AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 and Intel Core Ultra 5 238V are closely matched mobile processors, landing at the 75th percentile among all CPUs. While the Intel chip wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks (12 wins to AMD’s 5), the AMD Ryzen 5 220 secures decisive victories in specific workloads. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 22,289, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V trails slightly at 21,981. This makes the choice less about raw performance and more about workload-specific strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic differentiation appears in the PassMark suite, where the AMD Ryzen 5 220 dominates integer-heavy tasks. In passmark_integer_math, the AMD chip scores 57,987 against Intel’s 38,889, a 49.1% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the comparison and indicates a significant edge in general arithmetic and logic operations. The AMD chip also wins passmark_data_compression by 20.5% (212,739 vs. 176,532) and passmark_random_string_sorting by 17.8% (25,433 vs. 21,585). These are substantial margins that suggest the Ryzen 5 220 handles data manipulation and sorting workloads with noticeably higher efficiency.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V responds with equally lopsided wins in other PassMark categories. It crushes the AMD chip in passmark_find_prime_numbers, scoring 174 versus 65, a 62.6% lead. It also wins passmark_floating_point_math by 33.2% (53,160 vs. 35,500) and passmark_physics by 36.4% (1,546 vs. 983). The Intel chip’s advantage in floating-point and physics workloads points to superior mathematical throughput in scientific or simulation-based tasks, while the prime number result reflects better raw integer iteration speed in a specific algorithmic pattern.

In the Cinebench suite, the Intel chip wins every round, but by narrow margins. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V leads by 0.9% to 1.0%. For example, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 15,645 for Intel versus 15,502 for AMD, and single-core shows 2,208 versus 2,188. These differences are within run-to-run variance, so the verdict is a tie in rendering workloads. The Intel chip also edges out the AMD part in passmark_single_thread (3,890 vs. 3,646, a 6.3% lead) and passmark_data_encryption (13,072 vs. 12,493, a 4.4% lead). The AMD chip narrowly wins passmark_multithread (18,582 vs. 18,407, a 1% lead) and passmark_extended_instructions (15,512 vs. 15,377, a 0.9% lead).

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from opposite design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, on TSMC’s 4 nm process. It integrates 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, also on TSMC but at a more advanced 3 nm node; Intel does not disclose transistor count or die size for this chip. The process node difference suggests the Intel chip may have higher density, but the lack of data prevents direct comparison.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The AMD chip features 6 cores and 12 threads, leveraging simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip counterintuitively has 8 cores but only 8 threads — no hyperthreading. This affects how each handles parallel workloads. The AMD chip’s 12 threads give it flexibility in threaded tasks, while the Intel chip’s 8 physical cores rely on raw core count. Cache hierarchies also differ: the AMD chip provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a 16 MB shared L3. The Intel chip offers 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, but only 8 MB shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core caches are offset by half the total L3.

Clock speeds favor AMD on paper. The Ryzen 5 220 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz. The Intel chip starts at 2.10 GHz and boosts to 4.70 GHz. Despite this, Intel wins the majority of single-threaded benchmarks, implying that the Lunar Lake architecture extracts more instructions per clock. Power envelopes are also distinct: the AMD chip has a 28 W TDP, while the Intel chip is rated at 17 W. The Intel part is thus more power-efficient on paper, which matters for thermal-constrained laptops.

Memory and I/O differ as well. Both support dual-channel DDR5, but AMD specifies 89.6 GB/s bandwidth while Intel lists none. AMD uses an AMD Socket FP8, Intel uses Intel BGA 2833. PCIe support is a notable split: the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip offers Gen 5 but only 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD Ryzen 5 220 pairs with a Radeon 740M, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V includes an Arc 130V. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which chip is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V scores 15,645, beating the AMD Ryzen 5 220’s 15,502 by 0.9%. The margin is negligible in real-world terms.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 220 have more threads than the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V?

A: Yes. The AMD chip has 12 threads across 6 cores, while the Intel chip has 8 threads across 8 cores. The AMD chip’s extra threads support heavier multitasking.

Q: Which processor is better for integer math workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins passmark_integer_math decisively with 57,987 points versus 38,889 for Intel, a 49.1% advantage.

Q: How do the chips compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V leads in passmark_single_thread with 3,890 points against 3,646 for AMD, a 6.3% margin. It also wins every Cinebench single-core test by roughly 1%.

Q: Does the Intel chip have a lower power draw?

A: Yes. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has a TDP of 17 W, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 220’s 28 W. This indicates Intel’s design is more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 8 MB found on the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V.

Specification Differences

The primary spec differences are as follows. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 2.10 GHz for Intel; boost clocks are 4.90 GHz and 4.70 GHz, respectively. TDP is 28 W for AMD versus 17 W for Intel. Sockets differ: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel BGA 2833. The process node is 4 nm for AMD and 3 nm for Intel, both from TSMC. The AMD chip has 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die; Intel does not list these figures. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 2.5 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 16 MB shared for AMD versus 8 MB shared for Intel. Memory bandwidth is specified at 89.6 GB/s for AMD, with no figure for Intel. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 14 lanes for AMD, versus Gen 5 with 4 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 740M for AMD and Arc 130V for Intel. Release dates are January 2025 for AMD and September 2024 for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins in workloads that depend on integer arithmetic and data manipulation. Its 49.1% lead in passmark_integer_math makes it the clear choice for database operations, financial calculations, or any application that processes large sets of integers. The 20.5% win in data compression and 17.8% win in random string sorting further solidify its position for archiving, file compression, and text-processing tasks. The narrow 1% win in passmark_multithread also shows slight superiority in general parallel throughput, aided by its 12 threads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins in floating-point and physics-heavy tasks. Its 33.2% advantage in floating-point math and 36.4% in physics benchmarks make it suitable for scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and engineering software. The 62.6% blowout in prime number finding indicates strength in certain algorithmic loops. It also leads in single-threaded performance (6.3% in PassMark, ~1% in Cinebench) and encryption (4.4%). For everyday responsiveness and light workloads, the Intel chip edges ahead.

The Verdict

The data does not crown a single winner; it defines two distinct profiles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, but its victories are concentrated in floating-point, physics, and single-threaded tasks. It also draws less power (17 W versus 28 W), which is critical for thin-and-light laptops. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 220’s 5 wins include blowout margins in integer math and data compression, where it leads by up to 49.1% and 20.5%, respectively. For users prioritizing spreadsheet crunching, data compression, or multi-threaded integer workloads, the AMD chip is demonstrably better. For users focused on scientific computing, gaming physics, or single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel chip is the stronger pick. Given the near-identical average scores (22,289 vs. 21,981), the decision rests entirely on workload mix — the Intel chip offers a more balanced daily driver with lower power draw, while the AMD chip is a specialized integer powerhouse.