AMD Athlon 220GE vs Intel Core i5-4440S Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S has 4 physical cores, while the AMD Athlon 220GE has 2 physical cores. However, the AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading to reach 4 threads, matching the Intel part's thread count.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Athlon 220GE wins every single-core benchmark in the database. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 531 versus 526 for the Intel Core i5-4440S, a 1% advantage. The gap is slightly larger in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD leads 53 to 52, a 1.9% margin.

Q: Which processor has the higher power rating?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S is rated at 65W TDP, while the AMD Athlon 220GE is rated at 35W TDP. The AMD part consumes nearly half the power budget on paper.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD Athlon 220GE supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-4440S supports DDR3 memory. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD part has a rated memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Q: Which CPU has the better average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon 220GE has an average benchmark score of 1088, slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-4440S at 1078. Both chips sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Are both processors in active production?

A: The AMD Athlon 220GE is listed as Active in production status. The Intel Core i5-4440S has no production status recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Athlon 220GE is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Raven Ridge generation, using a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors into a 209.8 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-4440S uses the older Haswell architecture on Intel's 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The process node difference is significant: AMD's 14 nm node is two generations ahead of Intel's 22 nm, which helps explain the power efficiency gap.

The core configurations differ sharply. The AMD chip has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to reach that thread count. The Intel chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. In raw core count, Intel has the advantage, but the AMD part's newer architecture and higher base clock help close the gap.

Cache layouts also differ. The AMD Athlon 220GE has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-4440S has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 6 MB shared L3 cache. Intel's bigger L3 pool is typical of a quad-core design, while AMD's per-core L1 and L2 allocations are larger.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses a Radeon Vega 3 GPU, while Intel includes HD 4600 graphics. Memory support is another divider: the AMD part runs DDR4, the Intel part runs DDR3. The AMD processor also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Intel part lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count.

The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.40 GHz with no boost clock recorded. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The AMD part's higher base clock is a key reason it keeps pace in single-threaded tests despite having fewer physical cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six Cinebench comparisons between these two processors, and the AMD Athlon 220GE wins all six. The margins are narrow but consistent.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 379 against 375 for Intel, a 1.1% lead. In R15 single-core, AMD scores 53 versus 52, a 1.9% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, AMD leads 1580 to 1566 in multicore (0.9%) and 223 to 220 in single-core (1.4%). In Cinebench R23, the AMD chip scores 3764 versus 3729 in multicore (0.9%) and 531 versus 526 in single-core (1%).

The largest single win for AMD is the R15 single-core test at 1.9%, which reflects the Athlon's higher base clock and newer architecture. The smallest margins are the R20 and R23 multicore tests at 0.9%, where the Intel chip's two extra physical cores almost compensate for its older design.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The AMD Athlon 220GE averages 1088, while the Intel Core i5-4440S averages 1078. That is a 10-point gap, roughly 0.9%. Both processors sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier in the database's overall ranking.

Looking at nearest rivals, the AMD Athlon 220GE sits within 0.3% of the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 (1091) and exactly matches the Intel Core i5-3350P (1088). The Intel Core i5-4440S sits within 0.4% of the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 (1074) and 0.2% of the AMD A12-9800 (1081). These rival clusters confirm that both chips land in the same performance neighborhood, with the AMD part holding a slight edge in every recorded test.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Athlon 220GE as the faster processor in every benchmark the database records. It wins all six Cinebench tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (1088 versus 1078), and does so at a 35W TDP compared to Intel's 65W. The margins are small, never exceeding 1.9%, but they are uniform across single-core and multicore workloads.

For a new build, the AMD Athlon 220GE is the clear choice from a platform perspective. It uses DDR4 memory, has an active production status, and carries a launch MSRP of $65. The Intel Core i5-4440S uses DDR3, has no recorded launch MSRP, and has no production status in the database, which suggests it is a legacy part.

The Intel chip's only structural advantage is its 4 physical cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. In the recorded benchmarks, that advantage does not translate into a win. The AMD part's higher base clock and newer architecture overcome the core deficit.

For anyone choosing between these two today, the AMD Athlon 220GE wins on performance, power efficiency, and platform longevity. The Intel Core i5-4440S remains a functional quad-core for older DDR3 systems, but the benchmark data gives no reason to prefer it over the AMD part unless the platform is already in hand.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category.

Core and Thread Count: AMD has 2 cores and 4 threads. Intel has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Clock Speeds: AMD has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and no boost clock. Intel has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

TDP: AMD is rated at 35W. Intel is rated at 65W.

Process Node: AMD uses 14 nm from GlobalFoundries. Intel uses 22 nm from Intel.

Transistors: AMD has 4,950 million. Intel has 1,400 million.

Die Size: AMD is 209.8 mm². Intel is 177 mm².

Cache: AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 4 MB shared L3. Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 6 MB shared L3.

Memory: AMD supports DDR4 with a 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR3 with no bandwidth figure recorded.

Socket: AMD uses Socket AM4. Intel uses Socket 1150.

Integrated Graphics: AMD has Radeon Vega 3. Intel has HD 4600.

Release Date: AMD was released on 2018-12-20. Intel was released on 2013-08-31.

Production Status: AMD is Active. Intel has no status recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon 220GE wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its largest advantage is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 1.9%. It also wins multicore tests, but by narrower margins of 0.9% to 1.1%. The AMD chip is the better pick for anyone prioritizing raw performance per watt, given its 35W TDP versus Intel's 65W. It is also the only one of the two with an active production status and DDR4 support, making it suitable for a current platform.

The Intel Core i5-4440S does not win any recorded benchmark, but its 4 physical cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache give it a structural edge for workloads that scale with core count, even if the database does not capture that advantage. Its DDR3 memory support and Socket 1150 platform mean it only makes sense for someone upgrading an existing Haswell-era system without replacing the motherboard and memory.

In practical terms, the AMD Athlon 220GE is the better all-around processor according to the recorded data. The Intel Core i5-4440S is a legacy option that trails in every measured test, with the only argument in its favor being platform compatibility for older DDR3 motherboards.