Intel Core 5 223PQE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235A Comparison

Intel Core 5 223PQE and Intel Core Ultra 5 235A are two desktop processors with fundamentally different designs. The data shows the Core Ultra 5 235A holds a commanding lead in almost every measured workload, while the Core 5 223PQE offers higher clock speeds and a more traditional core layout. The benchmark results indicate a clear performance hierarchy, with the Core Ultra 5 235A ranking in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 50th percentile for the Core 5 223PQE.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 235A dominates the Core 5 223PQE across all recorded benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 32633 points. The Core 5 223PQE has no recorded benchmark score in the database, resulting in zero wins for that processor in head-to-head comparisons. The Core Ultra 5 235A also delivers a strong single-core result in Cinebench R23, posting 4607 points. This multi-core advantage is substantial, reflecting a 14-core design with 14 threads, whereas the Core 5 223PQE uses 8 cores and 16 threads.

The Core Ultra 5 235A also excels in PassMark tests. It records 38392 in multithread performance and 4557 in single-thread performance. The floating point math score reaches 118778, while integer math hits 88626. Data compression workloads show a score of 393800, and data encryption reaches 30136. Extended instruction tests produce 31625 points, and random string sorting completes at 49489. Physics calculations score 2437, and prime number finding finishes at 392.

The Core 5 223PQE lacks any benchmark entries, so its performance in these tests cannot be quantified from the database. The absence of data means the Core Ultra 5 235A wins every comparison by default. This is a significant gap in the recorded measurements, but the available information clearly shows the Core Ultra 5 235A as the superior performer in all tested categories. The Core Ultra 5 235A also compares favorably to its nearest rivals, sitting within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 and 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380, while trailing the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX by 0.2%.

FAQ

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 Ultra 5 235A boosts to 5.00 GHz.

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

A: The Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 235A?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235A has an average benchmark score of 48201. The Core 5 223PQE has an average benchmark score of 0.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 5 223PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 235A supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235A uses a 3 nm process, while the Core 5 223PQE uses a 10 nm process.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 5 223PQE has a TDP of 125 watts, and the Core Ultra 5 235A has a TDP of 65 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 235A wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. This includes multi-core workloads like Cinebench R20 multi-core, where it scores 13705, and Cinebench R15 multi-core with 3289 points. Single-core tests also favor the Core Ultra 5 235A, with Cinebench R20 single-core scoring 1934 and Cinebench R15 single-core scoring 464. The 14-core configuration provides a clear advantage in parallel processing tasks, as shown by the 32633-point Cinebench R23 multi-core result. The higher thread count of the Core 5 223PQE, 16 threads versus 14, does not translate into any recorded performance wins.

The Core 5 223PQE has no benchmark scores in the database, so there are no measurable wins for this processor. Its higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz suggest potential for high-frequency workloads, but the recorded data does not confirm any performance advantage. The Core Ultra 5 235A, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz, still manages to outperform in all tests. The Core 5 223PQE also supports ECC memory, which the Core Ultra 5 235A does not, making it suited for reliability-focused applications. The Core 5 223PQE also works with DDR4 memory, offering broader compatibility with existing systems.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly in core and thread counts. The Core 5 223PQE uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235A uses 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 4.00 GHz for the Core 5 223PQE and 3.40 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235A. Boost clocks are 5.50 GHz and 5.00 GHz, respectively. Thermal design power shows a major gap: 125 watts for the Core 5 223PQE versus 65 watts for the Core Ultra 5 235A. Sockets also differ, with the Core 5 223PQE using Intel Socket 1700 and the Core Ultra 5 235A using Intel Socket 1851.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 5 223PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 235A supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Core Ultra 5 235A at 102.4 GB/s, compared to 89.6 GB/s on the Core 5 223PQE. ECC memory is supported only on the Core 5 223PQE. PCIe lanes differ, with the Core 5 223PQE offering 16 lanes and the Core Ultra 5 235A offering 20 lanes, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are also different: UHD Graphics 770 on the Core 5 223PQE and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU on the Core Ultra 5 235A. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a larger L1 cache at 192 KB per core and L2 cache at 3 MB per core, while the Core 5 223PQE has 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The Core Ultra 5 235A is built on Arrow Lake architecture and uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Core 5 223PQE uses Bartlett Lake architecture and a 10 nm process from Intel. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm². The Core 5 223PQE has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database. The Core Ultra 5 235A belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 5 223PQE has no series designation. The Core Ultra 5 235A was released on 2025-07-28, while the Core 5 223PQE was released on 2026-03-08.

The 3 nm process gives the Core Ultra 5 235A a significant manufacturing advantage, enabling more transistors and higher efficiency. The Core Ultra 5 235A uses 17,800 million transistors in a 243 mm² die, allowing for 14 cores. The Core 5 223PQE, with no transistor data available, relies on a 10 nm node. The Core Ultra 5 235A also features a larger cache hierarchy, with 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core. The Core 5 223PQE offers 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core. Both processors have 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 235A integrates Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units, while the Core 5 223PQE uses UHD Graphics 770. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a lower TDP of 65 watts, reflecting the efficiency of the 3 nm process, while the Core 5 223PQE draws 125 watts.