AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 228V Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel Core Ultra 5 228V are separated by over six years of silicon evolution, yet their aggregate benchmark scores are nearly identical. The Ryzen 5 2600 posts an average benchmark score of 21,484, while the Core Ultra 5 228V scores 21,440, a delta of just 0.2% in favor of the AMD part. Both processors sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite fundamentally different designs, process nodes, and intended market segments. The head-to-head data reveals a split personality: Intel dominates in most compute-heavy workloads, while AMD retains narrow wins in specific data operations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V takes the majority of head-to-head matchups, winning 10 of 13 benchmarks. The most decisive Intel victory comes in PassMark's extended instructions test, where it scores 14,801 against AMD's 7,168, a 51.6% advantage. This indicates a substantial lead in SIMD and specialized instruction throughput, reflecting the newer architecture's wider execution resources.

Single-thread performance shows a similar chasm. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 267 versus AMD's 157.3, a 41.1% delta. The PassMark single-thread test reinforces this with Intel at 3,836 and AMD at 2,239, a 41.6% gap. These results align with the clock speed difference: Intel boosts to 4.50 GHz, while AMD peaks at 3.90 GHz. The Intel part also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1,502.5 versus 1,248, a 16.9% margin, despite having fewer threads (8 vs. 12).

Floating-point math heavily favors Intel, with a score of 53,310 versus 22,942, a 57% advantage. Physics simulations follow the same pattern: Intel scores 1,538 versus AMD's 673, a 56.2% lead. The prime number finding test shows the largest relative gap, with Intel at 168 versus AMD's 37, a 78% difference, suggesting far superior integer division and branch prediction efficiency.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 wins three benchmarks, all in PassMark's data-focused suite. Data compression goes to AMD at 187,062 versus 173,924, a 7.6% margin. Integer math also favors AMD at 44,518 versus 39,679, a 12.2% advantage. Random string sorting is nearly a tie, with AMD at 21,591 and Intel at 21,254, a 1.6% delta. The encryption test is close but goes to Intel: 13,032 versus 12,429, a 4.6% margin.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V is the clear choice for single-threaded responsiveness and general compute intensity. Its 41.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 41.6% lead in PassMark single-thread indicate that everyday applications, which often rely on single-core performance, will feel markedly snappier on the Intel part. The 57% advantage in floating-point math makes it suited for scientific computing, financial modeling, and any workload that leverages FPU throughput. The 56.2% physics win points to better performance in simulation and game physics calculations. The 78% margin in prime number finding suggests a substantial advantage in integer-heavy algorithmic workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 wins where data throughput and compression matter. Its 12.2% lead in integer math and 7.6% advantage in data compression indicate that archival tasks, file compression utilities, and database operations that manipulate large integer datasets will run faster on the AMD chip. The 1.6% margin in random string sorting is negligible but still a win, suggesting parity in text-processing tasks. The AMD part also has the advantage of 12 threads versus Intel's 8, which may help in highly parallel, memory-bound workloads despite the per-core performance deficit.

For multi-threaded performance, the picture is mixed. Intel wins PassMark multi-thread with 18,227 versus 13,160, a 27.8% margin, and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.9%. This indicates that Intel's more efficient cores can outperform AMD's higher thread count even in parallel workloads. However, the Ryzen 5 2600's data compression and integer math wins suggest that certain parallel workloads that are less dependent on floating-point or SIMD operations may still favor AMD.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) refinement, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V uses the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm process at TSMC, representing a dramatic shrink in process technology.

Core configuration differs fundamentally. The Ryzen 5 2600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, supporting simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading. Despite fewer threads, Intel wins multi-threaded benchmarks, indicating that its core efficiency and higher boost clock compensate for the lack of SMT.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. AMD allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3 cache. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on the Intel part likely contributes to its single-threaded and floating-point advantages, as more data can be held closer to the core.

Memory support and I/O also differ. AMD uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. Intel's memory support is listed as unknown and dependent on the motherboard, though it also uses dual-channel memory. PCIe connectivity shows a stark contrast: AMD provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while Intel offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. This suggests AMD is better suited for multi-GPU or high-throughput add-in card configurations, while Intel targets a more integrated mobile design.

The process node difference is stark: 12 nm versus 3 nm. This explains the TDP disparity, with AMD rated at 65 watts and Intel at 17 watts, though those figures are not directly compared in the benchmark data. Intel includes integrated graphics with Arc 130V, while AMD has no integrated graphics listed. The Ryzen 5 2600 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 5 228V is locked. Socket compatibility is entirely different: AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses BGA 2833, indicating the Intel part is soldered and not upgradeable.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has an average benchmark score of 21,484, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V's 21,440. Both processors share the same 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: How significant is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V leads by 41.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core (267 vs. 157.3) and by 41.6% in PassMark single-thread (3,836 vs. 2,239). This is a substantial difference that will affect most everyday applications.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 2600 wins three benchmarks: PassMark data compression (187,062 vs. 173,924, +7.6%), PassMark integer math (44,518 vs. 39,679, +12.2%), and PassMark random string sorting (21,591 vs. 21,254, +1.6%).

Q: Why does Intel win multi-threaded tests despite having fewer threads?

A: The Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads versus the Ryzen 5 2600's 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel wins PassMark multi-thread by 27.8% (18,227 vs. 13,160) and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.9% (1,502.5 vs. 1,248), indicating that its per-core efficiency and higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz overcome AMD's thread count advantage.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 168 versus AMD's 37, a 78% difference. This is followed by floating-point math at 57% (53,310 vs. 22,942) and physics at 56.2% (1,538 vs. 673).

Q: Which processor has more cache per core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has more L1 cache at 192 KB per core and more L2 cache at 2.5 MB per core, compared to AMD's 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. However, AMD has more shared L3 cache: 16 MB versus Intel's 8 MB.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel Core Ultra 5 228V |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Zen (Zen+) | Lunar Lake |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | Unknown (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Arc 130V |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2018-04-18 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $199 | Not specified |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | YD2600BBM6IAF | SRPMVSRPMU |