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

FAQ

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Core 5 relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 16 threads, whereas the Core Ultra has more physical cores but no thread doubling.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Core 5 is faster in both metrics.

Q: What process nodes do these chips use, and who manufactures them?

A: The Core 5 223PQE is built on Intel's 10 nm process and fabricated by Intel. The Core Ultra 5 245 uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 223PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 supports DDR5 exclusively.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor in the database?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PQE sits at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 0. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 ranks at the 90th percentile with an average benchmark score of 48,995.

Q: Are either of these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Both the Core 5 223PQE and the Core Ultra 5 245 are locked parts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design approaches from Intel. The Core 5 223PQE is a Bartlett Lake part built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own fabs. It uses a conventional monolithic layout with 8 cores and 16 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to double thread count. The Core Ultra 5 245 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake-S, and uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. This chip has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it does not use hyper-threading at all; the thread count equals the core count.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The Core 5 223PQE provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, while the Core Ultra 5 245 offers 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache, so the total cache capacity at the last level is identical, but the per-core allocation is much larger on the Core Ultra.

Memory support separates the two clearly. The Core 5 223PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 245 is DDR5-only, also dual-channel, but reaches 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe implementation differs as well: the Core 5 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are different generations. The Core 5 223PQE uses UHD Graphics 770, whereas the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. Power targets diverge sharply: the Core 5 has a 125 W TDP, and the Core Ultra is rated at 65 W. Sockets are incompatible, with the Core 5 on Intel Socket 1700 and the Core Ultra on Intel Socket 1851. The Core Ultra also has a smaller transistor count advantage thanks to the 3 nm node, packing 17,800 million transistors versus no listed figure for the Core 5.

Release timing places the Core Ultra 5 245 earlier, with a release date of January 6, 2025. The Core 5 223PQE arrives later, on March 8, 2026. The Core Ultra is part of the Arrow Lake generation, while the Core 5 belongs to the Bartlett Lake generation.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 dominates every benchmark category where data exists. Its average benchmark score of 48,995 places it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 223PQE has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile with an average score of 0. The Core Ultra is close to several strong rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G with a delta of -0.4% and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 with a delta of -0.5%. It also edges out the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H by 0.6% and the Intel Core i5-14600K by 0.8%.

The Core Ultra 5 245 wins in multi-threaded workloads due to its 14 physical cores. Cinebench R23 multicore results show a score of 32,924, and PassMark multithread tests show 38,706. Single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,648 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4,394. The Core 5 223PQE has no benchmark entries in the database, so its wins cannot be quantified from recorded data. Its higher clocks and 16 threads would suggest competitiveness in lightly threaded tasks, but no measurements are available to confirm this.

The Core Ultra's 3 nm TSMC process and 65 W TDP give it an efficiency profile that the 10 nm, 125 W Core 5 cannot match. For workloads that stress sustained multi-core execution, the Core Ultra's 14 cores and larger per-core caches provide a structural advantage. The Core 5's 5.50 GHz boost clock is the highest recorded figure between the two, but without benchmark scores, its real-world impact remains unmeasured in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. Core count: 8 versus 14. Thread count: 16 versus 14. Base clock: 4.00 GHz versus 3.50 GHz. Boost clock: 5.50 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. TDP: 125 W versus 65 W. Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851.

Process technology: 10 nm Intel versus 3 nm TSMC. The Core Ultra lists 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die size; the Core 5 has no transistor or die size data recorded. Cache: L1 per core is 80 KB versus 192 KB. L2 per core is 2 MB versus 3 MB. L3 shared cache is identical at 24 MB. Memory: DDR4 and DDR5 support versus DDR5-only. Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. PCIe: Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Release date: March 8, 2026 versus January 6, 2025. Launch MSRP: $319 for the Core 5 223PQE and $270 for the Core Ultra 5 245. Generation names: Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) versus Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake). Part numbers: SA4QC versus SRVFE. Both are locked, both support ECC, both are desktop parts, and both are active production. The Core Ultra has a series designation, Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 5 does not list a series.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons are unavailable because the Core 5 223PQE has no recorded benchmark scores. The database shows zero wins for the Core 5 and zero wins for the Core Ultra in head-to-head entries, and the head-to-head benchmark list is empty. The only quantitative performance data belongs to the Core Ultra 5 245.

The Core Ultra 5 245 produces a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32,924 and a single-core score of 4,648. In Cinebench R20, it scores 13,828 multi-core and 1,952 single-core. Cinebench R15 results are 3,318 multi-core and 468 single-core. PassMark results include 38,706 for multithread, 4,394 for single-thread, 91,187 for integer math, 120,548 for floating point math, 40,0942 for data compression, 30,236 for data encryption, 33,304 for extended instructions, 49,140 for random string sorting, 2,569 for physics, and 365 for finding prime numbers.

The nearest rival data contextualizes the Core Ultra's standing. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49,196 on average, which is 0.4% higher than the Core Ultra. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 averages 49,228, 0.5% higher. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H averages 48,698, 0.6% lower. The Intel Core i5-14600K averages 48,618, 0.8% lower. The Core Ultra sits in a tight cluster with these four chips, all within roughly one percent of each other. This indicates parity with upper-mid-range desktop parts from both AMD and Intel, despite the Core Ultra's lower 65 W TDP.

Because the Core 5 223PQE has no benchmark scores, no direct comparison of wins is possible. The data records no measurable performance advantage for the Core 5 in any test. The Core Ultra holds every available score, and its 90th percentile ranking versus the Core 5's 50th percentile ranking is the clearest available signal of the performance gap.

The Verdict

The recorded data gives a one-sided picture. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has a full set of benchmark scores, a 90th percentile ranking, and an average score of 48,995. The Intel Core 5 223PQE has no benchmark scores, a 50th percentile ranking, and an average score of 0. Buyers who need measured performance should select the Core Ultra 5 245.

The Core Ultra delivers competitive multi-core throughput, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32,924 and PassMark multithread score of 38,706. Its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core i5-14600K, all fall within one percent of its average score, which places it in established high-performing territory. The 65 W TDP and 3 nm TSMC process give it a power profile that the 125 W, 10 nm Core 5 cannot match.

The Core 5 223PQE offers higher clocks and 16 threads, but the database contains no measurements to validate any performance claim. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock is the highest figure between the two, and its DDR4 support may appeal to users on older platforms, but these are specifications, not results. The Core Ultra's 90th percentile ranking and extensive benchmark record make it the only choice supported by data. The Core 5's strengths remain hypothetical until benchmark entries appear.

For users on Intel Socket 1700 with DDR4 memory, the Core 5 223PQE is the compatible option, but its performance is unquantified. For everyone else, the Core Ultra 5 245 is the measured, higher-ranked processor. The launch MSRP difference, $319 versus $270, further separates the two, but the performance data is the decisive factor. The Core Ultra wins every recorded comparison.