Intel Core 5 223PE vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, which wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 5 223PE manages only two wins, both in single-core Cinebench tests. The average benchmark score gap is substantial: the Core Ultra 9 records an average score of 79574 against 40585 for the Core 5, a difference of roughly 96%.

The largest margins come in the PassMark suite. The Core Ultra 9 leads by 69.4% in find prime numbers (519 vs 159), by 63.1% in data encryption (50008 vs 18448), and by 62.1% in floating point math (201773 vs 76468). Data compression shows a 47.4% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 (658724 vs 346623), while random string sorting favors it by 55.4% (80327 vs 35798). Extended instructions score 51290 for the Core Ultra 9 versus 24672 for the Core 5, a 51.9% gap, and integer math comes in at 164839 versus 99819, a 39.4% difference.

The multithreaded PassMark score tells a similar story, with the Core Ultra 9 at 59439 versus 31124 for the Core 5, a 47.6% deficit. Physics performance favors the Core Ultra 9 by 26.4% (3387 vs 2493). Even in single-threaded PassMark testing, where the Core 5's high boost clock might be expected to help, the Core Ultra 9 wins by 14.8% (4951 vs 4219).

Cinebench results are split by workload. In multicore tests, the Core Ultra 9 dominates: R15 multicore shows 5981 against 2666 (55.4% ahead), R20 multicore shows 21198 against 11111 (47.6% ahead), and R23 multicore shows 39684 against 26455 (33.3% ahead). However, the single-core Cinebench tests tell a different story. The Core 5 wins R15 single-core by 10.6% (376 vs 340) and R23 single-core by a striking 58.5% (3734 vs 2356). The R20 single-core test goes the other way, with the Core Ultra 9 winning 2992 to 1568, a 47.6% margin.

These mixed single-core results are notable. The R23 single-core score for the Core Ultra 9, at 2356, appears anomalously low relative to its R20 single-core score of 2992. The Core 5 posts a more consistent progression from R15 (376) to R20 (1568) to R23 (3734). This suggests workload-specific behavior that does not translate evenly across all single-threaded tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families with fundamentally different physical characteristics. The Intel Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus carries the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename as part of the Core Ultra Series 2, and it uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. This process difference is substantial, with the Core Ultra 9 using a significantly more advanced manufacturing technology.

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The Core 5 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Core Ultra 9 has three times the core count, but the same number of threads as cores, which indicates a design without hyperthreading. The Core 5 has a 2:1 thread-to-core ratio, suggesting hyperthreading is enabled. Base clocks are close, with the Core 5 at 2.90 GHz and the Core Ultra 9 at 2.70 GHz, but boost clocks differ: the Core 5 reaches 5.20 GHz while the Core Ultra 9 reaches 5.50 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The Core 5 features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 9 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 9's larger cache allocations across all three levels reflect its bigger core count and newer design. Transistor count and die size are only recorded for the Core Ultra 9, which lists 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 9 supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth figures favor the Core Ultra 9 at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5. Both processors support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 for both, but the Core Ultra 9 provides 20 lanes (CPU only) versus 16 lanes for the Core 5. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The platform targets are distinct. The Core 5 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 9 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2114. Thermal design power is recorded at 65 W for the Core 5 and 55 W for the Core Ultra 9. The Core Ultra 9 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Core 5 does not. The Core 5 has a launch MSRP of $232 and a release date in March 2026; the Core Ultra 9 has no recorded launch MSRP and a slightly later release date in the same month.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear choice for heavily multithreaded workloads. Its 24 cores deliver overwhelming advantages in Cinebench multicore tests, with margins ranging from 33.3% in R23 to 55.4% in R15. PassMark tests that scale with core count show similar dominance: integer math, floating point math, data compression, and data encryption all favor the Core Ultra 9 by margins between 39.4% and 63.1%. Prime number finding, which is highly parallel, shows the largest single margin at 69.4%. For rendering, scientific computation, encryption, compression, and other throughput-bound tasks, the data indicates the Core Ultra 9 is substantially faster.

The Intel Core 5 223PE has a narrower set of wins, but they are real. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it beats the Core Ultra 9 by 10.6%, and in R23 single-core, it wins by 58.5%. These results point to a strong single-threaded performance ceiling for the Core 5, likely related to its 5.20 GHz boost clock and its hyperthreaded architecture. For legacy single-threaded workloads or applications that rely heavily on per-core performance, the Core 5 holds an advantage in specific tests.

The PassMark single-thread test goes the other way, with the Core Ultra 9 winning by 14.8%. This means the single-core story is not uniform. The Core 5 excels in some Cinebench single-thread tests, but the Core Ultra 9 wins the PassMark single-thread measurement. The R20 single-core test also favors the Core Ultra 9 by 47.6%, which further complicates the picture. The data suggests that single-threaded performance is workload-dependent, with the Core 5 showing an edge in certain Cinebench iterations but not across the board.

The Core Ultra 9 also wins the physics test, the multithreaded PassMark score, and random string sorting. Its 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, versus the 87th percentile for the Core 5, confirms its higher overall standing. The nearest rivals for each processor are instructive: the Core Ultra 9 sits within 0.6% of the Intel Core i9-14900K and within 0.3% of the Core i9-14900KF, while the Core 5 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and within 0.1% of the Intel Core 7 253PE.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to two very different processors serving different roles. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the higher-performing part by a wide margin across the majority of benchmarks. Its average benchmark score of 79574 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include desktop flagships like the Core i9-14900K and Core i9-14900KF, both within 0.6% of its score. The Core Ultra 9 wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, with multicore and throughput-oriented workloads showing particularly large gaps. For users whose applications scale across many cores, the data supports the Core Ultra 9 as the stronger option.

The Intel Core 5 223PE, with an average score of 40585 and an 87th percentile ranking, sits closer to mobile and mid-range desktop parts. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core 7 253PE and the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H, both within 0.2% of its average score. The Core 5 wins only two head-to-head tests, both in Cinebench single-core iterations. Its 24 MB of L3 cache and 8 cores with 16 threads place it well below the Core Ultra 9 in raw throughput, but its 5.20 GHz boost clock and desktop platform may suit specific single-threaded tasks.

The architecture differences reinforce the performance split. The Core Ultra 9 uses a 3 nm TSMC process, 24 cores, 36 MB of L3 cache, and 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core 5 uses a 10 nm Intel process, 8 cores, 24 MB of L3 cache, and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 9 also offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) and a newer integrated graphics solution. The Core 5 supports DDR4 in addition to DDR5, which may matter for platform compatibility, but the Core Ultra 9's higher memory bandwidth and larger cache give it a structural advantage in most measured workloads.

The choice between these two comes down to the workload profile. The Core Ultra 9 is the data-backed winner for multithreaded performance, encryption, compression, floating point math, and overall benchmark averages. The Core 5 shows a measurable single-core advantage in specific Cinebench tests, and its desktop socket and lower core count may fit different system requirements. Neither processor is a universal winner, but the benchmark data clearly favors the Core Ultra 9 for overall performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus records an average benchmark score of 79574, while the Intel Core 5 223PE records 40585. The Core Ultra 9 also ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 87th percentile for the Core 5.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads.

Q: In which benchmarks does the Intel Core 5 223PE win?

A: The Core 5 wins two head-to-head tests: Cinebench R15 single-core (376 vs 340, a 10.6% margin) and Cinebench R23 single-core (3734 vs 2356, a 58.5% margin).

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 9 scores 519 versus 159 for the Core 5, a 69.4% advantage for the Core Ultra 9.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 223PE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.