AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core i9-11900F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i9-11900F, which wins 15 of the 19 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 manages four wins, but they are narrow and concentrated in specific workloads.

The largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where the Intel part scores 83,718 against 57,987 for the AMD, a 44.4% advantage. Floating point math also heavily favors Intel: 48,562 versus 35,500, a 36.8% gap. These results indicate the Rocket Lake chip holds a substantial lead in raw arithmetic throughput, likely benefiting from its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 4.90 GHz and its additional two cores.

Data compression is another stronghold for the Intel processor. Its score of 280,847 beats the AMD's 212,739 by 32%. Random string sorting follows a similar pattern, with Intel ahead 27.9% (32,520 versus 25,433). Extended instruction workloads show a 25.3% advantage for Intel (19,443 versus 15,512), suggesting better optimization for AVX or similar instruction sets in the database's test suite.

Across the Cinebench suite, the Intel chip wins every iteration. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1,890 versus 1,562, a 21% lead. The single-core test shows 266 versus 220, a 20.9% margin. Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern: 7,878 versus 6,510 in multi-core (21%), and 1,112 versus 918 in single-core (21.1%). Cinebench R23 continues it: 18,759 versus 15,502 in multi-core (21%), and 2,648 versus 2,188 in single-core (21%). The consistency of the 21% delta across all Cinebench versions points to a stable architecture advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench results are closer but still favor Intel. The multi-core score of 9,417 versus 7,974 represents an 18.1% win. The single-core test narrows to 9.5% (2,220 versus 2,027). PassMark multi-thread shows a 19% gap (22,115 versus 18,582). Data encryption sees Intel ahead 9.1% (13,636 versus 12,493).

The AMD Ryzen 5 220's wins are all in PassMark tests. Its single-thread score of 3,646 beats Intel's 3,413 by 6.4%. The same delta appears in the duplicate PassMark single-thread listing. Find prime numbers favors AMD slightly: 65 versus 61, a 6.2% edge. Physics simulation shows AMD ahead 983 versus 949, a 3.5% margin. These wins suggest the Zen 4 architecture has an efficiency advantage in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks, despite the Intel chip's higher boost clock.

The average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 23,254, which is 4.3% higher than the AMD's 22,289. In the broader database, the Intel CPU sits at the 76th percentile of all processors, while the AMD sits at the 75th. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (average score 23,277, a 0.1% deficit) and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (23,219, a 0.2% surplus). The AMD Ryzen 5 220's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10700K (22,230, a 0.3% deficit) and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (21,992, a 1.4% surplus).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-11900F is a desktop part built on the Rocket Lake architecture using Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is a mobile processor using the Zen 4 architecture (codename Hawk Point) on TSMC's 4 nm node, with a much smaller die at 137 mm². The AMD chip integrates 20,900 million transistors, a figure not listed for the Intel part.

Core counts differ: the Intel CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD CPU has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks favor AMD at 3.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, but boost clocks favor Intel at 5.20 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) shows a stark contrast: the Intel part is rated at 65 watts, while the AMD part is rated at just 28 watts, reflecting its mobile orientation.

Cache layouts also differ. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, but 1 MB of L2 per core, and the same 16 MB of shared L3. This means the AMD processor has a larger per-core L2, which can help with frequently accessed data.

Memory support separates the two. The Intel CPU uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD CPU uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. That is a 75% higher theoretical memory bandwidth for the AMD part, though the benchmark results do not show it translating into overall performance wins.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor includes integrated graphics in the form of a Radeon 740M, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics listed.

The production statuses contrast sharply. The Intel Core i9-11900F is marked as end-of-life and was released on 2021-03-15. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is marked as active and was released on 2025-01-05. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $422; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread performance in Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900F wins all three Cinebench single-core tests. It scores 266 in R15 versus 220, 1,112 in R20 versus 918, and 2,648 in R23 versus 2,188. Each result is a 21% or 21.1% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 220 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins 4 of the 19 head-to-head tests. These are PassMark single-thread (3,646 versus 3,413), PassMark find prime numbers (65 versus 61), and PassMark physics (983 versus 949). The single-thread result appears twice in the database.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s with DDR5 support. The Intel Core i9-11900F has a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s with DDR4 support. The AMD part's bandwidth is about 75% higher on paper.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Intel Core i9-11900F scores 83,718 versus 57,987 for the AMD Ryzen 5 220, a 44.4% difference. Floating point math is the second largest at 36.8%.

Q: Are these processors aimed at the same market segment?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-11900F is listed as a Desktop processor with a 65 watt TDP and an Intel Socket 1200. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is listed as a Mobile processor with a 28 watt TDP and an AMD Socket FP8.

Q: How close are the average benchmark scores of the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900F has an average benchmark score of 23,254, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 has an average of 22,289. That is a 4.3% difference in favor of Intel. The Intel chip also sits one percentile higher in the database (76th versus 75th).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize raw multi-threaded and heavily threaded performance. The Intel Core i9-11900F wins 15 of 19 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench benchmark, every Geekbench test, and most PassMark workloads. Its 21% lead across all Cinebench versions and 44.4% lead in integer math make it the stronger processor for rendering, compilation, or any workload that scales across its 8 cores and 16 threads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 should be selected for scenarios where power efficiency and single-thread responsiveness matter more. Its 28 watt TDP is less than half of the Intel chip's 65 watt rating, and it holds a 6.4% lead in PassMark single-thread tests. The integrated Radeon 740M graphics also provide a display output option that the Intel part lacks entirely. For a mobile platform or a compact system where thermal headroom is limited, the AMD chip offers competitive single-core performance with substantially lower power draw.

The average benchmark scores show only a 4.3% gap in overall performance, but the distribution of wins matters. The Intel chip's victories are often by large margins (over 20% in many tests), while the AMD chip's wins are smaller (under 7%). This asymmetry suggests the Intel part is the more capable all-around performer, but the AMD part has specific strengths in efficiency and lightly threaded tasks.

Users who need PCIe Gen 4 with more lanes should note the Intel chip offers 20 lanes versus 14 for the AMD chip. Users who need DDR5 memory support must choose the AMD chip, as the Intel part is restricted to DDR4. The Intel chip's end-of-life status and 2021 release date contrast with the AMD chip's active production status and 2025 release date, which may affect long-term availability and platform support.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-11900F | AMD Ryzen 5 220 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Rocket Lake | Hawk Point |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 20,900 million |

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

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon 740M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2025-01-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $422 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |