AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core i5-13500H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13500H and AMD Ryzen 5 220 are both mobile processors that land in the same overall performance tier, but they achieve parity through very different designs. The data shows the Intel part wins the majority of head-to-head tests (12 out of 17), while the AMD part claims the newer process node and superior single-thread results in the most recent Cinebench version. The Intel Core i5-13500H is the safer choice for multi-threaded productivity and legacy benchmark compatibility, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the pick for raw single-core speed and efficiency-focused laptops. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 22468 for Intel versus 22289 for AMD — and both sit at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, but the distribution of wins tells a clear story of workload-specific advantages.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-13500H is the winner for users who prioritize sustained multi-threaded workloads. It leads in Cinebench R15 multicore by 47.5% (2304 vs 1562) and in Cinebench R20 multicore by 14.7% (7464 vs 6510). It also dominates in PassMark integer math (72724 vs 57987, a 25.4% lead) and floating-point math (52123 vs 35500, a 46.8% lead). If your work involves compilation, 3D rendering, or heavy spreadsheet calculations, the Intel chip’s 12 cores and 16 threads provide a material advantage over AMD’s 6 cores and 12 threads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the pick for single-thread performance and the latest rendering benchmark. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 18.9% (2188 vs 1775) and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 9.2% (15502 vs 14081). It also wins PassMark single-thread by 6.8% (3646 vs 3397). For users running the newest Cinebench version or applications that scale well with high clock speeds, AMD’s 4.90 GHz boost clock (versus Intel’s 4.70 GHz) makes a measurable difference. The AMD chip also does this with a 28W TDP versus Intel’s 45W, which suggests better efficiency for thin-and-light laptops.

Pick Intel for maximum core count and legacy multi-threaded tests. Pick AMD for the newest single-thread benchmark and better power characteristics. The data does not support a universal recommendation; it depends entirely on the software in question.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental split is between Intel’s hybrid approach and AMD’s monolithic design. The Intel Core i5-13500H is built on Raptor Lake architecture using a 10nm process from Intel’s own foundry. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The cache layout is generous per core: 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, plus 18 MB of shared L3.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4nm process from TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The cache is smaller per core: 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. AMD also lists 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while Intel does not disclose transistor count or die size in the data.

Memory support differs significantly. Intel supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, while AMD only supports DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory, but AMD specifies a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. PCIe generation also differs: Intel offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are the Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for Intel and Radeon 740M for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for Intel is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 2304 against AMD’s 1562 — a 47.5% advantage. This is a massive gap that reflects Intel’s core count advantage in an older benchmark. PassMark floating-point math shows a similar story: Intel leads 52123 to 35500, a 46.8% margin. These two tests alone establish Intel’s dominance in raw parallel compute.

Intel also wins decisively in PassMark physics (1289 vs 983, a 31.1% lead) and integer math (72724 vs 57987, a 25.4% lead). Data compression and encryption are also Intel wins, with margins of 19.7% (254661 vs 212739) and 19.6% (14938 vs 12493), respectively. The PassMark multithread score goes to Intel by 15% (21366 vs 18582), and even prime number finding favors Intel by 13.8% (74 vs 65).

AMD’s wins are concentrated in the newest Cinebench R23 tests. The single-core margin is 18.9% (2188 vs 1775), and the multi-core margin is 9.2% (15502 vs 14081). This is notable because Cinebench R23 is a modern, heavily used benchmark, and AMD’s higher boost clock and newer process node deliver tangible gains. AMD also wins PassMark single-thread by 6.8% (3646 vs 3397) and extended instructions by 4.1% (15512 vs 14872). In Cinebench R15 and R20, however, Intel wins both single-core and multi-core, with R15 single-core at 13.2% (249 vs 220) and R20 single-core at 14.7% (1053 vs 918).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500H has an average benchmark score of 22468, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 22289. The difference is 0.8%, and both are at the 75th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 220 win any multi-threaded benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 15502 versus Intel’s 14081, a 9.2% margin. This is the only multi-threaded test in the head-to-head data that AMD wins.

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

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where Intel leads by 47.5% (2304 vs 1562). The second largest is PassMark floating-point math, where Intel leads by 46.8% (52123 vs 35500).

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: Intel has 12 cores and 16 threads, while AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel has double the core count, which drives its wins in most multi-threaded tests.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: AMD’s Ryzen 5 220 boosts to 4.90 GHz, while Intel’s Core i5-13500H boosts to 4.70 GHz. AMD’s higher boost clock correlates with its wins in single-threaded tests.

Q: Is the AMD chip more efficient based on the data?

A: The AMD chip has a TDP of 28W compared to Intel’s 45W. This indicates lower power draw, though no direct power consumption measurements are provided in the data.

Where Each One Wins

Intel wins in legacy multi-threaded scenarios. The Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore results are decisive, with margins of 47.5% and 14.7% respectively. PassMark tests that stress parallel arithmetic — floating-point math (46.8% lead), integer math (25.4% lead), and physics (31.1% lead) — all favor Intel. Data compression and encryption are also Intel territory, with 19.7% and 19.6% margins. For users running older rendering engines, scientific simulations, or file compression tools, the Intel Core i5-13500H is clearly superior.

AMD wins in the newest single-thread workloads and the most recent Cinebench version. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2188 versus 1775 is an 18.9% lead, and the multi-core score of 15502 versus 14081 is a 9.2% lead. PassMark single-thread also goes to AMD by 6.8%. Extended instruction sets favor AMD by 4.1%. This suggests that AMD’s Zen 4 architecture extracts more performance per clock in modern code, and the higher boost clock helps in lightly threaded applications. The 28W TDP also makes AMD the better fit for laptops where battery life and thermal headroom are priorities.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every fundamental specification. Intel has 12 cores and 16 threads; AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel’s base clock is 2.60 GHz versus AMD’s 3.20 GHz, but Intel’s boost clock is 4.70 GHz versus AMD’s 4.90 GHz. The TDP is 45W for Intel and 28W for AMD. Intel uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while AMD uses the AMD Socket FP8.

The process node is a major split: Intel is on 10nm from its own foundry, while AMD is on 4nm from TSMC. AMD discloses 20,900 million transistors and a 137 mm² die size; Intel does not provide these figures. Cache sizes differ per core: Intel has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, while AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core. Shared L3 is 18 MB for Intel and 16 MB for AMD.

Memory support is broader on Intel, covering DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, while AMD only supports DDR5. Both are dual-channel, but AMD specifies a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. PCIe versions differ: Intel is Gen 5 with 8 lanes, AMD is Gen 4 with 14 lanes. The integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for Intel and Radeon 740M for AMD. Both chips are active production, unlocked multipliers are false for both, and neither supports ECC memory. Release dates are January 2023 for Intel and January 2025 for AMD.