Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the dominant performer in this comparison, winning 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks and posting a significantly higher average benchmark score. The Intel Core 7 251TE counters with a smaller number of wins, but its victories are substantial and point to a different performance profile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive advantage for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus appears in the PassMark extended instructions test, where it scores 44565 against the Core 7 251TE's 16974, a 61.9% difference. This indicates a major gap in handling specialized or advanced instruction sets. A similar pattern emerges in the prime number search test, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 486 versus 140, marking a 71.2% difference. These results show the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is substantially stronger in mathematically intensive workloads.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also leads in Cinebench multi-core tests. In the R15 multi-core test, it scores 4640 versus 2572 for the Core 7 251TE, a 44.6% margin. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar 41.9% gap, with scores of 18442 and 10717 respectively. The R23 multi-core test narrows this lead to 17.3%, with the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scoring 30867 against 25518. This consistent multi-core dominance is reinforced by the PassMark multithread score, where the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 51596 against 30022, another 41.8% margin.

Memory and data workloads follow the same pattern. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads in data compression with a score of 568721 versus 334399, a 41.2% difference. Data encryption shows a 47.4% gap, with scores of 42144 and 22176. Floating point math also favors the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, which posts 162692 against 85607, another 47.4% margin. The physics test shows a 44.5% lead for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, scoring 3494 versus 1938.

The Core 7 251TE claims three wins. The largest is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3602 against 2261 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, a 59.3% advantage. The R15 single-core test also goes to the Core 7 251TE, with a score of 362 versus 328, a 10.4% margin. The third win is narrower: PassMark integer math, where the Core 7 251TE scores 125739 against 125091, a 0.5% difference. In the PassMark single-thread test, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins with 4757 against 3568, a 25% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture and is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture and is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus also has a higher transistor count at 17,800 million, while the Core 7 251TE has a smaller die size at 215 mm² compared to 243 mm² for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Core 7 251TE supports simultaneous multithreading, which explains its higher thread count. Cache layouts also differ, with the Core 7 251TE using 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core. The Core 7 251TE has more shared L3 cache at 36 MB, compared to 30 MB for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

Clock speeds and power targets point to different design goals. The Core 7 251TE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a 45 W TDP. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a higher base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The lower base clock and TDP of the Core 7 251TE suggest an efficiency-oriented design, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is configured for sustained high-frequency operation.

Memory and platform support diverge as well. The Core 7 251TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 7 251TE. Both support ECC memory. The Core 7 251TE uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Intel Socket 1851. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, compared to 16 for the Core 7 251TE. Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 7 251TE using UHD Graphics 770 and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 7 251TE does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the clear choice for multi-threaded and data-intensive workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, along with PassMark multithread, data compression, data encryption, floating point math, physics, and extended instructions, show broad strength in rendering, scientific computation, encryption, and compression tasks. The 41.8% lead in PassMark multithread and the 47.4% lead in data encryption reinforce this pattern. The 25% lead in the PassMark single-thread test also indicates faster general-purpose single-thread execution, despite losing the Cinebench single-core tests.

The Core 7 251TE wins in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests, with the R23 margin at 59.3%. This suggests a specific advantage in that benchmark's single-core workload. Its win in integer math is marginal at 0.5%, meaning the two processors are effectively tied in that task. The Core 7 251TE also has the advantage of a lower TDP at 45 W, which is relevant for systems where power draw is a constraint. Its support for DDR4 memory provides an option for platforms using that memory type.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus for users who need maximum throughput. It wins most benchmarks by wide margins and holds a higher percentile ranking at 93, compared to 88 for the Core 7 251TE. Its average benchmark score of 66855 is significantly higher than the Core 7 251TE's 41650. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is also the newer release, with a launch date in 2026, and it carries a launch MSRP of $199.

The Intel Core 7 251TE is suited for scenarios where its specific strengths matter. Its 59.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and its 10.4% lead in R15 single-core indicate a strong showing in those tests. Its lower 45 W TDP and support for DDR4 make it a more flexible option for lower-power or legacy memory configurations. The Core 7 251TE launched on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $384.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has an average score of 41650.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core 7 251TE have its largest winning margin?

A: The Core 7 251TE leads by 59.3% in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, scoring 3602 against 2261 for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin for the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads by 71.2% in the PassMark find prime numbers test, scoring 486 versus 140.

Q: How do the TDP ratings compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has a TDP of 45 W, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a TDP of 125 W.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 251TE | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 24 | 18 |

| Threads | 32 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 1.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | $199 |