AMD Ryzen 3 210 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 210 and Intel Core 5 221E are two very different processors, one a low-power mobile chip and the other a desktop part with significantly more resources. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance advantage for the Intel processor across every single test recorded, but the nature of that advantage varies by workload, and the architectural context explains why.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The most dramatic gaps appear in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 25,933 against the AMD's 11,198, a 56.8% difference. The same 56.8% delta appears across all Cinebench tests, including R15 multi-core (2,613 vs 1,128), R15 single-core (368 vs 159), R20 multi-core (10,891 vs 4,703), R20 single-core (1,537 vs 664), and R23 single-core (3,661 vs 1,581). The consistency of this delta across both single and multi-threaded Cinebench tests indicates the Intel part holds a uniform advantage in that benchmark suite, likely tied to its higher boost clock and larger core count.

The PassMark suite shows a more varied picture. The largest single deficit for the AMD chip is in floating point math, where it scores 23,649 against Intel's 79,028, a 70.1% gap. Integer math also shows a massive 67.8% shortfall (37,933 vs 117,813). Prime number finding is the second-largest gap at 71.7% (49 vs 173), which is a heavily multi-threaded workload that scales with core count. Physics simulation shows a 63.2% deficit (821 vs 2,230), and multithread performance is 55.5% lower (13,585 vs 30,510).

The closest contest is in single-threaded PassMark tests. Here the Intel chip scores 4,147 versus 3,724 for the AMD, a 10.2% advantage. This narrower gap in single-thread performance suggests the AMD Zen 4 architecture has strong per-core efficiency, even though it trails in raw clock speed. Data compression shows a 53.1% gap (152,017 vs 324,285), data encryption a 55.2% gap (8,607 vs 19,205), and random string sorting a 48.4% gap (19,454 vs 37,686). Extended instructions show the smallest PassMark gap at 37.1% (11,464 vs 18,216).

The average benchmark score tells a similar story: the Intel part averages 40,144 across all tests, while the AMD averages 17,321. This places the Intel chip in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database, versus the 71st percentile for the AMD chip. The Intel processor also sits near the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (0.2% delta) and Intel Core i9-13905H (-0.4% delta) in its nearest rival group, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (-0.1% delta) and Intel Core 7 150U (-0.4% delta).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It has 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel part has a higher boost clock by 0.50 GHz but a lower base clock by 0.30 GHz.

The core count difference is the dominant architectural factor. The Intel chip has 10 more physical cores and 12 more threads, which directly explains the massive multi-threaded benchmark advantages. The cache hierarchy also differs significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 cache on the Intel part likely contributes to its performance in data-heavy workloads like compression and sorting.

The transistor count and die size further illustrate the scale difference. The AMD chip packs 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Intel chip uses a 257 mm² die with no transistor count recorded. The process node difference (4 nm vs 10 nm) explains why AMD achieves competitive per-core performance with far fewer transistors and a smaller die. The power envelope also differs: the AMD TDP is 28 watts, while the Intel TDP is 65 watts, more than double.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Intel chip, which also has more PCIe lanes at Gen 5 with 16 lanes, versus the AMD's Gen 4 with 14 lanes. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 740M, while Intel uses the UHD Graphics 730.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded PassMark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4,147 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 10.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 210's score of 3,724.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25,933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 scores 11,198, a 56.8% advantage for the Intel part.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark comparison?

A: No. The recorded data shows the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the AMD Ryzen 3 210.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40,144, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 averages 17,321. This places the Intel chip in the 87th percentile of all CPUs versus the 71st percentile for the AMD chip.

Q: Which processor uses a larger manufacturing process node?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E uses a 10 nm process node, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 uses a 4 nm process node. The AMD chip also has a smaller die at 137 mm² versus 257 mm² for the Intel chip.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz for AMD and 5.20 GHz for Intel. TDP is 28 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP7, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The process nodes are 4 nm for AMD (TSMC foundry) and 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The AMD chip has 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die; the Intel chip has no recorded transistor count on a 257 mm² die. Cache sizes differ at every level: L1 is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 80 KB per core for Intel, L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 2 MB per core for Intel, and L3 is 8 MB shared for AMD versus 24 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support differs, with AMD limited to DDR5 and Intel supporting DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory is available only on the Intel chip. PCIe capabilities differ: AMD has Gen 4 with 14 lanes, while Intel has Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are the Radeon 740M for AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. Market segments differ: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $232, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip. Release dates are close, with AMD on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2025-01-12.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear performance hierarchy between these two processors. The Intel Core 5 221E is faster in every recorded benchmark, with advantages ranging from 10.2% in single-threaded PassMark tests to 71.7% in prime number finding. The average benchmark score of 40,144 for the Intel chip versus 17,321 for the AMD chip places them in different performance tiers entirely, with the Intel part sitting in the 87th percentile of all CPUs versus the 71st percentile for the AMD part.

The core count difference explains most of the multi-threaded gaps. The Intel chip's 14 cores and 20 threads overwhelm the AMD chip's 4 cores and 8 threads in workloads that scale with parallelism. The AMD chip's advantage lies in efficiency: a 4 nm process, 28 watt TDP, and smaller die allow it to deliver competitive single-threaded performance (within 10.2% in PassMark) at a fraction of the power envelope.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, multi-threaded rendering, or data-heavy workloads, the Intel Core 5 221E is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. The AMD Ryzen 3 210, with its lower TDP and mobile socket, is positioned for compact or power-constrained systems where the 28 watt envelope and integrated Radeon 740M graphics matter more than maximum performance. The Intel chip also offers ECC memory support and wider PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, which are relevant for reliability-focused desktop builds. The AMD chip's DDR5-only support and narrower PCIe Gen 4 lanes limit its expandability compared to the Intel part.