Intel Core 5 223PQE vs Intel Core 7 160UL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two Intel Socket 1700 desktop processors cleanly by workload type, and the comparison is one-sided in terms of available measurements. The Intel Core 7 160UL is the only one of the pair with benchmark results in the database, so all wins belong to it by default. It delivers a multi-threaded Cinebench R23 score of 9386, a single-core R23 score of 1325, and a Passmark multithread score of 11043. Those numbers establish it as a capable performer in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded tasks.

The Intel Core 5 223PQE has no recorded benchmark scores, no average benchmark score, and no nearest rivals listed. Its percentile versus all CPUs is 50, while the Core 7 160UL sits at the 69th percentile. The Core 5 223PQE therefore cannot claim any measured wins, and its performance profile must be inferred from its specifications rather than from benchmark data. The Core 7 160UL, by contrast, has a full suite of Cinebench and Passmark results, making it the only processor in this pairing with demonstrable performance evidence.

For workloads that stress integer math, the Core 7 160UL scores 47515 in Passmark integer math. For floating point math, it scores 25670. Data compression reaches 108953, and data encryption reaches 7146. Extended instructions score 5832, find prime numbers scores 50, random string sorting scores 11843, and physics scores 819. These results cover a broad range of computational patterns, from branch-heavy integer work to vectorized floating point operations.

The Core 5 223PQE, with its higher clock specifications and larger cache, may offer competitive performance in some scenarios, but the database contains no measurements to confirm that. The data shows only the Core 7 160UL's wins, and any analysis of the Core 5 223PQE must remain speculative until benchmark results are recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same socket and process node but diverge in nearly every other architectural detail. The Intel Core 5 223PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The Intel Core 7 160UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename and belongs to the Core 7 generation. Both are built on a 10 nm process by Intel, but their internal designs differ substantially.

Core counts and thread counts tell the first part of the story. The Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 7 160UL has 10 cores but only 12 threads. The Core 7 160UL therefore has more physical cores but fewer threads, which suggests a hybrid core arrangement where not all cores support simultaneous multithreading. The Core 5 223PQE, with 8 cores and 16 threads, has a uniform thread configuration.

Clock speeds differ sharply. The Core 5 223PQE has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Core 7 160UL has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 5 223PQE runs at more than double the base clock of the Core 7 160UL, though the boost clocks are closer together.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Core 5 223PQE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 160UL has the same 80 KB L1 per core, but only 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 223PQE therefore has both more L2 per core and twice the total L3.

Memory support is similar, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Core 5 223PQE has a measured memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 7 160UL has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported by the Core 5 223PQE but not by the Core 7 160UL. PCIe capabilities also differ: the Core 5 223PQE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 7 160UL offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Integrated graphics are different as well. The Core 5 223PQE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 7 160UL uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. The thermal design power values reflect their different positioning: the Core 5 223PQE is rated at 125 watts, while the Core 7 160UL is rated at 15 watts. The release dates also differ, with the Core 7 160UL appearing in April 2024 and the Core 5 223PQE appearing in March 2026.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores, while the Intel Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE has 16 threads, while the Intel Core 7 160UL has 12 threads.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE is rated at 125 watts, while the Intel Core 7 160UL is rated at 15 watts.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Core 5 223PQE also supports ECC memory, which the Core 7 160UL does not.

Q: What are the PCIe capabilities of each?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 7 160UL provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 160UL has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on every major specification field except socket, process node, foundry, memory support, memory bus, market segment, and production status. The Intel Core 5 223PQE has a base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for the Core 7 160UL. The boost clock is 5.50 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. The Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads; the Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Thermal design power is 125 watts versus 15 watts. The L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. The Core 5 223PQE supports ECC memory; the Core 7 160UL does not. PCIe is Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

The Core 5 223PQE has a measured memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 7 160UL has no recorded bandwidth figure. The Core 5 223PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Core 7 160UL uses Raptor Lake-PS. The release dates are March 2026 and April 2024 respectively. The Core 5 223PQE has a launch MSRP of $319, while the Core 7 160UL has no recorded launch MSRP. The Core 5 223PQE has a part number of SA4QC, while the Core 7 160UL has an unknown part number.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries for these two processors, and the Core 5 223PQE has no benchmarks at all. The only available performance data belongs to the Intel Core 7 160UL. Its Cinebench R15 multicore score is 946, and its single-core score is 133. In Cinebench R20, it scores 3942 multicore and 556 single-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 9386 multicore and 1325 single-core.

The Passmark suite provides additional detail. The Core 7 160UL scores 108953 in data compression and 7146 in data encryption. Extended instructions score 5832, and find prime numbers scores 50. Floating point math scores 25670, and integer math scores 47515. The multithread score is 11043, physics is 819, random string sorting is 11843, and single-thread is 3391.

Against its nearest rivals in the database, the Core 7 160UL performs close to the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, which has an average score of 14277 and a delta of -0.3 percent. It also sits near the Intel Core i5-10400F with an average score of 14185 and a delta of 0.3 percent. The Intel Xeon 6756E averages 14163 with a delta of 0.5 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320 with a delta of -0.6 percent. The Core 7 160UL's average benchmark score is 14232, placing it within a narrow band around these four competitors.

The Core 5 223PQE has an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile of 50, which means it has no measured performance data to compare against the Core 7 160UL or any other processor. Its absence from the benchmark results makes a direct head-to-head comparison impossible on measured performance.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core 7 160UL is the processor with recorded performance evidence, while the Intel Core 5 223PQE has none. Anyone selecting between these two based on benchmark results must choose the Core 7 160UL, since it is the only one with measurable scores. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 9386 and single-core score of 1325 indicate solid performance for both threaded and single-threaded applications.

The Core 5 223PQE offers higher clock speeds, a larger L3 cache, more threads, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. Its 125 watt thermal design power suggests a desktop-oriented design with performance headroom, while the Core 7 160UL's 15 watt rating indicates a low-power part. The Core 5 223PQE also has a higher percentile rank of 50 versus 69 for the Core 7 160UL, though neither percentile is tied to measured scores for the Core 5.

The absence of benchmark data for the Core 5 223PQE means the verdict must favor the Core 7 160UL on evidence alone. Its position at the 69th percentile and its average benchmark score of 14232 place it among a cluster of competitive mid-range processors, with deltas of -0.3 to 0.5 percent against its nearest rivals. The Core 5 223PQE cannot be evaluated on the same basis, and its specifications, while promising on paper, are not backed by any recorded performance results. The data speaks clearly: the Core 7 160UL is the processor with demonstrable performance, and the Core 5 223PQE remains an unmeasured quantity.