AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows an unusually one-sided comparison between the AMD Ryzen 5 220 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel part records the higher score. The AMD processor does not win a single benchmark in the database. The scale of the Intel advantage varies by workload, but the pattern is consistent: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus delivers substantially higher performance in every measured category.

The largest gap appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Intel chip scores 486, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 65. That is a 86.6% difference in favor of the Intel processor. This test is highly sensitive to integer throughput and loop execution, and the data indicates a massive gap in that specific workload. Similarly, the floating point math test shows the Intel part at 162,692 against the AMD chip's 35,500, a 78.2% delta. The physics test follows with the Intel part scoring 3,494 versus 983, a 71.9% difference.

The Cinebench results show a nuanced picture. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30,867, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 15,502. The 49.8% delta here is smaller than in the PassMark tests, but still a commanding lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel part scores 18,442 versus 6,510, a 64.7% gap. The R15 multi-core test shows 4,640 against 1,562, a 66.3% difference. These multi-core results confirm that the Intel processor maintains a strong edge as the workload scales.

Single-core performance tells a different story in magnitude. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the Intel part at 2,261 and the AMD part at 2,188. That is only a 3.2% difference, the narrowest margin in the entire dataset. The single-core advantage in Cinebench R20 is larger: 2,603 versus 918, a 64.7% delta. The R15 single-core test shows 328 against 220, a 32.9% gap. The PassMark single-thread test records 4,757 for the Intel chip and 3,646 for the AMD chip, a 23.4% difference. The data indicates that the Intel part leads in all single-threaded tests, but the margin varies widely depending on the benchmark version and workload.

Memory and encryption workloads show the Intel processor's strength. The PassMark data encryption test records 42,144 for the Intel part versus 12,493 for the AMD part, a 70.4% delta. Data compression shows 568,721 against 212,739, a 62.6% difference. Extended instructions score 44,565 versus 15,512, a 65.2% gap. Integer math shows 125,091 against 57,987, a 53.6% delta. Random string sorting records 69,090 versus 25,433, a 63.2% difference. The multi-thread PassMark score is 51,596 for the Intel chip and 18,582 for the AMD chip, a 64% delta.

The average benchmark score in the database reflects this overall pattern. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average score of 66,855, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 has an average score of 22,289. The Intel part sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD part sits in the 75th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66,925 (0.1% higher), the Intel Xeon 6515P at 67,006 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 67,469 (0.9% higher). The closest competitor below it is the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 66,159, which is 1.1% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 sits close to the Intel Core i7-10700K, which scores 22,230, a 0.3% difference in favor of the AMD part. The Intel Core i5-13500H is 0.8% higher at 22,468, and the Intel Core i7-1270P is 0.9% higher at 22,502. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X trails by 1.4% at 21,992.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and target different market segments. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is a mobile processor built for low-power systems. It uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop processor using the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The process node difference is small, but it contributes to the power and performance characteristics of each chip.

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Intel part does not use simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count equals its core count. The AMD part uses SMT, giving each core two threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the AMD chip matches the Intel chip's thread count only at 12 versus 18, giving the Intel part a 50% advantage in thread count.

Clock speeds also favor the Intel processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel part's boost clock is 0.40 GHz higher, and its base clock is 1.00 GHz higher. The power envelope is dramatically different. The AMD part has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel part has a TDP of 125 watts. The Intel processor consumes more power by design, which allows it to sustain higher clocks and feed its larger core count.

Cache hierarchies reflect the different core counts. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has larger per-core caches and nearly double the L3 capacity. Transistor counts differ as well: the AMD chip has 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Intel chip has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Intel die is larger but packs fewer transistors, reflecting the different process and design choices.

Memory support is similar in type but different in bandwidth. Both processors support DDR5 memory and use a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, which is 28.6% higher. ECC memory support differs: the AMD part does not support ECC, while the Intel part does. PCIe capabilities also differ. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part offers a newer PCIe generation and more lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses the Radeon 740M. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip, so the comparison is limited to the CPU workloads recorded. The sockets differ as expected given the market segments. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP8, a mobile socket. The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket. The AMD processor is not multiplier unlocked, while the Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part is listed with a launch MSRP of $199.

Release dates differ by over a year. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 was released on 2025-01-05. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus was released on 2026-03-10. Both processors are listed as active production parts. The AMD part number is 100-000001611, and the Intel part number is SA4UZ.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins every benchmark in the database, and the margins are large in most tests. The average benchmark score for the Intel part is 66,855, which is roughly three times the AMD part's average of 22,289. The percentile ranking reflects this: the Intel chip sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip sits at the 75th percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is a mobile processor with a 28 watt TDP. Its performance profile places it near desktop processors from earlier generations. The nearest rival to the AMD chip is the Intel Core i7-10700K, which scores 22,230, a 0.3% difference in favor of the AMD part. The Intel Core i5-13500H is 0.8% higher, and the Intel Core i7-1270P is 0.9% higher. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is 1.4% lower. This placement suggests the AMD chip competes with mid-range processors from several generations ago, not with the current desktop flagship tier.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, by contrast, sits near the top of the database. Its nearest rivals are server and high-end mobile parts. The AMD EPYC 4465P is 0.1% higher, the Intel Xeon 6515P is 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is 0.9% higher. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, a closely related variant, is 1.1% lower. This places the Intel part in a performance class far above the AMD chip.

The power consumption difference is a critical factor for any system design decision. The AMD part draws a TDP of 28 watts, which suits compact, battery-powered, or thermally constrained systems. The Intel part draws a TDP of 125 watts, which requires robust cooling and a power supply designed for desktop components. The performance advantage of the Intel chip comes with a corresponding power cost, and the database does not include efficiency metrics to weigh the tradeoff.

The socket and market segment differences mean these two processors are not direct alternatives in most builds. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses AMD Socket FP8 and targets mobile systems. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets desktop systems. A buyer choosing between them would be deciding between a mobile platform and a desktop platform, not just between two CPUs. The Intel part offers an unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking, while the AMD part does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has an average benchmark score of 22,289. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66,855.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 220 support ECC memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 220 does not support ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a TDP of 125 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 17 recorded benchmarks in the database. The largest margins are in the find prime numbers test, where the Intel part leads by 86.6%, and the floating point math test, where it leads by 78.2%. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel part leads by only 3.2%. The Intel part also leads by 70.4% in data encryption, 71.9% in physics, and 64.7% in both Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its closest result relative to the Intel part is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it trails by 3.2%. The data suggests the AMD chip's single-core performance is competitive with the Intel part in that specific test, but the gap widens in every other workload. The AMD chip's TDP of 28 watts is its defining advantage, but the database does not include efficiency benchmarks to quantify the performance per watt.

For workload-specific use, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering, encryption, compression, and floating-point math. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30,867 against 15,502 indicates the Intel part is nearly twice as fast in that rendering workload. The PassMark multi-thread score of 51,596 against 18,582 reinforces the multi-thread advantage. The Intel part's 18 cores and 30 MB of L3 cache support these results.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is positioned for low-power mobile systems. Its 28 watt TDP and 4 nm process node make it suitable for notebooks and compact devices. The Radeon 740M integrated graphics and DDR5 memory support give it a complete feature set for a mobile platform. The data does not include battery life or thermal measurements, so those factors cannot be assessed from the database alone.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus occupies the desktop performance segment. Its 125 watt TDP, 18 cores, 30 MB of L3 cache, and 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth make it a high-throughput part. The PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes provides modern connectivity. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, and the launch MSRP of $199 positions it within its desktop lineup.

For a buyer choosing based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the faster processor in every measured category. For a buyer prioritizing low power consumption and mobile form factors, the AMD Ryzen 5 220 is the only one of the two that fits that use case. The socket and TDP differences prevent a direct swap between the two platforms.