperthreading.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Core 5 221TE provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 268V offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3. The Lunar Lake part doubles the per-core L1 and L2 capacities, while the Bartlett Lake part has twice the shared L3.

Memory support separates them further. The Core 5 221TE accepts DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 7 268V also uses dual-channel memory, but the specific type depends on the motherboard, and it lacks ECC support. The desktop chip has 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the mobile chip has only 4 Gen 5 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 221TE ships with UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 268V carries Arc 140V. The mobile part's 17 W TDP versus the desktop part's 45 W TDP reflects the fundamental platform gap between a soldered BGA 2833 mobile processor and a Socket 1700 desktop processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two?

A: The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 268V has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.

Q: Does either chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 7 268V does not.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 5 221TE has a 45 W TDP. The Core Ultra 7 268V has a 17 W TDP.

Q: Which chip has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core Ultra 7 268V has an average benchmark score of 20897 and ranks in the 74th percentile. The Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860 and ranks in the 71st percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every hardware specification except boost clock and multiplier unlock status. Both boost to 5.00 GHz and both have locked multipliers.

| Specification | Core 5 221TE | Core Ultra 7 268V |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base clock | 1.80 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Lunar Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 215 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB per core | 2.5 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 24 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | Depends on motherboard |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc 140V |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SRVQS | SRPMLSRPMX |

The Core Ultra 7 268V has a higher base clock of 2.20 GHz versus 1.80 GHz, which contributes to its strong single-thread showing. The Core 5 221TE compensates with more cores, more threads, a larger shared L3, and wider PCIe connectivity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 7 268V dominates the head-to-head results, but the margins vary dramatically by workload. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 7 scores 293 against 160, a 45.4% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 single-core, where 972 beats 670 by 31.1%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1921 versus 1596, a 16.9% lead for the Ultra 7.

The multicore results tell a split story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 7 scores 1616 against 1139, a 29.5% win. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 6887 versus 4748, a 31.1% win. But Cinebench R23 multicore flips: the Core 5 221TE scores 11305 versus 10653, a 6.1% victory. That single result suggests the desktop chip sustains long multicore loads better, possibly due to its higher TDP and larger L3 cache.

PassMark tests reinforce the Ultra 7's general superiority. The single-thread test shows 4051 versus 1734, a 57.2% gap, the largest of any comparison. Floating-point math scores 57628 versus 31661, a 45.1% lead. Extended instructions show 15323 versus 9655, a 37% gap. Data encryption scores 13779 versus 8963, a 35% lead. Physics reaches 1617 versus 977, a 39.6% advantage. Random string sorting shows 22416 versus 16929, a 24.5% win. Data compression scores 181443 versus 156682, a 13.6% lead.

Find prime numbers shows the most extreme difference: 192 versus 59, a 69.3% gap. Integer math is the closest PassMark contest, with 42669 versus 42303, a 0.9% edge for the Ultra 7. Multithread scores 19297 versus 13301, a 31.1% lead for the mobile chip.

The Core 5 221TE also records no Geekbench results in the database, while the Core Ultra 7 268V posts 9963 multicore and 2270 singlecore. That absence limits direct comparison in that suite.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 268V wins in single-threaded responsiveness, which the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests confirm. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4051 versus 1734, a 57.2% margin, makes it the clear pick for applications that rely on one or two fast cores, such as everyday desktop responsiveness, light productivity, and UI-heavy workloads.

Math-heavy and security-related tasks also favor the Ultra 7. Floating-point math shows a 45.1% lead, extended instructions a 37% lead, and data encryption a 35% lead. Find prime numbers, a pure integer workload with high per-core sensitivity, shows a 69.3% advantage. These results point to the Ultra 7 for scientific calculation, compression workloads, and encrypted data handling.

The Core 5 221TE wins only Cinebench R23 multicore, with a 6.1% margin. The database shows its 10 cores and 16 threads, combined with 24 MB of shared L3 and a 45 W TDP, sustain a long all-core render better than the Ultra 7's 8 cores and 8 threads. That makes the desktop chip the data-backed choice for sustained multicore rendering tasks, despite losing the other two Cinebench multicore tests.

The platform split reinforces the use-case division. The Core 5 221TE is a Socket 1700 desktop part with DDR4 and DDR5 support, ECC memory, and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The Core Ultra 7 268V is a BGA 2833 mobile part with a 17 W TDP, 3 nm process, and 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Users building a desktop with ECC requirements have only one option. Users prioritizing efficiency and per-core speed in a mobile chassis have the other.