Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 228V Comparison

The Intel Core 7 251TE and the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V represent two distinct design philosophies from the same manufacturer. The data in the database shows a clear split between raw multi-threaded capability and power-efficient single-thread execution. Across the head-to-head benchmarks, the Core 7 251TE secures 14 wins, while the Core Ultra 5 228V takes 3. This is not a close contest in overall performance, but the nature of the losses for the larger chip reveals a specific, narrow area where the newer architecture excels.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251TE is the dominant force in almost every heavy workload category. Its wins span all Cinebench tests, both single and multi-core, and the majority of PassMark tests including data compression, encryption, floating point math, integer math, and multithread. The largest margins are in compute-intensive tasks. The Core Ultra 5 228V, by contrast, wins only in two specific PassMark tests: find prime numbers and single thread. The passmark_singlethread test also goes to the Ultra 5 with a 7% advantage. This pattern suggests the Ultra 5 has a more efficient per-core architecture that excels in certain scalar workloads, while the Core 7 251TE overwhelms it with sheer core count and thread count in everything else. The data implies the Ultra 5 is suited for bursty, latency-sensitive tasks, while the 251TE is the choice for sustained, parallel processing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel. It is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP, featuring 24 cores and 32 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 36 MB L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 228V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It is a mobile part with a 17 W TDP, featuring only 8 cores and 8 threads. Its cache configuration is different: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a much smaller 8 MB shared L3 cache. The 251TE also supports ECC memory, while the 228V does not. Memory support differs as well: the 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 228V's memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard. The 251TE uses the Intel Socket 1700 and offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, whereas the 228V uses Intel BGA 2833 and only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ, with the 251TE using UHD Graphics 770 and the 228V using Arc 130V. The process node difference and the absence of hyperthreading in the 228V are critical factors in the performance split.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a substantial performance gulf in most tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 7 251TE scores 25518 against 9932 for the Ultra 5, a 156.9% advantage. The single-core R23 test shows a 104.9% lead for the 251TE, with scores of 3602 and 1758. This is a surprising result, as the Ultra 5 has a higher base clock (2.10 GHz vs 1.40 GHz), but the 251TE's boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.50 GHz likely accounts for the difference. The R20 multi-core test shows a 65.1% lead for the 251TE (10717 vs 6491), and the same 65.1% delta appears in R20 single-core (1512 vs 916). In PassMark integer math, the 251TE scores 125739 against 39679, a 216.9% lead, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression shows a 92.3% lead (334399 vs 173924), and random string sorting shows a 86.5% lead (39643 vs 21254). Floating point math is 60.6% higher for the 251TE (85607 vs 53310), and data encryption is 70.2% higher (22176 vs 13032). The multithread test shows a 64.7% lead (30022 vs 18227), and physics shows a 26% lead (1938 vs 1538). The extended instructions test is closer, with the 251TE ahead by only 14.7% (16974 vs 14801). The Ultra 5's wins are narrow. In find prime numbers, it scores 168 against 140, a 16.7% advantage. In the single thread test, it scores 3836 against 3568, a 7% lead. These two wins suggest the Lunar Lake core design has a specific strength in integer-heavy, low-parallelism operations.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has an average benchmark score of 41650, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has an average of 21440.

Q: How does the core count affect the results?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads. This 3x core advantage and 4x thread advantage is the primary driver behind the 251TE's large multi-core leads, such as the 156.9% margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Q: What is the only benchmark where the Core Ultra 5 228V has a significant lead?

A: The Core Ultra 5 228V leads in passmark_find_prime_numbers with a 16.7% advantage, scoring 168 versus 140. It also has a smaller 7% lead in the passmark_single_thread test.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two chips?

A: The Core 7 251TE has a TDP of 45 W, while the Core Ultra 5 228V has a TDP of 17 W. The Ultra 5 uses significantly less power, reflecting its mobile design and 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V does not.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 228V has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.40 GHz for the 251TE and 2.10 GHz for the 228V, but boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively. TDP is 45 W versus 17 W. The 251TE uses Intel Socket 1700, the 228V uses Intel BGA 2833. The process node is 10 nm for the 251TE and 3 nm for the 228V, with the former built by Intel and the latter by TSMC. Cache configurations differ: L1 is 80 KB per core for the 251TE and 192 KB per core for the 228V; L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core; L3 is 36 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. The 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 228V's memory support depends on the motherboard. ECC memory is supported only on the 251TE. PCIe lanes differ: 16 Gen 5 lanes for the 251TE versus 4 Gen 5 lanes for the 228V. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for the 251TE and Arc 130V for the 228V. The market segments differ, with the 251TE listed as Desktop and the 228V as Mobile. Release dates are January 2025 for the 251TE and September 2024 for the 228V.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear choice for users who prioritize performance. The Intel Core 7 251TE wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25518 is more than 2.5 times the Ultra 5's 9932. In integer math, the 251TE delivers 125739 versus 39679. The Ultra 5's only wins are in find prime numbers and the single thread test, where it leads by 16.7% and 7% respectively. The 251TE also occupies the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 5 sits at the 75th percentile. The Ultra 5's lower TDP of 17 W and smaller process node make it a more efficient part, but the benchmark results show it cannot match the 251TE's throughput in most tasks. The 251TE is the superior processor for multi-threaded workloads, content creation, and any application that can use its 32 threads. The Ultra 5, with its 8 cores and 8 threads, is only preferable in scenarios that specifically benefit from its prime number handling and single-thread efficiency. Based on the recorded data, the Core 7 251TE is the stronger overall processor.