Intel Core 7 251E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX Comparison
Intel Core 7 251E
Core Ultra 5 245HX
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 7 251E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX
The Verdict
The data clearly separates these two processors by market intent. The Intel Core 7 251E is a desktop part with 24 cores and 32 threads, built on Intel's 10 nm process, designed for Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is a mobile part with 14 cores and 14 threads, built on TSMC's 3 nm process, designed for BGA 2114. The benchmark data only exists for the Core Ultra 5 245HX, which holds a 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Core 7 251E has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile. The Core Ultra 5 245HX is the only one of the two with measured performance data, so any comparison of actual workload capability must rely on its recorded results. The Core 7 251E offers more cores, more threads, and a higher boost clock, but the Core Ultra 5 245HX delivers the only verified performance numbers in the database.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different design lineages. The Core 7 251E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 7 generation. It is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². The Core Ultra 5 245HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename, belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, and is fabricated on TSMC's 3 nm process with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. The process node difference is substantial: 10 nm versus 3 nm. The Core 7 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads. Thread counts are identical to core counts on the Ultra 5, indicating no hyperthreading on that part. The Core 7 251E has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The desktop chip clocks higher under boost, but the mobile chip starts from a higher base. Cache hierarchies differ as well. The Core 7 251E provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245HX provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The mobile part has larger per-core caches, but the desktop part has more total L3. Memory support diverges: the Core 7 251E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, plus ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 245HX supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, with no ECC support. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Core 7 251E provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the Core 7 251E uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU. The Core 7 251E has a locked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX has an unlocked multiplier.
Where Each One Wins
The Core 7 251E wins on raw thread count with 24 cores and 32 threads versus 14 cores and 14 threads. It also has a higher boost clock at 5.60 GHz versus 5.10 GHz, more shared L3 cache at 36 MB versus 24 MB, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with ECC capability. The Core Ultra 5 245HX wins on process technology with TSMC's 3 nm node versus Intel's 10 nm node. It has a higher base clock at 3.10 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s, more PCIe lanes at 20 versus 16, and a lower TDP at 55 W versus 65 W. The Core Ultra 5 245HX also has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Core 7 251E does not. The Core Ultra 5 245HX is the only part with recorded benchmark scores, and it ranks at the 90th percentile among all CPUs. The Core 7 251E ranks at the 50th percentile with no benchmark data.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core 7 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads.
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Core 7 251E boosts to 5.60 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX boosts to 5.10 GHz.
Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX uses TSMC's 3 nm process. The Intel Core 7 251E uses Intel's 10 nm process.
Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?
A: The Intel Core 7 251E supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX does not support ECC memory.
Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel Core 7 251E has 89.6 GB/s.
Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on either processor?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 7 251E has a locked multiplier.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head benchmark table contains no entries, so there are no direct side-by-side measurements. The only recorded scores belong to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 32,358, and its single-core score is 4,568. In Cinebench R20, it scores 13,590 multicore and 1,918 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 3,261 multicore and 460 single-core. PassMark results for the Core Ultra 5 245HX show a multithread score of 38,069 and a single-thread score of 4,481. Its floating point math score is 120,735, integer math is 92,150, data compression is 393,071, data encryption is 30,022, extended instructions is 31,212, random string sorting is 47,616, physics is 2,526, and find prime numbers is 359. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 245HX is 48,287. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A with an average score of 48,201 and a delta of 0.2 percent, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 with 48,171 and a 0.2 percent delta, the AMD EPYC 4345P with 48,470 and a -0.4 percent delta, and the Intel Core i5-14600K with 48,618 and a -0.7 percent delta. These deltas are small, meaning the Core Ultra 5 245HX sits in a tightly packed performance cluster. The Core 7 251E has no benchmark scores in the database, so no direct comparison can be made from measurements.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ across every major specification field. The Core 7 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz versus 3.10 GHz. Boost clocks are 5.60 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. TDP is 65 W versus 55 W. The Core 7 251E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX uses Intel BGA 2114. The Core 7 251E is a desktop segment part, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX is a mobile segment part. Process nodes are 10 nm (Intel) versus 3 nm (TSMC). Die sizes are 257 mm² versus 243 mm². The Core Ultra 5 245HX lists 17,800 million transistors; the Core 7 251E has no transistor count in the database. L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core. L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 3 MB per core. L3 cache is 36 MB shared versus 24 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. ECC support is present on the Core 7 251E and absent on the Core Ultra 5 245HX. PCIe is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes versus Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU. The Core 7 251E has a locked multiplier; the Core Ultra 5 245HX has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 7 251E has a launch MSRP of $384. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has no launch MSRP in the database. Both processors were released on the same date, 2025-01-12, and both have Active production status. The Core 7 251E part number is SRQDUQ657, and the Core Ultra 5 245HX part number is SRVFM. The Core Ultra 5 245HX carries a 90th percentile ranking versus the Core 7 251E's 50th percentile, and the average benchmark score of 48,287 for the Ultra 5 stands against a zero average score for the Core 7 251E.