AMD Ryzen 5 150 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 150, which claims 9 of the 11 recorded wins. The most dramatic separation occurs in single-thread performance, where the AMD part posts a score of 3155 against 1734 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 81.9% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and signals a fundamental difference in how each processor handles lightly threaded workloads.

Beyond single-thread, the AMD Ryzen 5 150 dominates heavily in integer math, scoring 62151 versus 42303, a 46.9% lead. The data encryption test shows an even larger relative gap at 49.8%, with the AMD part scoring 13425 against 8963. Extended instructions, a measure of SIMD and specialized processing, favor AMD by 52%, posting 14675 against 9655. These three results together indicate that the Ryzen 5 150 is substantially stronger in compute-heavy integer and encryption tasks.

The AMD advantage extends to memory-related workloads. Data compression scores 211289 for the Ryzen 5 150 versus 156682 for the Intel part, a 34.9% lead. Random string sorting, another memory-latency-sensitive test, shows a 32.2% gap in favor of AMD (22382 vs 16929). Floating-point math is closer but still favors AMD, with a 10.9% edge (35118 vs 31661). The multithread score, which aggregates overall parallel performance, gives AMD a 31.5% lead (17492 vs 13301).

The Intel Core 5 221TE secures only two wins, but they are notable in their specific domains. In prime number finding, Intel scores 59 against 47, a 20.3% advantage. The physics test, which often relies on different instruction patterns, also goes to Intel with 977 versus 806, a 17.5% lead. These two wins suggest that the Intel architecture retains an edge in certain integer-heavy, latency-bound algorithms despite losing the broader integer math test.

Looking at the overall averages, the Ryzen 5 150 achieves an average benchmark score of 34881, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860, sitting in the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Xeon 6349P at 34890 (a 0% delta) and the Intel Core i9-12900HX at 35003 (a -0.3% delta), placing the Ryzen 5 150 in the same performance class as those higher-tier parts. For the Intel Core 5 221TE, its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (-0.2%) and the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898 (-0.2%), showing it aligns with older or lower-tier mainstream processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 150 wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 221TE wins 2.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in the passmark single-thread test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 150 leads by 81.9% with a score of 3155 versus 1734 for the Intel Core 5 221TE.

Q: Does the Intel processor outperform AMD in any test by a large margin?

A: Yes, in the prime number finding test, the Intel Core 5 221TE leads by 20.3% (59 vs 47). In the physics test, Intel leads by 17.5% (977 vs 806).

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 150 has an average benchmark score of 34881, while the Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860. This places the AMD part in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with the Intel part in the 71st percentile.

Q: Which processor has the higher multithread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 150 scores 17492 in the passmark multithread test, which is 31.5% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE's 13301.

Q: How close is the AMD processor to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 150's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 6349P with an average score of 34890, a 0% delta. The Intel Core 7 253PTE is 0.2% behind at 34962, and the Intel Core i7-13800H is 0.3% behind at 34988.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 uses the Zen 3+ architecture under the Rembrandt-R codename, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The die sizes are nearly identical, with the AMD part at 210 mm² and the Intel part at 215 mm², but the transistor-level designs diverge significantly.

The core configurations differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 has 6 physical cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 physical cores and 16 threads. This means the Intel part has more cores, but the AMD part has a higher thread-to-core ratio, indicating simultaneous multithreading on all its cores. The cache hierarchy also differs: the AMD part uses 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Intel part uses 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is larger on the Intel side at 24 MB versus 16 MB on the AMD side.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 features the Radeon 660M, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses the UHD Graphics 730. The memory controllers support different configurations: the AMD part supports DDR5 only, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical peak bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is available on the Intel part but not on the AMD part.

PCIe connectivity shows a tradeoff. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 221TE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. This gives the AMD part more lanes at a lower generation, while the Intel part has fewer lanes but at a higher bandwidth per lane.

The production status for both is Active. The AMD part was released on September 30, 2025, while the Intel part was released earlier on January 12, 2025. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FP7, indicating a mobile-focused design, while the Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1700, indicating a desktop-focused design. Both are locked against multiplier adjustment.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The core count shows 6 for AMD versus 10 for Intel, with threads at 12 versus 16. The base clock for the AMD Ryzen 5 150 is 3.30 GHz, compared to 1.80 GHz for the Intel part. The boost clock favors Intel, with 5.00 GHz versus 4.55 GHz for AMD.

Thermal design power differs, with the AMD part rated at 35 watts and the Intel part at 45 watts. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP7 versus Intel Socket 1700. The manufacturing process node is 6 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The foundry is TSMC for AMD and Intel's own fabs for the Intel part.

Cache configurations show distinct values: L1 is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 80 KB per core for Intel; L2 is 512 KB per core for AMD versus 1.25 MB per core for Intel; L3 is 16 MB shared for AMD versus 24 MB shared for Intel. Memory support allows DDR5 for AMD, while Intel accepts both DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory is false for AMD and true for Intel.

PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 660M for AMD and the UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. The market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The release dates differ, with AMD arriving on September 30, 2025, and Intel on January 12, 2025. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $232; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

The Verdict

The data points to distinct use cases for each processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 demonstrates overwhelming superiority in single-thread performance, with an 81.9% lead in the passmark single-thread test. It also leads by substantial margins in integer math (46.9%), data encryption (49.8%), extended instructions (52%), and data compression (34.9%). Its average benchmark score of 34881 places it at the 84th percentile, directly competing with the Intel Xeon 6349P and the Intel Core i9-12900HX, both within 0.3% of its score. The 35-watt thermal design power and mobile socket suggest it is engineered for efficiency in thin-and-light systems, yet it delivers desktop-class compute throughput.

The Intel Core 5 221TE, with its 45-watt thermal design power and desktop socket, offers a different set of strengths. Its 10 cores and 16 threads provide more physical parallelism, and it wins in prime number finding (20.3% ahead) and physics (17.5% ahead). The 24 MB of shared L3 cache, ECC memory support, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity make it suited for specific workstation or server-lite roles where memory integrity and newer PCIe devices matter. Its average score of 17860 places it in the 71st percentile, aligned with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and the Intel Core 5 120U.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, encryption, compression, and single-thread responsiveness, the recorded data overwhelmingly favors the AMD Ryzen 5 150. For users who need ECC memory support, more physical cores, PCIe Gen 5 lanes, or a desktop platform, the Intel Core 5 221TE provides those specific capabilities, though it trails in most performance measurements. The choice rests on whether the workload aligns with the AMD part's decisive performance advantages or the Intel part's platform features and its two specialized wins.