AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall advantage for the Intel Core 5 221TE across all 11 shared Passmark tests. The Ryzen 3 3100U does not claim a single win in the head-to-head comparison, with the Intel part winning every workload by a wide margin. The largest gap appears in floating point math, where the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 31,661 against the Ryzen 3 3100U's 5,854, a delta of -81.5% for the AMD processor. This indicates a substantial difference in raw arithmetic throughput, driven by the Intel chip's higher core count and newer architecture.

Integer math follows the same pattern, with the Intel part scoring 42,303 versus 8,873 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a -79% delta. The extended instructions test shows a 9,655 to 2,116 result, a -78.1% gap, while data encryption delivers 8,963 against 1,972, a -78% difference. Data compression is similarly lopsided: 156,682 for the Intel Core 5 221TE versus 38,455 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a -75.5% delta. These figures suggest the Intel processor maintains a consistent three-to-fourfold performance advantage across most CPU-intensive tasks.

Multithreaded performance shows a -74.8% delta, with scores of 13,301 and 3,348 respectively. The physics test, which often reflects real-world simulation workloads, shows 977 versus 232, a -76.3% gap. Random string sorting delivers 16,929 for the Intel chip against 4,666 for the AMD part, a -72.4% delta. The closest relative result appears in single-thread performance, where the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1,734 versus 1,592 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a modest -8.2% delta. Even in this most favorable category for the AMD processor, the Intel chip still leads, though the margin is far narrower than in multi-core workloads.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the Intel Core 5 221TE wins all 11 head-to-head benchmarks, the use-case split is straightforward. The Ryzen 3 3100U does not demonstrate a winning category in any recorded test. However, the magnitude of the deltas varies significantly, which reveals where the AMD part is comparatively less disadvantaged. In single-threaded tasks, the gap is only 8.2%, meaning the Ryzen 3 3100U's per-core performance is competitive with the Intel chip's single-core capability. This suggests that for lightly threaded applications, the two processors would behave more similarly, though the Intel part still holds a measurable edge.

For heavily parallel workloads, the Intel Core 5 221TE's advantage becomes overwhelming. The floating point, integer math, and encryption tests all show deltas of -78% or worse, indicating the Intel processor is roughly four times faster in these scenarios. This aligns with its 10 cores and 16 threads versus the Ryzen 3 3100U's 2 cores and 2 threads. The data compression result, at -75.5%, also reflects a major multi-threaded advantage. In practical terms, the Ryzen 3 3100U would be suited to basic productivity and light browsing where single-thread performance matters most, while the Intel Core 5 221TE is positioned for rendering, encoding, and other multi-threaded tasks that scale with core count.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall separation: the Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17,860, while the Ryzen 3 3100U averages 6,247. The Intel part's percentile ranking among all CPUs is 71, compared to 62 for the AMD processor, placing the Intel chip higher in the overall distribution.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses the Picasso codename, based on the Zen+ microarchitecture, and is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 5 generation, and is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The Intel chip does not list a transistor count in the database, while the AMD part does.

Core configuration differs substantially. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip also features a much larger cache hierarchy: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor's larger L3 cache, combined with its higher thread count, explains its commanding lead in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 3 3100U pairs with Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730. Neither benchmark set includes GPU-specific tests, so the database records no direct comparison of these integrated solutions. The AMD part targets the mobile segment with an AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1700. The Intel chip supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the AMD part. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specification fields. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, compared to 2 cores and 2 threads for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. Base clocks are close: 1.80 GHz for the Intel chip and 1.90 GHz for the AMD chip, but boost clocks diverge sharply, with the Intel part reaching 5.00 GHz versus 3.20 GHz for the AMD part. Thermal design power differs considerably: the Intel chip is rated at 45 W, while the AMD chip is rated at 15 W. The Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5.

Memory bandwidth is another clear differentiator. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports dual-channel memory with a recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Ryzen 3 3100U manages 38.4 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip is limited to DDR4. ECC memory support is present on the Intel processor but not on the AMD processor. PCIe generation differs as well: the Intel chip supports Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip supports Gen 3.

The process node and foundry are distinct: 10 nm at Intel versus 12 nm at GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip has a larger die at 215 mm² versus 210 mm². L3 cache capacity is significantly larger on the Intel part at 24 MB shared, versus 4 MB shared on the AMD part. The Intel chip's L2 cache is also larger per core at 1.25 MB versus 512 KB. The AMD chip lists a higher L1 cache per core at 96 KB versus 80 KB for the Intel chip. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a launch MSRP of $232, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part was released in January 2025, while the AMD part's release date is recorded as May 2026.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1,734 in the Passmark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1,592, a delta of -8.2% for the AMD part.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: In the Passmark multithread test, the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 13,301 versus 3,348 for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, a -74.8% delta.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: Does the Intel processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17,860, compared to 6,247 for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U boosts to 3.20 GHz.