Intel Core 5 223PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 5 223PE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 reveals a sharp split: the Core 5 223PE dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Core Ultra 5 235 takes the majority of Passmark workloads. The Core 5 223PE wins 7 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the Core Ultra 5 235 wins 10.

In Cinebench, the Core 5 223PE is decisively ahead. The multicore results show a lead of 79.2% in Cinebench R15 (2666 vs 1488), 79.2% in Cinebench R20 (11111 vs 6202), and 79.1% in Cinebench R23 (26455 vs 14769). The single-core Cinebench tests tell the same story: the Core 5 223PE scores 376 vs 210 in R15 (79% higher), 1568 vs 875 in R20 (79.2% higher), and 3734 vs 2085 in R23 (79.1% higher). These deltas are remarkably consistent across all six Cinebench sub-tests, indicating a fundamental throughput advantage in this rendering workload.

The Passmark results reverse the picture. The Core Ultra 5 235 leads in data compression (390711 vs 346623, an 11.3% advantage), data encryption (29293 vs 18448, a 37% lead), extended instructions (32752 vs 24672, 24.7% higher), find prime numbers (371 vs 159, a 57.1% margin), floating point math (117951 vs 76468, 35.2% higher), multithread (37816 vs 31124, 17.7% higher), physics (2570 vs 2493, 3% higher), and random string sorting (48980 vs 35798, 26.9% higher). The Core Ultra 5 235 also wins the Passmark single-thread test by 6.6% (4516 vs 4219).

One Passmark test favors the Core 5 223PE: integer math, where it scores 99819 vs 87948, a 13.5% lead. This is the lone Passmark win for the Core 5 223PE, but it is substantial.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the Core Ultra 5 235's broader strength: it averages 46062 versus 40585 for the Core 5 223PE, a difference of roughly 13.5%. The Core Ultra 5 235 sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 223PE sits at the 87th percentile. The Core Ultra 5 235's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (0.1% behind), while the Core 5 223PE's nearest rivals are the Intel Core 7 253PE (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Xeon 6357P (0.1% behind).

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. This process difference is significant: the Core Ultra 5 235 packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 5 223PE has no transistor or die size figures recorded.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, meaning each core supports two threads. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores but only 14 threads, indicating a design without hyper-threading. Despite having fewer cores, the Core 5 223PE posts far higher Cinebench scores, which suggests its 8 cores with 16 threads execute this workload much more efficiently.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 5 223PE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The Core Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache, so the total L3 capacity is identical.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 5 223PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 235 is DDR5-only, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 223PE but not on the Core Ultra 5 235.

PCIe connectivity differs in lane count: the Core 5 223PE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 223PE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Both processors share a 65 TDP, are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), and target the desktop market segment. They use different sockets: the Core 5 223PE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 5 235 uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, but the Core 5 223PE has a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 235 launched earlier (2025-01-06) than the Core 5 223PE (2026-03-08).

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 223PE is the clear choice for Cinebench-style rendering workloads. Its multicore scores are nearly 80% higher across all three Cinebench versions, and its single-core Cinebench scores show a similar 79% advantage. This pattern indicates that the Core 5 223PE's 8 cores with 16 threads, combined with its higher 5.20 GHz boost clock, deliver substantially better performance in this type of CPU-bound rendering task. The integer math result (99819 vs 87948, a 13.5% lead) adds another workload where the Core 5 223PE holds an edge.

The Core Ultra 5 235 wins across a broader range of Passmark tests, including data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. Its 14 cores give it a physical core advantage that shows in multithreaded tests (37816 vs 31124, 17.7% higher), while its 3 nm process and newer architecture contribute to efficiency in math-heavy and encryption workloads. The data encryption score (29293 vs 18448) represents a 37% lead, the largest single Passmark delta for the Core Ultra 5 235. The find prime numbers test shows a 57.1% advantage (371 vs 159), indicating strong integer and algorithmic performance in that specific workload.

The average benchmark score tells the overall story: the Core Ultra 5 235's 46062 average puts it 13.5% above the Core 5 223PE's 40585. The percentile ranking also favors the Core Ultra 5 235 (89th vs 87th percentile), though both are high-performing desktop parts.

The Verdict

The data supports a workload-based decision. For Cinebench rendering, the Intel Core 5 223PE is the superior processor by a wide margin, delivering roughly 79% higher scores across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 5.20 GHz boost clock outperforms the 14-core Core Ultra 5 235 in this specific benchmark family despite having fewer physical cores.

For general Passmark workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is the stronger part. It wins 10 of 17 head-to-head tests and holds a 13.5% advantage in average benchmark score. Its higher base clock (3.40 GHz), larger L1 and L2 caches (192 KB and 3 MB per core respectively), and newer 3 nm TSMC process contribute to wins in encryption, compression, floating point math, and multithreaded Passmark tests.

Users prioritizing rendering performance should select the Core 5 223PE. Users needing broad Passmark workload coverage, particularly encryption and floating point math, should select the Core Ultra 5 235. The Core Ultra 5 235 also offers higher memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s vs 89.6 GB/s) and more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16), both Gen 5.

The Core 5 223PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory plus ECC, making it more flexible for memory configurations. The Core Ultra 5 235 is DDR5-only without ECC support. Both parts share a 65 TDP and are locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, compared to 40585 for the Intel Core 5 223PE, a difference of approximately 13.5%.

Q: Why does the Core 5 223PE win all Cinebench tests despite having fewer cores?

A: The Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Cinebench results show the Core 5 223PE scoring 79.1% to 79.2% higher across all six Cinebench sub-tests, indicating its thread configuration and 5.20 GHz boost clock deliver superior rendering performance.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin in the comparison?

A: The largest margin is in the Cinebench multicore tests, where the Core 5 223PE leads by 79.2% (2666 vs 1488 in R15, and 11111 vs 6202 in R20). The largest Passmark margin favors the Core Ultra 5 235 in find prime numbers, with a 57.1% lead (371 vs 159).

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 223PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with ECC, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 supports only DDR5 without ECC. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Core Ultra 5 235 has higher bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the Core Ultra 5 235's 5.00 GHz. However, the Core Ultra 5 235 has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 2.90 GHz.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Passmark single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins the Passmark single-thread test with a score of 4516 versus 4219 for the Core 5 223PE, a 6.6% advantage.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 223PE | Intel Core Ultra 5 235 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake-S |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $232 | $257 |

| Part Number | SA4QF | SRQAS |