AMD Ryzen 3 8300G vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between these two desktop processors, with the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G taking a dominant 13 wins against the Intel Core 5 221TE's 4 wins across the full benchmark suite. The most dramatic margin comes in the PassMark single-thread test, where the AMD scores 3778 versus Intel's 1734, a staggering 117.9% advantage. This is not a marginal lead; it is a near-doubling of single-thread performance, which directly impacts responsiveness in lightly threaded workloads and everyday use.

The Cinebench suite reinforces the AMD's single-core superiority. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, the Ryzen 3 8300G wins by a consistent 8.1% in R15 and R20, and 8% in R23. The actual scores are 173 vs 160, 724 vs 670, and 1724 vs 1596 respectively. This pattern indicates a robust architectural advantage in per-thread execution, not just a clock-speed spike.

Multi-core rendering also favors the AMD, though by a smaller margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 8300G scores 12217 against the Intel's 11305, an 8.1% lead. The same 8.1% delta appears in Cinebench R15 (1231 vs 1139) and R20 (5131 vs 4748). This is notable because the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads, compared to the AMD's 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD's higher core efficiency overcomes the Intel's core-count advantage in these rendering workloads.

The PassMark multi-thread test also goes to the AMD, scoring 14018 versus 13301, a 5.4% win. Data compression and encryption are close calls: the AMD edges out the Intel by 1.4% (158952 vs 156682) in compression and 1.7% (9115 vs 8963) in encryption. Random string sorting shows a clearer AMD victory at 12.3% (19013 vs 16929). The extended instructions test is another strong AMD win, with a 28% advantage (12354 vs 9655), suggesting better optimization for advanced instruction sets.

However, the Intel Core 5 221TE fights back in specific math-heavy workloads. The largest Intel win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 977 against the AMD's 755, a 22.7% margin. Floating point math also favors Intel significantly: 31661 vs 25336, a 20% lead. Prime number finding goes to Intel by 20.3% (59 vs 47), and integer math is a narrower Intel win at 4.2% (42303 vs 40534). These results indicate that while the AMD leads in most integrated tasks, the Intel's higher core count and different architecture excel in raw computational throughput for certain algorithms.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct user profiles. The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G is the superior choice for anyone prioritizing single-threaded performance, general productivity, and rendering tasks. Its 117.9% lead in PassMark single-thread and 8.1% lead in all Cinebench multi-core tests make it the stronger pick for applications that rely on per-core speed, such as office suites, web browsing, and most creative software that is not fully multi-threaded. Additionally, its wins in data compression, encryption, and random string sorting cover common background tasks effectively.

The Intel Core 5 221TE, despite losing the majority of benchmarks, is the better option for workloads that specifically stress floating-point arithmetic, physics simulations, and prime number calculations. With a 20% lead in floating-point math, a 22.7% lead in physics, and a 20.3% lead in prime numbers, it suits scientific computing, financial modeling, or any environment where these specific math operations dominate. Its 10 cores and 16 threads also provide a structural advantage for heavily parallel workloads, even if the current benchmarks do not fully reflect that in rendering.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: the AMD sits at 18169, and the Intel at 17860, a difference of about 1.7%. The AMD also holds a slightly higher percentile ranking at 72 versus Intel's 71. For a general-purpose desktop processor, the AMD is the more balanced performer. The Intel is a niche pick for math-heavy, specialized tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 137 mm² and 20,900 million transistors. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. The integrated graphics are a Radeon 740M, and the PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes. It uses the AMD Socket AM5.

The Intel Core 5 221TE, from the Bartlett Lake codename, uses a 10 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². It has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache is larger: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, but with a lower bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730, and the PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. It uses the Intel Socket 1700.

The most striking architectural contrast is the core count and clock strategy. The Intel runs a lower base clock of 1.80 GHz but boosts to 5.00 GHz, relying on its 10 cores to handle multi-threaded loads. The AMD runs a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz, with fewer cores but a more efficient 4 nm process. The L3 cache difference is significant: 24 MB on Intel versus 8 MB on AMD, which may explain some of the Intel's wins in cache-sensitive math workloads. The memory bandwidth also differs, with the AMD offering 83.2 GB/s versus Intel's 76.8 GB/s.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G is significantly faster. In the PassMark single-thread test, it scores 3778 versus the Intel Core 5 221TE's 1734, a 117.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 1724 versus 1596, an 8% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 4 of the 17 recorded benchmarks. These are PassMark physics (977 vs 755, a 22.7% lead), floating-point math (31661 vs 25336, a 20% lead), prime number finding (59 vs 47, a 20.3% lead), and integer math (42303 vs 40534, a 4.2% lead).

Q: How do the multi-core rendering scores compare?

A: The AMD wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by 8.1%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 12217 versus the Intel's 11305. The AMD also wins the PassMark multi-thread test with 14018 versus 13301, a 5.4% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD wins most benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G supports a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 221TE supports 76.8 GB/s. Both support dual-channel memory, but the AMD only supports DDR5, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What are the process nodes and sockets?

A: The AMD uses a 4 nm process from TSMC and fits the AMD Socket AM5. The Intel uses a 10 nm process from Intel and fits the Intel Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G is the clear winner for general desktop use, rendering, and single-threaded applications. Its 117.9% lead in PassMark single-thread performance translates to snappier application launches and faster response in programs that do not scale well across cores. The 8.1% win in all Cinebench multi-core tests makes it the better choice for video editing, 3D modeling, and other rendering tasks. Its wins in data compression (1.4%), encryption (1.7%), and random string sorting (12.3%) also make it suitable for database work, file archiving, and secure communication tasks. The extended instructions lead of 28% suggests it handles modern SIMD workloads more efficiently.

The Intel Core 5 221TE is the specialist for computational math. The 20% lead in floating-point math makes it ideal for scientific simulations, financial risk calculations, and any workload involving heavy decimal arithmetic. The 22.7% lead in physics is relevant for physics-based rendering engines or engineering simulations. The 20.3% lead in prime number finding is specific to cryptography and number theory applications. The smaller 4.2% win in integer math still gives it an edge in certain data processing tasks. Its 10 cores and 16 threads provide a structural foundation for workloads that can be decomposed into many parallel threads, even if the current benchmark suite does not show a decisive win there. The lower 45 W TDP versus the AMD's 65 W also makes it a more power-efficient option for sustained computational workloads.