Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core 7 251TE and Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL are both 45 W desktop processors from Intel, but the recorded data places them in different performance classes. The Core 7 251TE shows a benchmark profile that places it at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41650. The Core Ultra 7 165HL, by contrast, sits at the 50th percentile with no recorded benchmark scores and an average score of zero. This is a substantial gap in the database's measurements.

The Core 7 251TE is the processor for workloads that demand high multi-threaded throughput. It delivers 24 cores with 32 threads, a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25518 and Passmark multithread score of 30022 confirm that it handles heavily parallel tasks with ease. The Core Ultra 7 165HL, with 16 cores, 22 threads, a 5.00 GHz boost, and 24 MB of L3 cache, occupies a different position. Without any benchmark scores in the database, its measured performance cannot be quantified.

The choice between these two parts depends on what the data can actually support. For users who require the highest recorded multi-core and single-core scores, the Core 7 251TE is the only option with measured results. The Core Ultra 7 165HL offers a different architecture, a smaller process node, and a different integrated graphics solution, but the database contains no performance measurements for it. The Core 7 251TE also carries a lower launch MSRP of $384 compared to the Core Ultra 7 165HL's $459, though the analysis here remains focused on the recorded specifications and benchmarks.

The Core 7 251TE is the data-backed choice for any application where Cinebench or Passmark scores matter. The Core Ultra 7 165HL is a newer architecture with a different feature set, but its lack of recorded benchmarks means the database cannot confirm any performance advantage. Its 50th percentile standing, based on the database's ranking system, indicates it falls in the middle of the field, while the 251TE's 88th percentile places it near the top.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families. The Core 7 251TE is built on the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 7 generation, and uses a 10 nm process node. The Core Ultra 7 165HL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1, uses the Meteor Lake architecture with the Meteor Lake-PS codename, and is fabricated on a 7 nm node. Both are produced by Intel's own foundry.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL has 16 cores and 22 threads. This difference in thread count is one of the largest structural gaps between the two parts. The 251TE's cache hierarchy consists of 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The 165HL has a larger per-core cache allocation with 112 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 is smaller at 24 MB. The die size for the 251TE is 215 mm², while the database records no die size for the 165HL.

Memory support also differs. The Core 7 251TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL supports DDR5 with the motherboard determining the specifics. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory support is present on the 251TE but absent on the 165HL.

The PCIe configurations are not the same. The Core 7 251TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. This is a meaningful difference for expansion and data transfer capabilities. Integrated graphics also differ: the 251TE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the 165HL uses Arc Xe-LPG 128EU.

Sockets are incompatible. The 251TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the 165HL uses Intel Socket 1851. The 251TE was released on 2025-01-12, while the 165HL was released earlier on 2024-04-07. Both parts are active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has 16 cores and 22 threads. The 251TE provides 8 additional cores and 10 additional threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two processors?

A: The Core 7 251TE boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL boosts to 5.00 GHz. The 251TE has a 0.40 GHz higher boost clock. Both processors have the same base clock of 1.40 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL does not.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The 251TE has 12 MB more L3 cache.

Q: How do the integrated graphics differ?

A: The Core 7 251TE integrates UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL integrates Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. The database does not record benchmark scores for either integrated graphics solution.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: Both processors have identical memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and use dual-channel memory buses. The 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the 165HL supports DDR5 only.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based exclusively on the recorded data:

• Cores: 24 on the Core 7 251TE versus 16 on the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• Threads: 32 on the Core 7 251TE versus 22 on the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• Boost clock: 5.40 GHz on the Core 7 251TE versus 5.00 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700 on the Core 7 251TE versus Intel Socket 1851 on the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• Architecture: Meteor Lake on the Core Ultra 7 165HL, with no architecture field recorded for the Core 7 251TE.
• Codename: Bartlett Lake on the Core 7 251TE versus Meteor Lake-PS on the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• Generation: Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) on the 251TE versus Ultra 7 (Meteor Lake-PS) on the 165HL.
• Process node: 10 nm on the Core 7 251TE versus 7 nm on the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• Die size: 215 mm² on the Core 7 251TE, with no recorded value for the Core Ultra 7 165HL.
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core on the 251TE versus 112 KB per core on the 165HL.
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core on the 251TE versus 2 MB per core on the 165HL.
• L3 cache: 36 MB shared on the 251TE versus 24 MB shared on the 165HL.
• Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 on the 251TE versus DDR5 only on the 165HL, with motherboard dependence noted for the 165HL.
• ECC memory: Supported on the 251TE, not supported on the 165HL.
• PCIe: Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes on the 251TE versus Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes on the 165HL.
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 770 on the 251TE versus Arc Xe-LPG 128EU on the 165HL.
• Release date: 2025-01-12 for the 251TE versus 2024-04-07 for the 165HL.
• Launch MSRP: $384 for the 251TE versus $459 for the 165HL.
• Part number: SRQAXQ5ZG for the 251TE versus SRN32 for the 165HL.
• Series: The 165HL is listed as Core Ultra Series 1, while no series is recorded for the 251TE.
• Benchmark scores: The 251TE has a full set of Cinebench and Passmark scores, while the 165HL has no recorded benchmark scores.
• Percentile: The 251TE is at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the 165HL is at the 50th percentile.
• Average benchmark score: 41650 for the 251TE versus 0 for the 165HL.
• Nearest rivals: The 251TE has four recorded nearest rivals, while the 165HL has none.

Specifications that are identical include the manufacturer (Intel), base clock (1.40 GHz), TDP (45 W), memory bus (dual-channel), memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s), market segment (desktop), production status (active), and multiplier state (locked).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between the Core 7 251TE and the Core Ultra 7 165HL. However, the Core 7 251TE has a complete set of recorded benchmark scores, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL has none. This means any comparison of measured performance must rely entirely on the 251TE's scores and its percentile standing.

The Core 7 251TE achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25518 and a Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 3602. Its Cinebench R20 scores are 10717 multicore and 1512 singlecore, and its Cinebench R15 scores are 2572 multicore and 362 singlecore. These scores place the 251TE at the 88th percentile among all CPUs. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has no recorded Cinebench results, so no comparison can be made on these tests.

In Passmark testing, the Core 7 251TE records a multithread score of 30022 and a single-thread score of 3568. Its floating point math score is 85607, integer math is 125739, and extended instructions score is 16974. Data compression reaches 334399, data encryption reaches 22176, and random string sorting reaches 39643. The find prime numbers score is 140, and the physics score is 1938. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has no Passmark scores in the database.

The nearest rivals for the Core 7 251TE provide context for its standing. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265H has an average score of 41621, which is 0.1% behind the 251TE. The Intel Core i7-14650HX scores 41576, 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i7-12850HX scores 41779, which is 0.3% ahead of the 251TE. The Intel Core i7-14700T scores 41914, 0.6% ahead. These deltas are small, indicating the 251TE sits in a tightly contested performance band. Its average benchmark score of 41650 is slightly above the Core Ultra 7 265H and Core i7-14650HX, and slightly below the Core i7-12850HX and Core i7-14700T.

The largest wins for the Core 7 251TE in the recorded data are in multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25518 is the highest multicore result among its recorded tests, and the Passmark multithread score of 30022 confirms strong parallel performance. The 251TE's boost clock of 5.40 GHz supports its singlecore score of 3602 in Cinebench R23 and 3568 in Passmark single-thread testing.

The Core Ultra 7 165HL cannot be positioned relative to the 251TE on any benchmark metric because its benchmark array is empty. Its 50th percentile ranking and average score of zero are the only performance-related data points recorded. The architecture differences, such as the 7 nm process node and larger per-core caches, suggest a different design approach, but the database provides no measured evidence that these features translate into higher scores.

The head-to-head comparison is therefore one-sided. The Core 7 251TE has 17 recorded benchmark scores across Cinebench and Passmark test suites. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has zero. Any claim of performance superiority for the 165HL would require data that does not exist in the database. The 251TE's 88th percentile standing, its 41650 average score, and its complete benchmark profile make it the only processor of the two with measurable performance evidence. The 165HL's architecture may offer newer process technology and a different graphics solution, but the recorded data cannot support a performance conclusion in its favor.