Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison
Intel Core 5 221E
Core Ultra 5 245K
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
The Verdict
The benchmark data splits these two Intel desktop processors along clear lines. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins 13 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 221E takes 4. The Core Ultra 5 245K posts an average benchmark score of 54053 against the Core 5 221E's 40144, a gap that places the former in the 91st percentile of all CPUs and the latter in the 87th. The Core Ultra 5 245K is the stronger processor for almost every measured workload, with particular dominance in data encryption, extended instruction throughput, and floating-point math. The Core 5 221E, however, retains clear advantages in single-core Cinebench R23 and integer math, making it the more sensible pick for specific legacy-oriented or integer-heavy tasks. Users needing raw multi-threaded performance, encryption throughput, or modern instruction-set execution should choose the Core Ultra 5 245K. Users prioritizing single-thread Cinebench R23 results or integer math, or those constrained by a 65 W power envelope, should consider the Core 5 221E.
Architecture Differences
The two processors share Intel branding but diverge fundamentally in silicon. The Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 245K uses Arrow Lake-S on a 3 nm process fabricated by TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 245K integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die; the Core 5 221E's transistor count is not recorded, though its die measures 257 mm². The Core Ultra 5 245K belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, whereas the Core 5 221E is listed simply as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake).
Both chips feature 14 cores and 24 MB of shared L3 cache, but thread counts differ. The Core 5 221E supports 20 threads, indicating hyper-threading on some cores, while the Core Ultra 5 245K supports exactly 14 threads, one per core. Per-core cache allocations also differ: the Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, while the Core Ultra 5 245E has 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core. The Core Ultra 5 245K supports only DDR5 memory, while the Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth favors the Core Ultra 5 245K at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ: the Core Ultra 5 245K provides 20 Gen 5 lanes, the Core 5 221E provides 16. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 5 221E using UHD Graphics 730 and the Core Ultra 5 245K using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Core Ultra 5 245K has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 5 221E does not. The Core Ultra 5 245K uses Intel Socket 1851, while the Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Core Ultra 5 245K dominates multi-core Cinebench results. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 3850 against the Core 5 221E's 2613, a 32.1% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 15368 versus 10891, a 29.1% lead. PassMark multi-thread results show 43047 versus 30510, again a 29.1% margin. Physics simulation follows the same pattern: 3081 versus 2230, a 27.6% edge for the Core Ultra 5 245K.
The Core Ultra 5 245K also wins heavily in specialized PassMark tests. Data compression scores 458817 versus 324285, a 29.3% advantage. Data encryption shows 33286 versus 19205, a 42.3% gap. Extended instructions deliver 37617 versus 18216, a 51.6% margin. Prime number finding scores 414 versus 173, a 58.2% lead. Floating-point math reaches 130678 versus 79028, a 39.5% difference. Random string sorting scores 55098 versus 37686, a 31.6% edge. Single-thread PassMark favors the Core Ultra 5 245K at 4714 versus 4147, a 12% lead, and Cinebench R20 single-core also goes its way at 2169 versus 1537, a 29.1% margin.
The Core 5 221E wins four comparisons. Cinebench R23 single-core is its largest victory: 3661 versus 2132, a 71.7% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core goes to the Core 5 221E at 368 versus 322, a 14.3% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 25933 versus 25066, a 3.5% win. PassMark integer math scores 117813 versus 98524, a 19.6% lead. The two PassMark single-thread tests are duplicates, both showing the Core Ultra 5 245K ahead by 12%.
The overall win count is 13 for the Core Ultra 5 245K and 4 for the Core 5 221E. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: 54053 versus 40144. The Core Ultra 5 245K's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6505P, sits only 0.7% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D sits 1.3% ahead. The Core 5 221E's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 0.3% ahead, with the Intel Core i9-13905H 0.4% behind.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several recorded specification fields. The Core Ultra 5 245K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz. Both boost to 5.20 GHz. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Core Ultra 5 245K is rated at 125 W, the Core 5 221E at 65 W. Thread counts differ at 14 versus 20. The process node is 3 nm for the Core Ultra 5 245K versus 10 nm for the Core 5 221E, with different foundries (TSMC versus Intel). Die size is 243 mm² versus 257 mm². The Core Ultra 5 245K has 17,800 million transistors; the Core 5 221E has no recorded transistor count. L1 cache is 192 KB per core versus 80 KB per core, L2 is 3 MB per core versus 2 MB per core, while L3 is identical at 24 MB shared. Memory support is DDR5-only for the Core Ultra 5 245K versus DDR4 and DDR5 for the Core 5 221E. Memory bandwidth is 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 20 versus 16, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU versus UHD Graphics 730. The Core Ultra 5 245K has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 5 221E does not. Sockets differ: Intel Socket 1851 versus Intel Socket 1700. Release dates are 2024-10-23 for the Core Ultra 5 245K and 2025-01-12 for the Core 5 221E. Launch MSRP is $319 for the Core Ultra 5 245K and $232 for the Core 5 221E.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more threads?
A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 threads.
Q: Which processor wins in PassMark data encryption?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scores 33286 versus 19205 for the Core 5 221E, a 42.3% advantage.
Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 221E. Both boost to 5.20 GHz.
Q: What is the largest single benchmark win for the Core 5 221E?
A: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3661 versus 2132 for the Core Ultra 5 245K, a 71.7% margin.
Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?
A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 221E and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K support ECC memory.
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has an average benchmark score of 54053, while the Core 5 221E has 40144.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 32.1%, Cinebench R20 multi-core by 29.1%, and PassMark multi-thread by 29.1%. Physics simulation favors it by 27.6%. Data-heavy workloads show even larger gaps: encryption by 42.3%, extended instructions by 51.6%, prime number finding by 58.2%, and floating-point math by 39.5%. Data compression delivers a 29.3% edge, and random string sorting a 31.6% edge. Single-thread PassMark also belongs to the Core Ultra 5 245K at 4714 versus 4147, and Cinebench R20 single-core at 2169 versus 1537. Its 125 W TDP and 4.20 GHz base clock support sustained high-performance operation, and its 20 Gen 5 PCIe lanes provide more expansion bandwidth.
The Intel Core 5 221E wins in a narrower set of scenarios. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3661 is 71.7% higher, indicating exceptional single-thread Cinebench performance that the Core Ultra 5 245K cannot match. Cinebench R15 single-core also goes its way by 14.3%. In integer math, it scores 117813 versus 98524, a 19.6% advantage, suggesting strength in integer-heavy calculations. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core win of 3.5% shows that in that specific test, the 20-thread configuration provides an edge despite lower raw throughput elsewhere. The 65 W TDP makes it the lower-power option, and its support for DDR4 alongside DDR5 offers broader memory compatibility. Its 16 Gen 5 PCIe lanes, while fewer than the Core Ultra 5 245K's 20, remain current-generation. The Core 5 221E also uses the older Intel Socket 1700 platform, which may matter for users with existing boards. Users running Cinebench R23 workloads, integer math, or needing DDR4 support should look to the Core 5 221E; all other measured workloads favor the Core Ultra 5 245K.