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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G and the Intel Core 5 221TE produces a clear split across the 11 PassMark workloads, with the AMD part taking 8 wins and the Intel part taking 3. The most decisive margin belongs to the AMD processor in single-threaded performance, where it scores 3096 against 1734, a 78.5% advantage. That is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it indicates a substantial gap in per-core execution efficiency that favors the Zen 3 design.

AMD also leads in data encryption, scoring 10288 versus 8963, a 14.8% edge. In extended instructions, the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G posts 11935 against 9655, a 23.6% margin. Integer math goes to AMD as well, 45910 versus 42303, an 8.5% gap. Random string sorting favors AMD at 18819 versus 16929, an 11.2% difference. The multithread PassMark score, which is a broad measure of parallel throughput, shows AMD ahead at 14033 versus 13301, a 5.5% win. Data compression also lands with AMD, 168041 versus 156682, a 7.2% advantage.

The Intel Core 5 221TE takes the remaining three workloads, and it does so with significant margins. In floating-point math, Intel scores 31661 against AMD's 25245, a 20.3% lead. The physics workload shows Intel at 977 versus 701, a 28.2% edge. Prime number finding, a test that stresses integer-heavy iterative loops, goes to Intel at 59 versus 36, a 39% advantage. That is the second-largest delta in the set, and it suggests the Intel architecture handles certain dependency-heavy workloads more efficiently despite the single-thread deficit.

When placed against the broader database, the two processors occupy different tiers. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G holds an average benchmark score of 27382, which places it at the 79th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700H at 27355 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H at 27507 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 at 27535 (0.6% ahead). The Intel Core 5 221TE, by contrast, averages 17860, sitting at the 71st percentile. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779 (0.5% behind). The overall average score gap between these two parts is substantial, roughly 53% in favor of the AMD chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design schools and process technologies. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G uses the Zen 3 architecture on the Cezanne codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The package contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. Cache is organized as 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel. It offers 10 cores and 16 threads, a much higher count, but with a lower base clock of 1.80 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The die size is 215 mm², and the transistor count is not recorded in the database. Cache differs structurally: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD part supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, a 50% higher theoretical ceiling. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs by generation: AMD provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both. AMD uses Radeon Vega 6, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Neither is a high-end solution, but they serve as functional display outputs for desktop systems without a discrete GPU.

The platform sockets are incompatible. AMD uses Socket AM4, Intel uses Socket 1700. The AMD part is a 65 W TDP design, while the Intel part is rated at 45 W. Despite the lower TDP, the Intel chip delivers more cores and a higher boost clock, which explains its wins in floating-point and physics workloads. The AMD chip compensates with higher base clock and superior single-thread execution.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G is the clear winner in scenarios that depend on single-threaded responsiveness and general-purpose integer work. Its 78.5% lead in the single-thread PassMark test is decisive for applications with limited parallelism, such as legacy software, database queries with serial dependencies, and interactive desktop use. The data encryption lead of 14.8% and the extended instructions lead of 23.6% indicate strong performance in cryptographic workloads and SIMD-heavy code that compiles to modern instruction sets. The multithread win of 5.5%, despite having far fewer cores, suggests that the AMD core efficiency more than compensates for the Intel core count in the PassMark multithread test.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in floating-point math, physics simulation, and prime number finding. The 20.3% floating-point lead and the 28.2% physics lead point to advantages in scientific computing, numerical analysis, and simulation workloads that rely heavily on vectorized floating-point operations. The 39% lead in prime number finding is notable because that workload is notoriously sensitive to branch prediction and integer division latency, areas where the Intel architecture appears stronger.

The average score gap also matters. The AMD part's 27382 average places it in a completely different competitive bracket, alongside the Intel Core i7-13700H and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800. The Intel Core 5 221TE's 17860 average places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and the Intel Core 5 120U. Any workload that scales with the overall PassMark average, which is a composite of many different tests, will favor the AMD part by a wide margin.

The Verdict

The data shows two processors aimed at different performance tiers within the desktop market. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G delivers a higher average benchmark score, a higher percentile ranking, and dominant single-thread performance. It is the stronger choice for users who prioritize responsive single-threaded tasks, encryption, integer math, and general productivity workloads. Its 8 wins in the head-to-head set, including the massive 78.5% single-thread margin, make it the superior all-around processor according to the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core 5 221TE is the better option for workloads that specifically stress floating-point math, physics calculations, and prime number generation. Its 45 W TDP also makes it a more power-efficient design on paper, though the database does not include measured power consumption. The 10-core count and 24 MB of L3 cache provide a wider hardware resource pool, but the benchmark results show that this does not translate into a win in the multithread PassMark test.

For a buyer choosing strictly on benchmark performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G is the pick. It outscores the Intel part by nearly 10,000 points in the average benchmark score, holds an 8 percentage point higher percentile rank, and wins the majority of the head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 221TE is only preferable if the specific application mix is known to be floating-point heavy or physics-oriented, and even then the AMD part's overall lead makes it a difficult recommendation outside of those niches.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 221TE is $232. No MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G scores 3096 in the PassMark single-thread test, compared to 1734 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 78.5% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multithreaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G scores 14033 in the PassMark multithread test, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 13301, giving AMD a 5.5% lead despite having only 4 cores versus 10.

Q: What is the biggest win for the Intel Core 5 221TE?

A: The largest Intel win is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 59 versus AMD's 36, a 39% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G and the Intel Core 5 221TE support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports up to 76.8 GB/s of dual-channel memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G supports up to 51.2 GB/s. Intel also supports DDR5, while AMD is limited to DDR4.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G has an average benchmark score of 27382, placing it at the 79th percentile. The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average of 17860, placing it at the 71st percentile.