AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably one-sided picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE. No single test goes the other way. The margins, however, vary widely across workloads, and the pattern of those margins reveals where each chip's architecture does its best work.

The largest gap appears in single-threaded performance. In PassMark's single-thread test, the Ryzen 5 220 scores 3646 against Intel's 1734, a delta of 110.3%. This is the standout number in the entire comparison. Cinebench R15 single-core tells a similar story, with AMD ahead by 37.5% (220 vs 160). Cinebench R20 single-core shows 918 vs 670, a 37% lead, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2188 vs 1596, a 37.1% lead. The Ryzen's boost clock of 4.90 GHz, combined with its Zen 4 architecture, clearly delivers substantially higher per-thread throughput than Intel's 5.00 GHz boost on the 221TE. The higher boost clock on the Intel part does not translate into competitive single-thread results.

Multi-core workloads also favor AMD, but the margins tighten somewhat. Cinebench R15 multicore gives the Ryzen 5 220 a 37.1% advantage (1562 vs 1139), and Cinebench R20 multicore matches that at 37.1% (6510 vs 4748). Cinebench R23 multicore shows 15502 vs 11305, again a 37.1% gap. The Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads against AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads, yet it cannot convert that core-count advantage into a win. The Ryzen 5 220 produces roughly a third more multi-core score despite having fewer physical cores.

PassMark's integer math test shows a 37.1% lead for AMD (57987 vs 42303). Data compression favors AMD by 35.8% (212739 vs 156682). Data encryption shows a 39.4% gap (12493 vs 8963). The extended instructions test produces one of the wider margins at 60.7% (15512 vs 9655), indicating a substantial advantage in workloads using AVX or similar instruction sets. Random string sorting shows a 50.2% delta (25433 vs 16929), a strong result for memory-handling and pointer-chasing tasks.

Some tests are much closer. Floating-point math gives AMD a 12.1% edge (35500 vs 31661). Prime number finding shows only a 10.2% difference (65 vs 59). The physics test is nearly a tie, with AMD ahead by just 0.6% (983 vs 977). These smaller deltas suggest that the Intel part's higher core count does help in certain throughput-heavy, less latency-sensitive workloads, even if it cannot overcome the AMD design's overall efficiency.

The average benchmark score reflects the overall dominance. The Ryzen 5 220 posts an average of 22289 across the recorded tests, while the Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860. That is a 24.8% gap in the aggregate. The Ryzen 5 220 sits at the 75th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 71st percentile. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, both within 0.2% of its average score. The Ryzen 5 220's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10700K at 0.3% above it and the Intel Core i5-13500H at 0.8% below it, placing it in a distinctly higher performance band.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process. The manufacturing node difference is significant: 4 nm versus 10 nm directly affects transistor density and power efficiency. AMD's die measures 137 mm² and contains 20,900 million transistors. Intel's die is larger at 215 mm² with no transistor count listed in the database.

Core configuration differs sharply. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads. Intel brings more physical cores to the table, yet the benchmark results show that the AMD cores each deliver substantially more work. Cache layouts also diverge. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel has a larger total cache pool, but it does not translate into benchmark wins.

Clock speeds go in opposite directions. The Ryzen 5 220 has a 3.20 GHz base clock and a 4.90 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a 1.80 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. The Intel part boosts higher but starts much lower, and the sustained performance in the recorded tests favors AMD's higher base and consistent boost behavior.

Memory support differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth rating of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a bandwidth rating of 76.8 GB/s. Intel's broader memory compatibility is a practical advantage for system builders with existing DDR4 kits, but the AMD part has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth. The Intel part supports ECC memory; the AMD part does not. PCIe generations also differ: AMD uses Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics differ. AMD includes the Radeon 740M, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 730. The database does not record comparative graphics benchmark scores, so the comparison is limited to feature presence.

Socket and market segment set them apart. The Ryzen 5 220 uses AMD Socket FP8 and is classified as a mobile part. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop part. The release dates are close, with AMD launching on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2025-01-12. Both are marked as active production parts. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear overall winner. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 outperforms the Intel Core 5 221TE in every recorded benchmark, with an average score of 22289 versus 17860. The largest single-thread margin is 110.3% in PassMark single-thread. The smallest margin is 0.6% in PassMark physics. No test favors Intel.

The Intel part does have structural advantages that matter outside the benchmark suite. It offers 10 cores versus 6, a larger L3 cache at 24 MB versus 16 MB, DDR4 and DDR5 support versus DDR5 only, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 14 lanes, and a desktop socket with a larger die. These features do not show up as wins in the recorded compute benchmarks, but they are real specification differences for specific use cases.

The AMD part wins purely on performance per the database. It also has a lower TDP at 28 watts versus 45 watts, which is a substantial efficiency advantage for any system where heat and power draw matter. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $232; the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded.

For a user who needs maximum compute throughput in the tested workloads, the Ryzen 5 220 is the clear pick. For a user who needs ECC memory, DDR4 compatibility, PCIe Gen 5 lanes, or a desktop socket form factor, the Intel Core 5 221TE offers those features even though it scores lower. The benchmark data does not support choosing Intel for raw performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The Intel part has zero wins in the database comparison.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark single-thread, where the Ryzen 5 220 scores 3646 against the Intel part's 1734, a delta of 110.3%. The smallest gap is in PassMark physics, at 0.6% (983 vs 977).

Q: Does the Intel part have more cores?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part wins all multi-core benchmarks in the database.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, which the AMD part does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins every compute benchmark in the database. That includes all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests, plus all PassMark tests for data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime numbers, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread. The margins range from 0.6% to 110.3%. The Ryzen's wins are particularly pronounced in single-thread workloads and in extended instructions, where it leads by 60.7%. Its multithread win of 39.7% (18582 vs 13301) shows that the 6-core / 12-thread design outperforms the 10-core / 16-thread Intel part in aggregate threaded performance.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does not win any recorded benchmark. Its wins exist only in specification areas. It has more cores, more threads, more L1, L2, and L3 cache per core and in total, a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, a desktop socket, and a larger die at 215 mm². None of these translate into a benchmark victory in the database.

The use-case split follows the data. For any workload represented by the recorded tests, the Ryzen 5 220 is the stronger part. For a system that must use DDR4 memory, require ECC support, or need PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, the Intel part is the only one of the two that offers those features. The Intel part also fits a desktop Socket 1700 platform, while the AMD part uses the mobile AMD Socket FP8. That form factor difference may dictate the choice regardless of performance.

The closest benchmark is PassMark physics, with a 0.6% gap. That near-tie suggests that in physics simulation or similar workloads, the two parts are effectively interchangeable. Everywhere else, the Ryzen 5 220 holds a meaningful lead, often exceeding 35%.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 220 | Intel Core 5 221TE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | 215 mm² |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 740M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |