AMD Ryzen 3 2200U vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5550U and AMD Ryzen 3 2200U are both 15-watt mobile processors, yet the benchmark data shows a clear generational shift. The Ryzen 3 2200U, despite its lower price positioning, delivers a decisive victory in the only shared benchmark, while the Core i7-5550U relies on its higher single-core Cinebench scores and legacy platform features. The data indicates that AMD’s newer Zen architecture provides superior multi-threaded throughput, while Intel’s older Broadwell part retains a niche in single-threaded legacy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, scoring 312 points against the Intel Core i7-5550U’s 238 points, a 23.7% advantage.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U has an average benchmark score of 813, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U scores 805. The Intel part is effectively tied with its nearest rival, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (813, 0% delta), while the AMD part matches the Intel Xeon X5482 (805, 0% delta).

Q: What are their single-core Cinebench scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U scores 333 points in Cinebench R23 single-core and 139 points in R20 single-core. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U has no R23 or R20 single-core result in the data, but it scores 117 points in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-5550U’s 3.00 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Q: Do both processors share the same process node?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-5550U and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U are built on a 14 nm process node. However, Intel uses its own foundry, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries.

Q: What is the transistor count difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U contains 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel Core i7-5550U contains 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-5550U is built on the Broadwell architecture (codename Broadwell-U), a 14 nm process from Intel’s own foundry. It packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U uses the Zen architecture (codename Raven Ridge), also on 14 nm but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with 4,950 million transistors spread across a 210 mm² die. This larger transistor budget gives AMD a significant structural advantage in compute density.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The Intel part provides 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD part offers larger per-core caches: 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, also with 4 MB of shared L3. The larger L2 cache on the AMD side likely contributes to its multi-threaded performance edge.

Memory support is a major architectural split. The Intel Core i7-5550U supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus delivering 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, a 28% theoretical bandwidth improvement. PCIe connectivity also differs: Intel provides Gen 2 with 12 CPU lanes, while AMD provides Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics diverge as well. Intel pairs the chip with Intel HD 6000 graphics, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 3. Both parts lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The production status tells a story: the Intel part is end-of-life, released on 2015-02-28, while the AMD part remains active, released on 2018-01-07.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single direct comparison in the data is the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, and it is a decisive win for AMD. The Ryzen 3 2200U scores 312 points, while the Core i7-5550U scores 238 points. The deltaPct of -23.7% means the Intel part trails by nearly a quarter. This is the only head-to-head benchmark listed, so it carries the full weight of multi-threaded performance comparison.

Beyond that direct test, the broader benchmark suites reveal more nuance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part scores 2363 points, and in R20 multi-core it scores 992. The AMD part’s highest multi-core result is the Cinebench R15 score of 312, which is 31% higher than Intel’s R15 score. For single-core performance, Intel shows strength: 333 points in R23 and 139 in R20, while AMD’s only single-core result is 117 in R15.

Geekbench results favor AMD, but only for the Ryzen part. The Ryzen 3 2200U scores 1880 in Geekbench multi-core and 911 in single-core. The Intel part has no Geekbench scores in the data, so cross-referencing is limited. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 813 for Intel versus 805 for AMD, a 1% difference that places both CPUs at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs.

The nearest rivals confirm the parity. The Intel Core i7-5550U’s closest competitor is the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (813, 0% delta), followed by the Intel Xeon X3440 (815, -0.2%). The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon X5482 (805, 0% delta), with the AMD Athlon X4 850 (806, -0.1%) close behind. The two CPUs themselves are within 8 points of each other on average, yet the Cinebench R15 result shows a substantial gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. Clock speeds are distinct: Intel runs at 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, while AMD runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, so the clock advantage is the primary differentiator in raw frequency.

Socket and platform are incompatible. The Intel part uses Intel BGA 1168, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5. The architecture generation differs: Broadwell-U for Intel versus Zen (Raven Ridge) for AMD. The foundry is Intel versus GlobalFoundries.

Transistor and die data show AMD’s larger implementation: 4,950 million transistors and 210 mm² versus Intel’s 1,900 million and 133 mm². Cache sizes differ as noted: L1 is 64 KB per core on Intel versus 96 KB per core on AMD; L2 is 256 KB versus 512 KB per core; L3 is 4 MB shared on both.

Memory support is a clear split: DDR3 for Intel versus DDR4 for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. PCIe generation and lane count differ: Gen 2 with 12 lanes for Intel versus Gen 3 with 8 lanes for AMD. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 6000 versus Radeon Vega 3.

Release dates and statuses differ: Intel launched on 2015-02-28 and is end-of-life, while AMD launched on 2018-01-07 and is active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Part numbers are SR26A for Intel and YM2200C4T2OFB for AMD. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC support.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for modern multi-threaded workloads: the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U. Its 23.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core is the only direct comparison, and it is substantial. The higher base and boost clocks (2.50/3.40 GHz versus 2.00/3.00 GHz), larger caches, and DDR4 memory support all align with that result.

The Intel Core i7-5550U is not without merit. Its single-core Cinebench scores are strong: 333 in R23 and 139 in R20, which the AMD part cannot match in those specific tests. The Intel part also has a higher average benchmark score (813 versus 805), though the difference is negligible. For users running legacy software that favors single-threaded performance, the Intel chip may still be relevant.

However, the production status is decisive. The Intel part is end-of-life, released in 2015, while the AMD part is active, released in 2018. The Ryzen 3 2200U offers newer platform support, including PCIe Gen 3 and DDR4, which future-proofs a system better. The Intel part’s launch MSRP of $426 is notable, but the AMD part’s lack of a listed MSRP suggests a different market position.

For a neutral analysis, the benchmark results favor AMD. The Ryzen 3 2200U wins the only head-to-head test, and its architectural advantages in cache, memory bandwidth, and clock speed support that outcome. The Intel Core i7-5550U wins no direct benchmark in the data, though its single-core Cinebench scores are higher in absolute terms.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins in multi-threaded throughput. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 312 versus 238 is a 23.7% margin. The larger L2 cache (512 KB per core versus 256 KB) and higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) provide the structural basis for this win. The Geekbench multi-core score of 1880 further indicates strong parallel performance for a 2-core/4-thread part.

Intel Core i7-5550U wins in single-core legacy benchmarks. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 333 and R20 single-core score of 139 are the highest single-core results in the data. The AMD part’s R15 single-core score of 117 is lower, though the different test versions make direct comparison imperfect. The Intel part’s average benchmark score of 813 also edges out the AMD part’s 805.

AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins on platform modernity. DDR4 memory support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth versus DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s, plus PCIe Gen 3 versus Gen 2, gives AMD a forward-looking advantage. The active production status versus end-of-life is a practical consideration.

Intel Core i7-5550U wins on transistor efficiency. With 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die, the Intel part uses fewer resources to achieve comparable average scores. The AMD part uses 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die for a marginal 1% average score difference, though it delivers a large multi-threaded win.

The overall split: Choose the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U for any workload that uses multiple threads, modern memory, or newer PCIe devices. Choose the Intel Core i7-5550U only if single-threaded legacy software is the primary use case and the older platform is acceptable. The data’s sole head-to-head benchmark, however, is unambiguously in AMD’s favor.