Intel Core 5 221TE vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a completely one-sided comparison. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark tests, while the Intel Core 5 221TE does not register a single victory in any workload category. This is not a close contest between two comparable parts; it is a clear hierarchy where the mobile flagship outperforms the desktop mainstream chip across every measured metric.

The Core Ultra 9 285HX dominates in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. In the Cinebench series, it leads the Core 5 221TE by 50.5% in the R15 single-core test, 76.5% in R20 single-core, and 27% in R23 single-core. The multi-core gaps are even more pronounced, with the Ultra 9 leading by 79.9% in R15 multi-core, 76.5% in R20 multi-core, and 69% in R23 multi-core. These deltas indicate that the Ultra 9 delivers substantially higher sustained throughput in rendering tasks that exercise all available cores, while also maintaining a meaningful advantage in lightly threaded workloads.

The PassMark suite reinforces this pattern. The Core Ultra 9 285HX leads by 87.2% in the find prime numbers test, which is the largest single margin recorded in the comparison. It also leads by 83.8% in floating point math, 80.4% in extended instructions, and 81.5% in data encryption. The smallest multi-threaded margin appears in integer math, where the Ultra 9 leads by 72.7%, but even this narrower gap still represents a substantial performance difference. The data compression test shows a 75.2% lead for the Ultra 9, while random string sorting shows a 78.1% lead.

The Core 5 221TE does have one notable distinction: it is the only one of the two that can be classified as a desktop part. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX uses the Intel BGA 2114 mobile socket. However, in terms of pure benchmark performance, the Core 5 221TE does not win anywhere. Its average benchmark score of 17,860 places it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, which is respectable for a mainstream desktop chip. The Core Ultra 9 285HX, by contrast, achieves an average score of 76,155 and sits in the 95th percentile, a tier that places it among the highest-performing processors in the database.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is the superior processor for every benchmark workload recorded. It wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 27% in Cinebench R23 single-core to 87.2% in PassMark find prime numbers. The Core 5 221TE cannot be recommended on performance grounds when the Ultra 9 is the alternative, regardless of the application type.

The Core Ultra 9 285HX achieves this dominance through a combination of more cores, higher clock speeds, and a more advanced process node. It offers 24 cores and 24 threads, compared to 10 cores and 16 threads for the Core 5 221TE. Its base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz both exceed the 1.80 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost of the Core 5 221TE. The Ultra 9 also uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, while the Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm Intel process. These architectural differences translate directly into the benchmark deltas recorded.

For users who prioritize raw compute performance, the Core Ultra 9 285HX is the clear choice. Its 95th percentile ranking and average score of 76,155 place it alongside the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, which scores 76,212 (a 0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which scores 75,779 (a 0.5% difference). The Core 5 221TE, with its 71st percentile ranking and average score of 17,860, sits in a different performance class entirely. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891 (0.2% behind) and the Intel Core 5 120U at 17,898 (0.2% behind), all of which are far below the Ultra 9's output.

The only scenario where the Core 5 221TE might be considered is if the platform requirements demand a desktop socket and the user cannot accommodate a mobile BGA part. The Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 9 supports only DDR5. The Core 5 221TE also has a lower TDP of 45 watts compared to 55 watts for the Ultra 9, which could be relevant in thermally constrained desktop builds. However, the benchmark data shows no performance advantage for the Core 5 221TE in any recorded test, so the choice hinges entirely on platform compatibility rather than measured capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Core Ultra 9 285HX scores 460, while the Core 5 221TE scores 59, yielding an 87.2% lead. This test is heavily dependent on integer arithmetic and memory latency, and the Ultra 9's larger L3 cache (36 MB shared versus 24 MB shared) likely contributes to the dramatic difference.

The floating point math test shows an 83.8% lead for the Ultra 9, with scores of 194,998 versus 31,661. The data encryption test shows an 81.5% lead, with scores of 48,567 versus 8,963. The extended instructions test shows an 80.4% lead, with scores of 49,148 versus 9,655. These three tests all measure different aspects of computational throughput, yet the Ultra 9's advantage remains consistently above 80%.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Ultra 9 scoring 5,656.5 versus 1,139 for the Core 5 221TE, a 79.9% lead. The PassMark multithread test shows scores of 56,902 versus 13,301, a 76.6% lead. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows scores of 20,236 versus 4,748, a 76.5% lead. These multi-threaded results confirm that the Ultra 9's 24 cores scale effectively across rendering and general-purpose parallel workloads.

The single-threaded tests show narrower but still substantial margins. The Cinebench R23 single-core test has the smallest delta at 27%, with scores of 2,187.5 versus 1,596. The PassMark single-thread test shows a 62.5% lead, with scores of 4,618 versus 1,734. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows a 76.5% lead, with scores of 2,856 versus 670. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a 50.5% lead, with scores of 323.5 versus 160.

The random string sorting test shows a 78.1% lead for the Ultra 9, with scores of 77,196 versus 16,929. The physics test shows a 71.9% lead, with scores of 3,476 versus 977. The data compression test shows a 75.2% lead, with scores of 631,885 versus 156,682. The integer math test shows a 72.7% lead, with scores of 155,076 versus 42,303. Every single recorded benchmark follows the same pattern: the Core Ultra 9 285HX wins by a wide margin.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins all single-core tests. It leads by 27% in Cinebench R23, 50.5% in Cinebench R15, and 76.5% in Cinebench R20, with PassMark single-thread showing a 62.5% advantage.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: The Core Ultra 9 285HX leads by 69% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 76.5% in R20 multi-core, and 79.9% in R15 multi-core. The PassMark multithread test shows a 76.6% lead for the Ultra 9.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17,860 and ranks in the 71st percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has an average benchmark score of 76,155 and ranks in the 95th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 221TE and Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX differ fundamentally in their architectural design. The Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. The process nodes also differ significantly: the Core 5 221TE uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX uses a 3 nm process fabricated by TSMC.

The transistor count reveals the scale of the Ultra 9's design. It contains 17,800 million transistors on a die size of 243 mm². The Core 5 221TE has a die size of 215 mm², but its transistor count is not recorded in the database. The Ultra 9's higher transistor density, enabled by the 3 nm process, allows it to pack 24 cores alongside a larger cache hierarchy.

The cache configurations differ substantially. 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 9 285HX has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 9's larger L3 cache is likely a significant factor in its 87.2% lead in the find prime numbers test and its strong performance in other memory-sensitive workloads.

Memory support also differs. The Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a maximum bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 9 285HX supports only DDR5 memory, also with a dual-channel bus, but achieves a higher maximum bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both processors support ECC memory.

The PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ significantly: the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.

The Core Ultra 9 285HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 221TE does not. The Ultra 9's TDP is 55 watts, compared to 45 watts for the Core 5 221TE. The Core 5 221TE has a launch MSRP of $232, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 9. Both processors were released on the same date and are currently listed as active production parts. The Core 5 221TE is classified as a desktop segment processor, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX is classified as a mobile segment processor.