Intel Core 5 223PQE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is extensive, while the Intel Core 5 223PQE has no benchmark scores listed in the database. This makes a direct comparison one-sided: the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus scores are the only measurable performance data available. The database shows the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus with a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, a strong position that places it clearly in the high-performance tier. The Core 5 223PQE sits at the 50th percentile, but with no recorded benchmark scores, its actual performance level cannot be quantified from this data.

For the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, the Cinebench results show a multi-core score of 42718 in R23, while the single-core score reaches 6030. In R20, the multi-core score is 17941 and single-core is 2532. The R15 run shows 4305 multi-core and 607 single-core. Passmark results reinforce this pattern: the multithread score is 50146, single-thread is 4698, integer math scores 123030, floating point math scores 159824, and extended instructions score 42880. Data compression hits 553155, data encryption reaches 41292, and random string sorting scores 67209. Physics simulation scores 3183, and the find prime numbers test returns 452.

The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus provide context for these numbers. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has an average score of 66099, which is just 0.1% behind the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D scores 65914, a 0.4% gap. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is 1% ahead at 66855, and the AMD EPYC 4465P is 1.1% ahead at 66925. These slim margins indicate that the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus trades blows with top-tier desktop and workstation processors, landing within a 1.1% band of all four rivals. The Core 5 223PQE has no rival data and no benchmark scores, so no comparative statements can be made for it.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different process nodes and foundries. The Core 5 223PQE uses a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus also lists 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, figures that the Core 5 223PQE does not report in the database. The manufacturing difference is significant: a 3 nm TSMC node versus a 10 nm Intel node implies a substantial density and efficiency gap, though the database does not provide direct power or efficiency measurements beyond the 125 TDP listed for both.

Core counts differ sharply. The Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. This means the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has more physical cores but no simultaneous multithreading, while the Core 5 223PQE has fewer cores but hyper-threading support. The cache hierarchy also diverges. The Core 5 223PQE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus leads in every cache level.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 5 223PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a higher 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Core 5 223PQE has Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on the Core 5 223PQE as UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics, indicated as N/A. The sockets are incompatible: the Core 5 223PQE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. The multiplier is locked on the Core 5 223PQE and unlocked on the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, meaning the latter allows overclocking while the former does not. Codename and generation also differ: Bartlett Lake for the Core 5 223PQE, Arrow Lake Refresh for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, with the latter in the Core Ultra Series 2 family.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus as the stronger processor for multi-core and single-core workloads. Its 18 cores, larger caches, higher memory bandwidth, and 3 nm process all support that conclusion. The benchmark scores confirm it: a 93rd percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 66159 place it among the fastest desktop CPUs. The nearest rivals, all within 1.1% in average score, include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Intel Core 9 273PQE, which shows the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus competes at the top tier.

The Core 5 223PQE cannot be assessed for performance from the database because it has no benchmark scores and no rivals listed. What the database does show is a 50th percentile ranking, which indicates a mid-range position, but without measured scores that ranking is not actionable. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, DDR4 and DDR5 support, and integrated graphics make it a more flexible platform for builds that need an iGPU or want to reuse older DDR4 memory. The integrated graphics on the Core 5 223PQE are a clear advantage for systems without a discrete GPU, since the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has none.

The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Core 5 223PQE does not. Both CPUs have a 125 TDP, so power draw at stock settings is listed as identical. The launch MSRP of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is $184. The Core 5 223PQE has a launch MSRP of $319. For a buyer who prioritizes measured performance, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the data-backed choice. For a buyer who needs a built-in GPU or compatibility with DDR4, the Core 5 223PQE is the only option between these two, but its performance remains unquantified.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. Core count: 8 for the Core 5 223PQE versus 18 for the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus. Thread count: 16 versus 18. Base clock: 4.00 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. Boost clock: 5.50 GHz versus 5.30 GHz. Process node: 10 nm versus 3 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC. Transistors: not listed versus 17,800 million. Die size: not listed versus 243 mm². L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 cache: 2 MB per core versus 3 MB per core. L3 cache: 24 MB shared versus 30 MB shared. Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes: 16 versus 20. Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 versus N/A. Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851. Multiplier: locked versus unlocked. Codename: Bartlett Lake versus Arrow Lake Refresh. Generation: Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) versus Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake). Release date: 2026-03-08 versus 2026-03-10. Launch MSRP: $319 versus $184. Part number: SA4QC versus SA4V3. The TDP is the same at 125 for both, as is the dual-channel memory bus and ECC support. Both are listed as Active production status and Desktop market segment. The Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is in the Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 5 223PQE has no series listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores, while the Intel Core 5 223PQE has 8 cores.

Q: Does the Core 5 223PQE support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the Core 5 223PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus supports only DDR5.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Core 5 223PQE includes UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics (N/A).

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus?

A: The average benchmark score is 66159, with a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: How close are the nearest rivals to the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus?

A: The nearest rivals are within 1.1%: the Intel Core 9 273PQE is 0.1% behind, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is 0.4% behind, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is 1% ahead, and the AMD EPYC 4465P is 1.1% ahead.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core 5 223PQE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is higher than the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 5.30 GHz.

Q: Can the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus be overclocked?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 223PQE has a locked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins on nearly every measured performance metric. Its 18 cores and 18 threads deliver a high multi-core capacity, and the recorded Cinebench and Passmark scores confirm strong throughput in rendering, math, and data compression workloads. The larger L3 cache (30 MB versus 24 MB) and higher memory bandwidth (115.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s) favor memory-intensive tasks. The 3 nm process and TSMC foundry indicate a more modern manufacturing approach. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide more expansion bandwidth than the 16 lanes on the Core 5 223PQE. The unlocked multiplier supports overclocking for users who push beyond stock settings. Its 93rd percentile ranking and average score of 66159 place it in the same performance class as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Intel Core 9 273PQE, both within 0.4% and 0.1% respectively.

The Intel Core 5 223PQE wins in specific areas that are not about raw throughput. It has integrated UHD Graphics 770, which the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus lacks entirely, making it the only choice here for a system without a discrete GPU. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving builders flexibility to reuse older memory or choose cheaper DDR4 modules. Its boost clock of 5.50 GHz is higher than the 5.30 GHz of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, which may help lightly threaded workloads that rely on peak single-core frequency. It uses Intel Socket 1700, a different platform from the Socket 1851 of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, so the motherboard ecosystem differs. The Core 5 223PQE also has no benchmark scores in the database, so its performance cannot be compared directly, but its 50th percentile ranking suggests a mid-range position. For workloads that need integrated graphics, DDR4 compatibility, or a specific Socket 1700 board, the Core 5 223PQE is the relevant pick. For everything else where measured performance matters, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the data-supported winner.