Intel Core 5 223PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two desktop processors into clearly defined roles. The Intel Core 5 223PE wins exactly one head-to-head test: PassMark integer math, scoring 99819 against 91187, a 9.5% advantage. That single victory signals a workload profile focused on traditional integer arithmetic, where the older Bartlett Lake design with 8 cores and 16 threads retains an edge.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 dominates everything else. Across the remaining 16 recorded comparisons, it wins by margins ranging from 3% to 56.4%. Its largest advantages appear in PassMark find prime numbers (365 vs 159, a 56.4% gap), data encryption (30236 vs 18448, 39% ahead), and floating point math (120548 vs 76468, 36.6% ahead). These are compute-heavy tasks that reward the Arrow Lake architecture's newer execution resources.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. The Core Ultra 5 245 leads by roughly 19.6% to 19.7% in both single-core and multi-core variants across R15, R20, and R23. This uniformity suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage rather than a scaling effect from its higher core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 records an average benchmark score of 48995, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 223PE averages 40585, sitting in the 87th percentile.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 wins the PassMark single-thread test 4394 to 4219, a 4% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 4648 versus 3734, a 19.7% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 32924 points against 26455, a 19.6% gap. It also wins PassMark multithread 38706 to 31124, another 19.6% margin.

Q: Is there any test where the Intel Core 5 223PE comes out ahead?

A: Yes, the PassMark integer math test. The Core 5 223PE scores 99819 compared to the Core Ultra 5 245's 91187, a 9.5% lead.

Q: What is the closest head-to-head result between the two?

A: The PassMark physics test shows the narrowest margin. The Core Ultra 5 245 wins with 2569 points against 2493, a 3% difference.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, slightly higher than the Core Ultra 5 245's 5.10 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results establish a consistent hierarchy. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245 scores 3318 against 2666 for the Core 5 223PE, a 19.7% deficit for the older chip. Single-core R15 shows the same relative gap: 468 versus 376, again 19.7%. Moving to R20, the pattern holds at 13828 versus 11111 for multi-core (19.6%) and 1952 versus 1568 for single-core (19.7%). R23 repeats it: 32924 versus 26455 multi-core, 4648 versus 3734 single-core. This consistency across three Cinebench generations indicates the performance delta is structural, not workload-specific.

The PassMark suite reveals where the architectures diverge most sharply. Data compression favors the Core Ultra 5 245 by 13.5%, scoring 400942 versus 346623. Extended instructions show a 25.9% gap, 33304 against 24672. Random string sorting leans 27.2% toward the newer chip, 49140 versus 35798. The largest single margin is find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 245 more than doubles the Core 5 223PE's output: 365 versus 159, a 56.4% difference. Data encryption follows at 39% (30236 vs 18448), and floating point math trails at 36.6% (120548 vs 76468).

The exceptions matter. PassMark integer math is the only test the Core 5 223PE wins, and it wins decisively: 99819 versus 91187, a 9.5% margin. The physics test is nearly a tie, with the Core Ultra 5 245 ahead by just 3% (2569 vs 2493). Single-thread PassMark shows only a 4% gap (4394 vs 4219), suggesting the Core Ultra 5 245's single-core advantage is modest in this specific metric despite its much larger Cinebench single-core lead.

The average benchmark score gap tells the broader story. The Core Ultra 5 245 averages 48995, about 20.7% higher than the Core 5 223PE's 40585. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G at 49196 (0.4% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 at 49228 (0.5% ahead), while the Intel Core i5-14600K sits 0.8% behind at 48618. The Core 5 223PE's nearest rivals cluster tighter: the Intel Core 7 253PE is 0.1% ahead at 40557, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G is 0.3% ahead at 40718.

Specification Differences

The two processors target different sockets. The Core 5 223PE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Intel Socket 1851. This alone prevents direct platform interchangeability.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores but only 14 threads, indicating a different thread strategy. Base clocks favor the Core Ultra 5 245 at 3.50 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, but boost clocks favor the Core 5 223PE at 5.20 GHz versus 5.10 GHz.

Memory support diverges. The Core 5 223PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 245 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Memory bandwidth favors the Core Ultra 5 245 at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe lane counts differ. The Core 5 223PE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 245 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 223PE uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Process nodes and foundries differ. The Core 5 223PE uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The Core Ultra 5 245 uses a 3 nm process from TSMC.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Both are desktop market segments with active production status. The Core Ultra 5 245 lists a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², figures not recorded for the Core 5 223PE.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 223PE is built on Bartlett Lake, while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arrow Lake-S. This architectural split explains much of the benchmark divergence.

Cache hierarchies differ per core. The Core 5 223PE has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. The Core Ultra 5 245 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations on the Core Ultra 5 245 likely contribute to its single-core performance advantage, particularly in Cinebench tests where the 19.7% gap exceeds what clock speed alone would suggest.

The manufacturing process difference is significant. The Core Ultra 5 245 uses TSMC's 3 nm node, while the Core 5 223PE uses Intel's 10 nm node. This process advantage enables the Core Ultra 5 245 to fit 14 cores and larger per-core caches into a 243 mm² die with 17,800 million transistors.

Threading strategy differs despite both supporting simultaneous multi-threading capabilities. The Core 5 223PE has 16 threads from 8 cores, giving a 2:1 thread ratio. The Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 threads from 14 cores, a 1:1 ratio. The Core 5 223PE's hyperthreading approach helps it win the integer math test, where its 16 threads can process independent integer operations. The Core Ultra 5 245's higher physical core count and newer architecture win nearly everything else.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 wins 16 of 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks and posts a 90th percentile average score versus the Core 5 223PE's 87th percentile. Its average benchmark score of 48995 exceeds the Core 5 223PE's 40585 by roughly 20.7%.

The Core 5 223PE serves a narrower role. Its 9.5% win in integer math and its 16-thread configuration make it relevant for integer-heavy workloads that scale with thread count. Its compatibility with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory and its lower boost clock of 5.20 GHz define its platform positioning. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, matches it almost exactly at 40557 average score, a 0.1% difference.

The Core Ultra 5 245 is the stronger general-purpose processor. Its wins span single-core, multi-core, encryption, compression, floating point, and extended instruction workloads. The 56.4% lead in find prime numbers and 39% lead in data encryption indicate substantial architectural improvements in the Arrow Lake design. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, sits only 0.4% higher at 49196, placing it in a competitive tier.

The choice depends on workload. Integer math specialists might prefer the Core 5 223PE's 9.5% edge. Everything else points to the Core Ultra 5 245, whose 14 cores, 3 nm process, larger per-core caches, and higher memory bandwidth deliver consistent wins across the recorded benchmarks. The Core Ultra 5 245's launch MSRP is $270, while the Core 5 223PE's launch MSRP is $232.