Intel Core 7 251E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts compare between the Intel Core 7 251E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V?

A: The Core 7 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core 7 251E offers significantly more parallel processing capability on paper.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The Core 7 251E boosts up to 5.60 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 226V boosts up to 4.50 GHz. Both have a base clock of 2.10 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking in the database?

A: The Core Ultra 5 226V ranks in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 251E ranks in the 50th percentile. The Core Ultra 5 226V has a higher overall standing despite fewer cores.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Core Ultra 5 226V has an average benchmark score of 19368. The Core 7 251E has no recorded average benchmark score in the database, as it has no benchmark entries. The Core Ultra 5 226V's score is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS at 19364, showing a 0% delta.

Q: What are the thermal design power (TDP) ratings?

A: The Core 7 251E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Core Ultra 5 226V has a TDP of 17 watts. The Core Ultra 5 226V is designed for much lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Core 7 251E supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 226V does not. This makes the Core 7 251E more suitable for error-sensitive workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Core 7 251E is a desktop part built on the Bartlett Lake codename, using Intel's 10 nm process node and fabricated by Intel. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Core Ultra 5 226V belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Lunar Lake, and is fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process node. It uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket, which is a mobile platform.

The core layouts diverge sharply. The Core 7 251E provides 24 cores and 32 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement with more physical cores than threads. The Core Ultra 5 226V provides 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is present. The cache hierarchy also differs. The Core 7 251E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 226V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the Lunar Lake part suggest a focus on single-thread efficiency, while the Core 7 251E's much larger L3 pool supports its many cores.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 7 251E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 226V also uses dual-channel memory, but the database lists its memory support as dependent on the motherboard, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. ECC memory is supported on the Core 7 251E but not on the Core Ultra 5 226V.

Integrated graphics are another point of separation. The Core 7 251E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 226V uses Arc 130V. The Core 7 251E offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Core Ultra 5 226V offers only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. The Core 7 251E was released on January 12, 2025, with a launch MSRP of $384, while the Core Ultra 5 226V was released on September 23, 2024, with no launch MSRP recorded. Both processors have locked multipliers, and both are listed as active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results between these two processors. However, the Core Ultra 5 226V has a full set of recorded benchmark scores across Cinebench, Geekbench, and Passmark tests, while the Core 7 251E has none. This absence of data for the Core 7 251E means the comparison relies entirely on the Core Ultra 5 226V's measured performance and its standing against other CPUs.

The Core Ultra 5 226V posts a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 9848 and a single-core score of 1744. In Cinebench R20, it scores 6381 multicore and 900 single-core. Cinebench R15 results are 1501 multicore and 267 single-core. Geekbench scores are 8598 multicore and 1930 single-core. Passmark results include a multithread score of 17850, a single-thread score of 3754, and specific workloads: data compression at 170687, data encryption at 12710, extended instructions at 14724, prime number finding at 166, floating-point math at 52270, integer math at 38647, physics at 1449, and random string sorting at 20813.

In the database, the Core Ultra 5 226V's nearest rivals provide context. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS has an average score of 19364, a 0% delta, meaning the Core Ultra 5 226V and the Ryzen 5 7533HS perform effectively identically. The Intel Core i5-1345U scores 19411, a delta of -0.2%, meaning the Core Ultra 5 226V trails the i5-1345U by 0.2%. The Intel Core i7-8700K scores 19238, a delta of 0.7%, meaning the Core Ultra 5 226V leads the i7-8700K by 0.7%. The Intel Core i7-10700F scores 19499, a delta of -0.7%, meaning the Core Ultra 5 226V trails the i7-10700F by 0.7%. These deltas are all within a 1.4% band, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 226V sits squarely in a competitive mid-range performance cluster.

Because the Core 7 251E has no benchmark entries, the database records zero wins for it and zero wins for the Core Ultra 5 226V in direct comparison. The practical interpretation is that the Core 7 251E's performance cannot be quantified from recorded measurements, while the Core Ultra 5 226V's performance is fully documented.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on platform and power envelope. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is the only one of the two with measured benchmark results, and those results place it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its 17-watt TDP makes it appropriate for mobile systems, and its 8-core, 8-thread configuration with a 4.50 GHz boost clock delivers a specific level of performance that the database can verify.

The Intel Core 7 251E, by contrast, has no recorded benchmark scores and no percentile ranking beyond its 50th percentile positional data. Its 65-watt TDP, 24 cores, 32 threads, and 5.60 GHz boost clock indicate a high-core-count desktop processor, but the database cannot confirm its real-world speed. Its 36 MB of L3 cache, ECC memory support, and DDR4/DDR5 compatibility point toward workstation or server-adjacent desktop use. The Core Ultra 5 226V offers a known quantity of performance, while the Core 7 251E offers an unknown quantity with a much larger theoretical core count.

Users who need verified performance data and low power consumption should choose the Core Ultra 5 226V. Users who require ECC memory, a desktop socket, and a high core count may prefer the Core 7 251E, but they should be aware that the database contains no measurements to validate its speed. The Core Ultra 5 226V's nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS and Intel Core i7-8700K, all fall within 0.7% of its average score, reinforcing that it delivers consistent, mid-range performance.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Core 7 251E has 24, Core Ultra 5 226V has 8
• Threads: Core 7 251E has 32, Core Ultra 5 226V has 8
• Boost Clock: Core 7 251E boosts to 5.60 GHz, Core Ultra 5 226V boosts to 4.50 GHz
• TDP: Core 7 251E is 65 watts, Core Ultra 5 226V is 17 watts
• Socket: Core 7 251E uses Intel Socket 1700, Core Ultra 5 226V uses Intel BGA 2833
• Codename: Core 7 251E is Bartlett Lake, Core Ultra 5 226V is Lunar Lake
• Process Node: Core 7 251E is 10 nm from Intel, Core Ultra 5 226V is 3 nm from TSMC
• Die Size: Core 7 251E is 257 mm², Core Ultra 5 226V has no recorded die size
• L1 Cache: Core 7 251E has 80 KB per core, Core Ultra 5 226V has 192 KB per core
• L2 Cache: Core 7 251E has 2 MB per core, Core Ultra 5 226V has 2.5 MB per core
• L3 Cache: Core 7 251E has 36 MB shared, Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 MB shared
• Memory Support: Core 7 251E supports DDR4 and DDR5, Core Ultra 5 226V depends on motherboard
• Memory Bandwidth: Core 7 251E has 89.6 GB/s, Core Ultra 5 226V has no recorded bandwidth
• ECC Memory: Core 7 251E supports it, Core Ultra 5 226V does not
• PCIe Lanes: Core 7 251E has 16 Gen 5 lanes, Core Ultra 5 226V has 4 Gen 5 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Core 7 251E uses UHD Graphics 770, Core Ultra 5 226V uses Arc 130V
• Market Segment: Core 7 251E is Desktop, Core Ultra 5 226V is Mobile
• Release Date: Core 7 251E released 2025-01-12, Core Ultra 5 226V released 2024-09-23
• Launch MSRP: Core 7 251E has a launch MSRP of $384, Core Ultra 5 226V has none recorded
• Part Number: Core 7 251E is SRQDUQ657, Core Ultra 5 226V is SRPMQSRPMR

The base clock of 2.10 GHz, dual-channel memory bus, active production status, and locked multiplier are identical between the two.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 226V wins in all categories where measured data exists. It has a documented average benchmark score of 19368, a 73rd percentile ranking, and a full suite of Cinebench, Geekbench, and Passmark results. Its 17-watt TDP makes it the clear choice for mobile platforms, and its 8-core, 8-thread design with 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core delivers strong single-thread performance, as shown by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1744 and Geekbench single-core score of 1930. Its integrated Arc 130V graphics and 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes suit a compact, low-power laptop design. The database confirms its performance is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, Intel Core i5-1345U, Intel Core i7-8700K, and Intel Core i7-10700F, making it a predictable performer in its class.

The Core 7 251E wins in theoretical capacity and platform features. It offers 24 cores and 32 threads, a 5.60 GHz boost clock, 36 MB of L3 cache, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. It supports ECC memory, which the Core Ultra 5 226V does not. It provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, four times the Core Ultra 5 226V's allocation. Its desktop socket and 65-watt TDP position it for systems where power draw is less constrained. However, without any benchmark scores in the database, these advantages remain unverified in practice. Users choosing the Core 7 251E for its core count or ECC support do so based on specifications, not measured results. The Core Ultra 5 226V is the only processor in this comparison with proven, recorded performance.