AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 5 211TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 5 211TE, which wins 9 of the 11 shared benchmark comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U claims only 2 wins, both in single-threaded workloads, but those victories are substantial. In the PassMark single-thread test, the AMD scores 2136 against the Intel's 1408, a 51.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across all recorded tests, indicating a clear per-core performance edge for the AMD part despite its older architecture.

On the multithreaded side, the Intel part dominates. The PassMark multithread score for the Intel is 11685 versus 7071 for the AMD, a 39.5% deficit for the AMD. The gap widens considerably in specific computational tasks. In floating-point math, Intel scores 26150 against AMD's 12707, a 51.4% difference. Integer math shows a smaller but still meaningful gap: 33991 for Intel versus 26321 for AMD, a 22.6% deficit. The extended instructions test reveals an even larger divergence, with Intel at 8615 and AMD at 3274, a 62% gap. Prime number finding, a test sensitive to both core count and memory bandwidth, shows Intel at 72 versus AMD at 21, a 70.8% difference, the largest proportional win for Intel in the entire set.

Data compression and encryption follow the same pattern. Intel leads compression 133434 to 87380, a 34.5% gap, and encryption 7231 to 5580, a 22.8% gap. Random string sorting, another memory-heavy task, goes to Intel 14838 versus 10414, a 29.8% difference. The physics test, which often reflects heavy multi-core scaling, shows Intel at 1278 against AMD's 483, a 62.2% deficit for the AMD.

What is striking is the asymmetry. The AMD wins only the single-thread test, while the Intel wins every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented test, often by margins exceeding 30%. The data suggests that the Intel's core and thread count advantage (10 cores, 16 threads versus 4 cores, 4 threads) is the primary driver, but the AMD's single-core speed is not trivial. The 51.7% single-thread win implies that for lightly threaded applications, the AMD part is the faster choice, even though it loses badly when all cores are engaged.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to two distinct profiles. The Intel Core 5 211TE is the stronger processor for workloads that use multiple cores or threads. Its multithread score of 11685 is 65% higher than the AMD's 7071. The Intel also holds a 69th percentile ranking among all CPUs, matching the AMD's 69th percentile, but its average benchmark score of 15370 is higher than the AMD's 14320. The Intel's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 7543 (average score 15477, delta -0.7%) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U (average score 15682, delta -2%), placing it in the upper mid-range of recorded processors.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, with an average score of 14320, sits close to the Intel Core 7 160UL (14232, delta 0.6%) and the Intel Core i5-10400F (14185, delta 1%). Its single-thread score of 2136 is not just ahead of the Intel 211TE; it is a strong figure in absolute terms, suggesting that for single-threaded tasks, the AMD is not merely competitive but outright superior. The data does not support a unified "better" processor. It supports a split decision based on workload type. The Intel wins the majority of tests, but the AMD wins the tests that matter for many everyday applications.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 211TE wins in all scenarios that involve parallel processing or sustained throughput. The 39.5% multithread lead, the 51.4% floating-point lead, and the 62% extended instructions lead all point to a processor designed for heavy compute loads. The 10-core, 16-thread configuration, combined with a 20 MB shared L3 cache and 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, gives it a structural advantage in rendering, video encoding, scientific simulation, and database workloads. The physics test, where Intel leads by 62.2%, reinforces this: physics calculations often scale well with core count and memory bandwidth.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins in single-threaded scenarios. The 51.7% single-thread lead over the Intel is the single largest margin in the head-to-head set. This matters for applications that rely on one or two cores: legacy software, certain spreadsheet operations, web browsing with a single active tab, or older games that do not use multiple threads. The AMD's 4 MB L3 cache and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth are more modest, but the per-core efficiency of the Zen+ architecture, even at a 12 nm process node, delivers a faster response in these narrow tasks. The AMD also wins in power-sensitive contexts, given its 15 W TDP versus the Intel's 45 W TDP, though the data does not include power measurements, only the TDP specifications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Intel Core 5 211TE scores 1408. The AMD leads by 51.7%.

Q: Which processor wins in multithreaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE scores 11685 in the PassMark multithread test, compared to the AMD's 7071, a 39.5% advantage for the Intel.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has an average benchmark score of 15370, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average score of 14320.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, part of the 3000 series, built on a 12 nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. Its generation is listed as "Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso))", indicating a refined version of the Zen+ architecture. The cache layout is per-core: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a shared 4 MB L3. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8, and the socket is AMD Socket FP5, a mobile platform.

The Intel Core 5 211TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process node at Intel. The die size is 215 mm², but the transistor count is not recorded in the database. The cache structure differs substantially: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, and the part is classified as a desktop processor. The Intel supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes, while the AMD supports PCIe Gen 3. The Intel also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the AMD supports only DDR4.

The architectural differences are not just about core counts. The Intel's larger L3 cache (20 MB versus 4 MB) and higher memory bandwidth (76.8 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s) align with its multithread benchmark wins. The AMD's smaller cache and bandwidth, combined with its higher single-thread score, suggest a design focused on per-core latency rather than aggregate throughput. The process node difference (12 nm versus 10 nm) may explain part of the efficiency gap, but the TDP difference (15 W versus 45 W) indicates a different power envelope entirely.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based on the recorded data.

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores; Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 4 threads; Intel has 16 threads.
• Base clock: AMD runs at 2.10 GHz; Intel runs at 1.70 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD boosts to 3.70 GHz; Intel boosts to 4.80 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is rated at 15 W; Intel is rated at 45 W.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FP5; Intel uses Intel Socket 1700.
• Process node: AMD is on 12 nm; Intel is on 10 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries; Intel uses Intel.
• Transistor count: AMD has 4,940 million; Intel has no recorded figure.
• Die size: AMD is 210 mm²; Intel is 215 mm².
• L1 cache: AMD has 96 KB per core; Intel has 80 KB per core.
• L2 cache: AMD has 512 KB per core; Intel has 1.25 MB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD has 4 MB shared; Intel has 20 MB shared.
• Memory support: AMD supports DDR4 only; Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD is 38.4 GB/s; Intel is 76.8 GB/s.
• ECC memory: AMD does not support ECC; Intel supports ECC.
• PCIe version: AMD is Gen 3; Intel is Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8; Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.
• Market segment: AMD is mobile; Intel is desktop.
• Release date: AMD released on 2026-05-31; Intel released on 2025-01-12.
• Part number: AMD is YM3501C4T4MFG; Intel is SRQDL.
• Launch MSRP: AMD has none recorded; Intel has a launch MSRP of $221.