AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data draws a sharp dividing line between these two AMD mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 claims a single victory in Cinebench R23 single-core. That one win is real but narrow, an 8.4% margin, and it does not offset the scale of the HX 370's dominance elsewhere. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is 37904, placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Ryzen 5 220 averages 22289, at the 75th percentile. The gap between them is roughly 70% in average score, a chasm that no single-core advantage can bridge.

The Ryzen 5 220 belongs to systems where the workload is light, latency-sensitive, and single-threaded. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the choice for multi-threaded rendering, compilation, data compression, encryption, and any task that scales with core count. The data does not suggest a close contest. It suggests two different performance tiers entirely.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 220 wins exactly one benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 2188 against the HX 370's 2018. That 8.4% advantage indicates the Zen 4 architecture in the 220, with its higher 3.20 GHz base clock, delivers better raw single-thread performance in this specific rendering test than the Zen 5 parts in the HX 370, which start at only 2.00 GHz base. The 220 also posts a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score of 918, though that test was not run on the HX 370, so no direct comparison exists there.

Every other recorded test favors the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. The pattern is consistent across both synthetic and application-style workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the HX 370 scores 3409.5 against the 220's 1562, a 54.2% deficit for the smaller chip. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 28.8% gap, with the HX 370 at 21761 versus 15502. Geekbench multi-core reveals a 47.7% difference, 15242 against 7974. PassMark multi-thread shows 35148 versus 18582, a 47.1% gap. The HX 370's 12 cores and 24 threads simply overwhelm the 220's 6 cores and 12 threads in every parallel workload.

The single-thread picture outside Cinebench R23 is different. Geekbench single-core favors the HX 370 by 15.8%, 2407 versus 2027. PassMark single-thread shows a smaller 8.2% edge for the HX 370, 3973 versus 3646. So the 220's single-core win is isolated to one test, while the HX 370 wins the other two single-thread tests in the database. The data indicates the HX 370 is generally the stronger single-thread performer too, with the 220's higher base clock helping only in specific workloads.

For integer math, floating-point math, prime number finding, data compression, encryption, extended instructions, physics, and random string sorting, the HX 370 leads by margins ranging from 43.9% to 53.8%. These are the workloads that define productivity and content-creation performance. The 220 does not win any of them.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same socket, AMD Socket FP8, the same 4 nm TSMC process node, and the same 28 W TDP. Both are mobile parts, both are currently active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The similarities end there.

The Ryzen 5 220 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses Zen 5 under the Strix Point codename. The HX 370's generation label is "Ryzen AI 300 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c)", indicating a hybrid core arrangement, though the database does not specify the exact split between Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads; the HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, exactly double.

The 220 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The HX 370 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The lower base clock on the HX 370 likely reflects the higher core count and the need to manage thermals within the same 28 W TDP. The higher boost clock suggests the Zen 5 cores can reach higher peak frequencies when only a few cores are active.

Cache configurations differ in the L1 and L2 levels. The 220 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The HX 370 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, also with 16 MB of L3. The larger L1 per core on the HX 370 is a notable architectural change. The die size reflects the complexity difference: the 220 measures 137 mm², while the HX 370 measures 233 mm². The database lists 20,900 million transistors for the 220 but no transistor count for the HX 370.

Memory support differs. The 220 supports DDR5 only, while the HX 370 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus and both have a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The 220 provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). The HX 370 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the 220 uses a Radeon 740M, while the HX 370 uses a Radeon 890M. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either part, so the performance difference between these iGPUs is not quantified here.

Release dates are separated by roughly six months. The HX 370 was released on 2024-06-30, while the 220 was released on 2025-01-05.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 boosts to 4.90 GHz. The HX 370 also has a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz compared to the 220's 3.20 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, exactly double the 220's count.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 220 faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the 220 wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2188 against the HX 370's 2018, an 8.4% advantage. It also has a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score of 918, though the HX 370 was not tested in that specific benchmark.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has an average benchmark score of 37904, placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 5 220 averages 22289, at the 75th percentile. The HX 370's average is roughly 70% higher.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 220 supports DDR5 only. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which architecture does each processor use?

A: The Ryzen 5 220 uses Zen 4 under the Hawk Point codename. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses Zen 5 under the Strix Point codename, with a generation label indicating a mix of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the entire comparison appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The HX 370 scores 3409.5, the 220 scores 1562, and the delta is 54.2% in favor of the HX 370. That is more than double the 220's output. The same test in single-core shows a 28.2% advantage for the HX 370, 306.5 versus 220.

Cinebench R23 tells a slightly different story. Multi-core still heavily favors the HX 370, 21761 versus 15502, a 28.8% gap. But single-core flips: the 220 wins 2188 to 2018, an 8.4% margin. This is the only head-to-head test where the 220 comes out ahead, and it is the only test among the 17 where the winner is not the HX 370.

Geekbench shows the HX 370 ahead in both categories. Multi-core: 15242 versus 7974, a 47.7% difference. Single-core: 2407 versus 2027, a 15.8% difference. The multi-core gap is larger, as expected from the core count disparity, but the single-core gap still favors the HX 370.

PassMark results follow a clear pattern. In data compression, the HX 370 scores 445719 against 212739, a 52.3% advantage. Data encryption: 22252 versus 12493, 43.9%. Extended instructions: 31653 versus 15512, 51%. Prime number finding: 126 versus 65, 48.4%. Floating-point math: 76892 versus 35500, 53.8%. Integer math: 122933 versus 57987, 52.8%. Multithread: 35148 versus 18582, 47.1%. Physics: 1881 versus 983, 47.7%. Random string sorting: 48723 versus 25433, 47.8%. Single-thread: 3973 versus 3646, 8.2%.

The single-thread PassMark margin of 8.2% is the smallest HX 370 win in the set. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is the only loss for the HX 370. Every other test shows the HX 370 leading by at least 15.8%. The data indicates that the HX 370's single-thread advantage is real but modest, while its multi-thread advantage is overwhelming.

The 3DMark results exist only for the HX 370, so no head-to-head comparison is possible. The HX 370 scores 1153 in single-thread, 2179 in 2-thread, 3970 in 4-thread, 6992 in 8-thread, 9365 in 16-thread, and 9725 in max-thread. These numbers show scaling from 1 to 16 threads, but without a corresponding 220 result, they only describe the HX 370 in isolation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: 6 (220) versus 12 (HX 370)
• Threads: 12 (220) versus 24 (HX 370)
• Base clock: 3.20 GHz (220) versus 2.00 GHz (HX 370)
• Boost clock: 4.90 GHz (220) versus 5.10 GHz (HX 370)
• Architecture: Zen 4 (220) versus Zen 5 (HX 370)
• Codename: Hawk Point (220) versus Strix Point (HX 370)
• Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 Hawk Point) (220) versus Ryzen AI 300 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) (HX 370)
• Transistors: 20,900 million (220) versus not recorded (HX 370)
• Die size: 137 mm² (220) versus 233 mm² (HX 370)
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core (220) versus 80 KB per core (HX 370)
• Memory support: DDR5 (220) versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X (HX 370)
• PCIe lanes: 14 (220) versus 16 (HX 370)
• Integrated graphics: Radeon 740M (220) versus Radeon 890M (HX 370)
• Release date: 2025-01-05 (220) versus 2024-06-30 (HX 370)
• Part number: 100-000001611 (220) versus 100-000000994 (HX 370)

Identical specifications include the socket (AMD Socket FP8), TDP (28 W), process node (4 nm), foundry (TSMC), L2 cache (1 MB per core), L3 cache (16 MB), memory bus (dual-channel), memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s), ECC support (disabled on both), market segment (mobile), production status (active), and multiplier unlock status (locked on both). Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.