AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core Ultra 3 205 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two processors into clearly different roles. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is a mobile-focused chip with 6 cores and 12 threads, built on a 4 nm process, and it posts an average benchmark score of 22,289. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is a desktop part with 8 cores and 8 threads on a 3 nm node, and it reaches an average score of 31,473. That is a 41.2% gap in the overall average, and the Intel chip lands in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs compared to the AMD chip's 75th percentile.

For users who need raw throughput in demanding workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is the clear pick. It wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head tests, often by large margins. For users who specifically need integer math performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 220 holds a narrow edge. The AMD part also belongs in a thin-and-light mobile system given its 28 W TDP and Socket FP8, while the Intel part is a desktop component with a 57 W TDP on Socket 1851. The data suggests that anyone assembling a desktop should choose the Intel chip, while the AMD chip makes sense only in a mobile context where its lower power envelope and integrated Radeon 740M graphics are relevant.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 uses the Arrow Lake architecture under the Arrow Lake-S codename, manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Intel chip has a larger physical die despite fewer transistors, which reflects the different layout and integration choices.

Core and thread counts diverge: the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel chip has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD chip relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 12 threads, whereas the Intel chip uses only physical cores. Cache layouts also differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3. That gives the Intel chip more L1 and L2 per core, while the AMD chip has a slightly larger L3 pool.

Both support DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses, but the Intel chip has a higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the AMD chip. PCIe support differs as well: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both, with the AMD chip using Radeon 740M and the Intel chip using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are currently in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has an average benchmark score of 31,473, compared to 22,289 for the AMD Ryzen 5 220. The Intel chip also sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip sits in the 75th percentile.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count, while the Intel chip does not.

Q: What is the difference in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel chip leads in all single-thread tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip scores 2,803 versus 2,188 for the AMD chip, a 21.9% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel chip scores 4,575 versus 3,646, a 20.3% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: Both processors share the same boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The base clocks differ, with the Intel chip at 3.80 GHz and the AMD chip at 3.20 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 220 and the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 have locked multipliers, so neither supports user overclocking.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 provides 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 provides 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR5 memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every hardware specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 uses 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ at 3.20 GHz for the AMD chip and 3.80 GHz for the Intel chip, although both reach 4.90 GHz boost. TDP is a major split: 28 W for the AMD chip versus 57 W for the Intel chip.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel Socket 1851. The AMD chip uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, while the Intel chip uses Arrow Lake with the Arrow Lake-S codename. Process nodes differ at 4 nm for AMD and 3 nm for Intel, both from TSMC. Transistor counts are 20,900 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel, while die sizes are 137 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel.

Cache hierarchies are different: the AMD chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3, while the Intel chip has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 15 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 14 lanes for AMD and Gen 5 with 20 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 740M for AMD and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU for Intel. The market segments are Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $140, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 dominates the benchmark comparison, winning 16 of 17 tests. The margins are substantial across most workloads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel chip scores 2,001 against 1,562 for the AMD chip, a 21.9% advantage. The same 21.9% gap appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (8,339 versus 6,510) and Cinebench R23 multicore (19,856 versus 15,502). Single-core Cinebench tests show a 22% gap in R15 (282 versus 220) and R20 (1,177 versus 918), and a 21.9% gap in R23 (2,803 versus 2,188).

The PassMark suite reveals even larger margins in some tests. Floating point math shows a 52.8% gap, with the Intel chip scoring 75,136 versus 35,500. Physics shows a 51.2% gap (2,016 versus 983). Prime number finding shows a 75.7% gap (268 versus 65). Data encryption shows a 33.4% gap (18,772 versus 12,493), and extended instructions show a 31.3% gap (22,578 versus 15,512). Multithreaded performance is 29% higher on the Intel chip (26,167 versus 18,582), while data compression is 18.4% higher (260,651 versus 212,739) and random string sorting is 18.2% higher (31,083 versus 25,433).

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins exactly one test: PassMark integer math. The AMD chip scores 57,987 versus 54,755 for the Intel chip, a 5.9% advantage. This is the only head-to-head test where the AMD chip leads, and it is also the only PassMark test where the Intel chip does not take the top score.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is the winner in virtually every measurable category. Its 8 physical cores deliver consistent advantages in multicore workloads, as shown by the 21.9% lead across all three Cinebench multicore tests. The single-thread advantage is equally consistent at roughly 20 to 22% across Cinebench and PassMark single-thread tests. The largest wins come in specialized compute tasks: floating point math, physics, and prime number finding all show margins above 50%. That makes the Intel chip the obvious choice for rendering, scientific computing, physics simulations, and any workload that relies heavily on floating-point throughput.

The Intel chip also wins in data-heavy tasks. Data compression is 18.4% faster, data encryption is 33.4% faster, and random string sorting is 18.2% faster. Multithreaded PassMark performance is 29% higher. The Intel chip's Gen 5 PCIe support with 20 lanes and higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s further reinforce its position as the more capable desktop processor.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins only in PassMark integer math, where its 5.9% edge suggests a specific strength in integer-heavy code. That could matter for certain compilers, database workloads, or integer-based cryptography, but the single test win does not offset the Intel chip's dominance elsewhere. The AMD chip's real advantages are outside raw benchmark scores: its 28 W TDP is less than half the Intel chip's 57 W, and its mobile socket and Radeon 740M graphics target thin-and-light laptops rather than desktop towers. For a mobile system where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter, the AMD chip has a purpose. For desktop performance, the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is the data-backed choice across 16 of 17 benchmarks.