AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core i7-1270P Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1270P and AMD Ryzen 5 220 are both 28 W mobile processors, but the data shows a clear overall winner. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 takes 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmark wins, including every Cinebench test, while the Intel part wins only 4, concentrated in math and physics workloads. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—22,502 for Intel versus 22,289 for AMD, a 1% difference in Intel's favor—but the distribution of those scores tells a different story. The Intel chip trades blows with rivals like the Core i5-13500H (0.2% ahead) and Core Ultra 5 135U (0.5% behind), while the AMD part sits 0.8% behind the same Core i5-13500H and 1.4% ahead of the desktop-class Ryzen 5 3600X.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the better choice for users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering, compression, and single-core responsiveness. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 15,502 against Intel's 13,938, a 10.1% advantage. That gap is consistent across all Cinebench versions: R15 multi-core shows 1,562 versus 1,404 (-10.1%), R20 shows 6,510 versus 5,853 (-10.1%), and even the single-core tests favor AMD by 10%, with R23 single-core at 2,188 versus 1,967. The AMD part also leads in PassMark multi-thread (18,582 versus 16,957, an 8.7% edge), data compression (212,739 versus 184,917, a 13.1% edge), and random string sorting (25,433 versus 20,546, a 19.2% edge).

The Intel Core i7-1270P is the pick only for specific, narrow workloads. Its largest win is in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 43,168 versus 35,500, a 21.6% margin. It also wins integer math (63,016 versus 57,987, an 8.7% edge), physics (1,120 versus 983, a 13.9% edge), and prime number finding (66 versus 65, a 1.5% edge). For any general productivity or content creation workload, the AMD part's consistent 8-19% leads in compression, encryption, and multi-threaded rendering make it the safer recommendation. The single exception is floating-point-heavy scientific code, where Intel's hybrid architecture appears to hold an advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in design philosophy. The Intel Core i7-1270P uses Alder Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process (codenamed Alder Lake-P), featuring 12 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process (codenamed Hawk Point), with 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part has double the physical cores, but the AMD part counters with a smaller, denser process: 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die versus Intel's 217 mm² die. This process advantage is likely why the AMD part achieves higher clock speeds—3.20 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost versus Intel's 2.20 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost—despite the same 28 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Despite having less cache per core, the AMD part's higher clocks and Zen 4 IPC appear to compensate in most benchmarks. Memory support is another split: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, while AMD supports only DDR5 but lists a specific memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s—Intel does not list a bandwidth figure. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel has Iris Xe 96EU, AMD has Radeon 740M. Both are mobile parts on proprietary sockets (Intel BGA 1744 for Intel, AMD Socket FP8 for AMD), with no unlocked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a uniform AMD sweep. Every single test—R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core—produces the same 10% delta in AMD's favor. The R23 multi-core result (15,502 versus 13,938) is the headline number, representing a 1,564-point gap. Single-core R23 shows 2,188 versus 1,967, a 221-point gap. These are not marginal differences; they indicate that the Ryzen 5 220 is fundamentally faster in rendering workloads, likely due to its higher boost clock and newer architecture.

PassMark results are more mixed, revealing the Intel part's strengths. The biggest delta in the entire comparison is PassMark extended instructions, where AMD wins 15,512 versus 10,575, a 31.8% margin. That is a massive gap, suggesting AVX-512 or similar instruction extensions on Zen 4. The AMD part also wins data compression by 13.1% (212,739 versus 184,917) and random string sorting by 19.2% (25,433 versus 20,546). Data encryption goes to AMD by 9.7% (12,493 versus 11,276), and single-thread performance goes to AMD by 8% (3,646 versus 3,354).

Intel's wins are concentrated in raw compute. Floating-point math shows Intel ahead 43,168 versus 35,500, a 21.6% advantage—the largest Intel win. Integer math is closer, with Intel ahead 63,016 versus 57,987 (8.7%). Physics is a 13.9% Intel win (1,120 versus 983), and prime number finding is a narrow 1.5% Intel win (66 versus 65). The PassMark multi-thread score, which aggregates many of these, goes to AMD: 18,582 versus 16,957, an 8.7% edge. The overall pattern is that AMD wins the workloads that matter most to general users, while Intel retains a niche in floating-point-heavy computation.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1270P | AMD Ryzen 5 220 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-P | Hawk Point |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 20,900 million |

| Die Size | 217 mm² | 137 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 4, 14 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | Radeon 740M |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2025-01-05 |

The Intel part has more cores, threads, and cache, plus broader memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) and more PCIe lanes (20 versus 14). The AMD part counters with a smaller process node (4 nm versus 10 nm), higher clocks, and a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both are 28 W parts with no ECC support and no unlocked multipliers. The Intel part's release date is nearly three years earlier, yet it remains competitive in average score—the data suggests the AMD part's architectural efficiency (Zen 4 on 4 nm) overcomes Intel's core-count advantage in most workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor scores higher in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 15,502 versus Intel's 13,938, a 10.1% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-1270P win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins 4 of 17 head-to-head tests: PassMark floating-point math (43,168 versus 35,500, a 21.6% lead), integer math (63,016 versus 57,987, an 8.7% lead), physics (1,120 versus 983, a 13.9% lead), and prime number finding (66 versus 65, a 1.5% lead).

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD leads 15,512 versus 10,575, a 31.8% margin.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel part has an average benchmark score of 22,502, and the AMD part scores 22,289. Intel leads by 1% according to the nearestRivals deltaPct.

Q: Which has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1270P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode; AMD supports only DDR5 in dual-channel mode with a listed bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.