AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs AMD Ryzen 5 6600U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is newer, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U or the AMD Ryzen 5 220?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the newer part, with a release date recorded as 2025-01-05. The 6600U belongs to the older 6000 series lineup.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U and the AMD Ryzen 5 220 feature 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has the higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz, compared to the 4.50 GHz boost of the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U.

Q: Which processor uses a newer manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is built on a 4 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U uses a 6 nm process. Both are fabricated by TSMC.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U comes with Radeon 660M graphics, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 features Radeon 740M integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head data?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U wins 3.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent a clear generational shift in AMD's mobile lineup. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U is built on the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, and belongs to the 6000 series. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, which is a newer design. This architectural gap is reflected in the manufacturing process: the 6600U uses a 6 nm node, while the 220 uses a 4 nm node, both from TSMC. The die size also differs substantially, with the 6600U measuring 208 mm² and the 220 measuring 137 mm², despite the 220 carrying a transistor count of 20,900 million (the 6600U has no recorded transistor figure).

Cache layouts are similar in capacity but differ in distribution. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The key difference lies in L2 cache: the 6600U has 512 KB per core, while the 220 doubles that to 1 MB per core. That extra L2 cache per core can help with repeated data access patterns in lightly threaded workloads.

Memory support is another point of divergence. Both support DDR5 and run dual-channel memory, but the 220 has a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the 6600U. PCIe specifications also differ. The 6600U offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 220 offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked, meaning the multiplier is not unlocked on either chip. The 6600U uses AMD Socket FP7, while the 220 uses AMD Socket FP8.

The 220 also carries a higher TDP of 28 watts, compared to 15 watts for the 6600U. That higher power envelope is part of why the 220 can sustain higher clock speeds, though it also means different thermal and battery characteristics in a laptop design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall win for the AMD Ryzen 5 220, but the 6600U has a few notable counterpoints.

The largest single victory for the 220 comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 15502 against 9159.5 for the 6600U, a delta of -40.9 percent. That is a massive gap in a heavily threaded rendering workload, and it indicates the 220's Zen 4 cores plus higher power budget translate directly into multi-threaded performance. Cinebench R15 multi-core tells a similar story, though less extreme: the 220 scores 1562 versus 1493, a 4.4 percent advantage.

Single-core performance also favors the 220 in most tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 220 scores 2188 versus 1456.5 for the 6600U, a 33.4 percent gap. Geekbench single-core shows the 220 ahead at 2027 versus 1673, a 17.5 percent lead. PassMark single-thread results follow the same pattern, with the 220 at 3646 and the 6600U at 3132, a 14.1 percent difference.

The 6600U does strike back in a few specific workloads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 6600U wins 233 to 220, a 5.9 percent advantage. In PassMark integer math, the 6600U takes 61723 versus 57987, a 6.4 percent win. And in PassMark data encryption, the 6600U edges ahead 12783 to 12493, a 2.3 percent margin.

The remaining benchmark wins for the 220 are consistent across a range of workloads. PassMark multi-thread shows 18582 versus 17026, an 8.4 percent lead. PassMark physics goes to the 220 at 983 versus 825, a 16.1 percent gap. PassMark random string sorting favors the 220 at 25433 versus 21241, a 16.5 percent margin. PassMark extended instructions shows 15512 versus 13356, a 13.9 percent lead. PassMark find prime numbers goes to the 220 at 65 versus 51, a 21.5 percent gap. PassMark floating point math is closer, with 35500 versus 33991, a 4.3 percent advantage for the 220. PassMark data compression also goes to the 220 at 212739 versus 201364, a 5.3 percent margin. Geekbench multi-core rounds out the list with 7974 versus 6618, a 17 percent lead for the 220.

Specification Differences

• Architecture: AMD Ryzen 5 6600U is Zen 3+ (Rembrandt); AMD Ryzen 5 220 is Zen 4 (Hawk Point)
• Process node: 6 nm (6600U) versus 4 nm (220), both TSMC
• Base clock: 2.90 GHz (6600U) versus 3.20 GHz (220)
• Boost clock: 4.50 GHz (6600U) versus 4.90 GHz (220)
• TDP: 15 W (6600U) versus 28 W (220)
• Socket: AMD Socket FP7 (6600U) versus AMD Socket FP8 (220)
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core (6600U) versus 1 MB per core (220)
• Memory bandwidth: 76.8 GB/s (6600U) versus 89.6 GB/s (220)
• PCIe lanes: Gen 4, 20 lanes (6600U) versus Gen 4, 14 lanes (220)
• Integrated graphics: Radeon 660M (6600U) versus Radeon 740M (220)
• Die size: 208 mm² (6600U) versus 137 mm² (220)
• Transistor count: not recorded for the 6600U; 20,900 million for the 220
• Release date: not recorded for the 6600U; 2025-01-05 for the 220
• Part number: 100-000000536100-000000548 (6600U) versus 100-000001611 (220)

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the clear choice for CPU-heavy sustained workloads. Its multi-core wins in Cinebench R23 (40.9 percent ahead), Geekbench multi-core (17 percent ahead), and PassMark multi-thread (8.4 percent ahead) make it the better fit for rendering, video encoding, and other all-core tasks. The single-core results also favor the 220 in Cinebench R23 single-core (33.4 percent ahead), Geekbench single-core (17.5 percent ahead), and PassMark single-thread (14.1 percent ahead), which suggests snappier everyday responsiveness and better performance in lightly threaded applications. The 220 also handles memory bandwidth more effectively with 89.6 GB/s, and its larger L2 cache per core helps with data-heavy workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U holds its own in a narrower set of scenarios. Its win in Cinebench R15 single-core (5.9 percent ahead) suggests it can sometimes edge out the 220 in legacy single-threaded tests. Its PassMark integer math result (6.4 percent ahead) indicates an advantage in certain integer-heavy computations. Its PassMark data encryption lead (2.3 percent ahead) is small but real, which could matter for workloads that rely heavily on encryption routines. The 6600U also has the advantage of a much lower 15 W TDP, making it the more power-efficient option for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals take priority over raw performance. Its PCIe Gen 4, 20 lanes configuration also offers more available lanes for expansion, which may matter in certain system designs.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 220 as the stronger processor in nearly every performance category. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the 220 wins 14, and several of those wins are by wide margins. The 40.9 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 33.4 percent lead in Cinebench R23 single-core are particularly strong indicators of its superiority in modern rendering workloads. The 220 also carries a newer Zen 4 architecture, a smaller 4 nm process, a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz, double the L2 cache per core, and higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s. For anyone buying a laptop where CPU performance is the primary concern, the 220 is the obvious pick.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U is not without merit, but its advantages are concentrated in specific areas. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core, PassMark integer math, and PassMark data encryption, and it does so while drawing only 15 W. That efficiency profile makes it a reasonable choice for ultraportable designs where battery life is more important than peak performance. Its 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes also give it more expansion headroom than the 220's 14 lanes.

The overall benchmark average tells a similar story. The 6600U has an average benchmark score of 22897 and sits at the 76th percentile, while the 220 has an average score of 22289 and sits at the 75th percentile. That puts them in the same performance tier overall, despite the 220's dominance in the head-to-head list. The 6600U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X at 0.3 percent ahead, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U at 0.5 percent ahead, and the Intel Core i5-12500H at 1.2 percent ahead. The 220's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10700K at 0.3 percent ahead, the Intel Core i5-13500H at 0.8 percent behind, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X at 1.4 percent ahead.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 220 for maximum compute performance in multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U for lower power draw and specific niche workloads where its three benchmark wins matter. For most users, the 220 is the better processor.