AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G and Intel Core 5 221E are both desktop processors with a 65 W TDP, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD chip is a compact 4-core Zen 3 part, while the Intel chip is a 14-core Bartlett Lake processor with a much higher boost clock. Benchmark data in the database shows a clear overall performance winner, but the architectural details explain why the margins are so large.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, compared to 27382 for the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G. The Intel part also sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 79th percentile.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G has 4 cores and 8 threads. This is a 10-core and 12-thread difference in favor of Intel.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G boosts to 4.20 GHz. The base clocks are 2.70 GHz for Intel and 4.00 GHz for AMD.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G and the Intel Core 5 221E list ECC memory as a supported feature.

Q: What are the available memory types for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G supports only DDR4 memory. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a faster single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G scores 3096. Intel leads by 25.3% in this measurement.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design eras. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G is based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221E is based on the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel.

The die sizes reflect the design divergence. The AMD chip has a die size of 180 mm² and contains 10,700 million transistors. The Intel chip has a larger die at 257 mm², though the database does not list a transistor count for it.

Cache configurations are notably different. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and an 8 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 24 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory bandwidth also diverges sharply. The AMD part has a dual-channel DDR4 interface with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part also uses a dual-channel bus but supports both DDR4 and DDR5, and its memory bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s, which is 75% higher than the AMD part.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses Radeon Vega 6, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket AM4, and the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 11. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G does not record a single win in these tests.

The largest margin comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test. Intel scores 173, compared to AMD's 36, a delta of 79.2% in favor of Intel. This test highlights the impact of having more cores and higher boost clocks.

Floating point math shows a similarly large gap. Intel scores 79028, while AMD scores 25245, a 68.1% difference. Integer math follows with Intel at 117813 and AMD at 45910, a 61% difference.

The physics test also heavily favors Intel. Intel scores 2230, AMD scores 701, a 68.6% gap. This is a strong indicator of multi-threaded workload performance.

In data compression, Intel scores 324285 versus AMD's 168041, a 48.2% lead. Data encryption shows Intel at 19205 and AMD at 10288, a 46.4% lead. Random string sorting has Intel at 37686 and AMD at 18819, a 50.1% lead.

The extended instructions test shows Intel at 18216 and AMD at 11935, a 34.5% lead. The multithread benchmark has Intel at 30510 and AMD at 14033, a 54% lead.

The closest margin is in the single-thread test, where Intel scores 4147 and AMD scores 3096. This is a 25.3% lead for Intel, which is still a substantial gap for a single-core test.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most significant specification difference. AMD has 4 cores and 8 threads; Intel has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Clock speeds differ in both directions. AMD has a higher base clock at 4.00 GHz, while Intel has a lower base clock at 2.70 GHz. However, Intel has a much higher boost clock at 5.20 GHz, compared to AMD's 4.20 GHz.

Cache sizes differ across all levels. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, while Intel has 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. The L3 cache is 8 MB for AMD and 24 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support differs. AMD supports only DDR4, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for AMD and 89.6 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe support differs. AMD uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Process node, foundry, die size, socket, and integrated graphics all differ as listed in the architecture section. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232. The AMD part has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

The Verdict

The database data points clearly to the Intel Core 5 221E for raw performance. It wins every head-to-head benchmark in the comparison set, with margins ranging from 25.3% in single-thread work to 79.2% in prime number finding. Its average benchmark score of 40144 is 46.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G's 27382.

The Intel part's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, with delta percentages of 0.2% in both cases. This places its performance in a higher tier than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G, whose nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700H and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G has advantages in base clock speed and a smaller die size. It also uses a 7 nm process compared to Intel's 10 nm process. However, these advantages do not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data.

For users who prioritize the highest possible throughput across many threads, the Intel Core 5 221E is the clear choice based on the benchmark results. For users who require a smaller die, a higher base clock, or a specific socket, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G offers those features, but with significantly lower measured performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in every measured benchmark category. This includes data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread performance, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread performance.

The largest advantages for Intel are in compute-heavy workloads. The prime number test shows a 79.2% lead, floating point math shows a 68.1% lead, and physics shows a 68.6% lead. These results indicate strong multi-core scaling and high per-core throughput.

The smallest advantage for Intel is in the single-thread test, where it leads by 25.3%. This still represents a clear performance edge, but it is the closest contest in the entire comparison set.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G does not record a single benchmark win in the head-to-head data. Its strengths are limited to specification-level features: a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz, a smaller die size of 180 mm², and a more advanced 7 nm process node.

For workloads that rely on single-thread performance, the Intel part still leads, but the margin is the smallest. For highly parallel workloads like rendering, physics simulation, or data compression, the Intel Core 5 221E delivers the largest measured advantages. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G remains a functional desktop processor, but the recorded data shows no workload category where it outperforms the Intel Core 5 221E.