AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

# The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 221E is the clear performance winner in every single benchmark recorded in the database. Out of 17 head-to-head tests, the Intel part wins all 17, with no benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G takes the lead. The Intel Core 5 221E delivers roughly double the multi-threaded performance in Cinebench tests, and it also holds a decisive advantage in single-threaded work, though that margin is smaller.

The Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 17278, compared to 40144 for the Intel part. That is more than a 2.3x gap in overall average score, which places these two processors in entirely different performance classes despite both being desktop parts with a 65 watt TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G is the choice for a compact, modern platform with DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 4, and a more efficient 4 nm process node. The Intel Core 5 221E is the choice for heavy multi-threaded workloads, higher memory bandwidth, PCIe Gen 5, and substantially faster single-thread and multi-thread results. The data does not support selecting the AMD part for raw performance; its advantages are platform-level, not speed-level.

# Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 20,900 million transistors into a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a larger 257 mm² die size and no transistor count listed in the database.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. That difference alone explains most of the multi-threaded benchmark gap. Cache configurations also diverge. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has three times the L3 cache of the AMD part.

Memory support differs. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G supports DDR5 only, through a dual-channel memory bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Both parts support ECC memory. The Intel part has a slightly higher memory bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. For expansion and storage, the Intel platform offers a newer PCIe generation and more CPU-attached lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The AMD part uses Radeon 740M graphics. The Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730. Both are integrated solutions, but the database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part.

Socket and platform requirements differ. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700. These are not interchangeable platforms, so the motherboard choice is dictated entirely by the processor.

Release dates differ. The AMD part was released on April 15, 2024. The Intel part was released on January 12, 2025. The Intel part is newer by roughly nine months. Both parts are listed as active in production. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the AMD part beat the Intel part in any benchmark?

A: No. In the 17 head-to-head benchmarks recorded in the database, the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G records zero wins.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 3661 versus 1744 for the AMD part, a gap of 52.4 percent. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel part scores 4147 versus 3550, a smaller gap of 14.4 percent.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G supports PCIe Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221E is built on a 10 nm process at Intel.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification line in the database.

Core count: 4 cores for the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G versus 14 cores for the Intel Core 5 221E. Thread count: 8 versus 20.

Base clock: 3.40 GHz for the AMD part versus 2.70 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clock: 4.90 GHz for the AMD part versus 5.20 GHz for the Intel part. The AMD part starts higher but boosts lower. The Intel part starts lower but boosts higher.

TDP: both are listed at 65 watts, so thermal design power is identical.

Socket: AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel Socket 1700.

Architecture and codename: Zen 4 with Phoenix2 for AMD versus Bartlett Lake for Intel. The Intel database entry does not list an architecture name.

Process node: 4 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel. Foundry: TSMC for AMD versus Intel for the Intel part.

Transistors: 20,900 million for AMD, no figure listed for Intel. Die size: 137 mm² for AMD versus 257 mm² for Intel.

Cache: L1 is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 80 KB per core for Intel. L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 2 MB per core for Intel. L3 is 8 MB shared for AMD versus 24 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support: DDR5 only for AMD versus DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Memory bus is dual-channel for both. Memory bandwidth: 83.2 GB/s for AMD versus 89.6 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe: Gen 4 with 14 lanes for AMD versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel.

Integrated graphics: Radeon 740M for AMD versus UHD Graphics 730 for Intel.

Market segment: both are desktop parts. Production status: both active.

Release date: April 15, 2024 for AMD versus January 12, 2025 for Intel.

Launch MSRP: the Intel Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

Multiplier unlocked: false for both.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 221E wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, but the margins vary substantially by workload type.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 2613 against 1245 for AMD, a 52.4 percent advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 368 against 175, also 52.4 percent. The same margin repeats across the Cinebench suite. Cinebench R20 multi-core: 10891 versus 5190, a 52.3 percent gap. Cinebench R20 single-core: 1537 versus 732, 52.4 percent. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 25933 versus 12359, 52.3 percent. Cinebench R23 single-core: 3661 versus 1744, 52.4 percent. The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent, all hovering around 52 percent in favor of Intel.

PassMark results show a wider spread. In data compression, Intel scores 324285 versus 150567, a 53.6 percent lead. In data encryption, Intel scores 19205 versus 8607, a 55.2 percent lead. In extended instructions, Intel scores 18216 versus 11451, a 37.1 percent lead. This is the smallest PassMark margin after single-thread tests.

The largest gap appears in prime number finding. Intel scores 173 versus 47, a 72.8 percent lead. Floating point math shows Intel at 79028 versus 23374, a 70.4 percent lead. Integer math shows Intel at 117813 versus 37292, a 68.3 percent lead. Physics shows Intel at 2230 versus 772, a 65.4 percent lead. Random string sorting shows Intel at 37686 versus 19703, a 47.7 percent lead. PassMark multi-thread shows Intel at 30510 versus 13368, a 56.2 percent lead.

The single-thread tests show the smallest gap. PassMark single-thread has Intel at 4147 versus 3550, a 14.4 percent lead. This is the closest result in the entire comparison. The PassMark singlethread test repeats the same scores and the same 14.4 percent margin.

The pattern is clear. The Intel part leads by roughly half in Cinebench, by more than half in math-heavy and encryption workloads, and by a much smaller margin in single-threaded PassMark tests. The AMD part never closes the gap to single digits in any test.

# Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in every measured category. The data shows no workload where the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G takes a benchmark victory.

For multi-threaded productivity, the Intel part is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25933 is more than double the AMD score of 12359. The 14-core, 20-thread configuration provides a structural advantage that no AMD result in this comparison overcomes. Data compression, integer math, floating point math, physics, and encryption all favor Intel by margins between 53.6 percent and 72.8 percent.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel part still wins, but by a narrower margin. PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 4147 versus 3550, a 14.4 percent lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger 52.4 percent lead, with Intel at 3661 versus 1744. The discrepancy between the two single-thread tests suggests the margin depends heavily on the specific instruction mix.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G does have platform advantages that are not reflected in CPU benchmark scores. It uses the newer 4 nm process, which typically indicates better power efficiency per transistor, though the database does not include power consumption measurements. It uses DDR5 memory exclusively, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. It uses PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5. The AMD part also has a smaller die at 137 mm² versus 257 mm².

For a compact desktop build where the platform matters more than raw compute, the AMD part offers a modern socket and a smaller, denser chip. For any workload where benchmark scores dictate the decision, the Intel Core 5 221E is the only choice supported by the data. The AMD part records zero benchmark wins, and its average benchmark score of 17278 places it near rivals like the Intel Core i5-12450H at 17239 and the AMD Ryzen 3 210 at 17321. The Intel Core 5 221E, with an average score of 40144, competes with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048.

The performance class difference is stark. The AMD part sits near 71st percentile, among mid-range chips. The Intel part sits near 87th percentile, among high-end desktop parts. A buyer choosing between these two should understand that they are not competing in the same performance tier. The Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G in every recorded benchmark, with the smallest margin being 14.4 percent in single-threaded PassMark and the largest being 72.8 percent in prime number finding.