AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep in favor of the Intel Core 5 220H across all eleven shared benchmark tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not post a single win, with the Intel part leading by margins ranging from 37.3% to 77.6%. The narrowest gap appears in single-threaded workloads, where the Intel Core 5 220H scores 3405 against the AMD's 2136, a 37.3% advantage. This is still a substantial lead, but it is the most competitive area for the AMD part.

The widest gaps emerge in extended instruction workloads and floating-point math. In PassMark extended instructions, the Intel Core 5 220H scores 14642 versus 3274 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, a 77.6% deficit for the AMD chip. Floating-point math shows a similar story: Intel scores 51671, AMD scores 12707, a 75.4% gap. Prime number finding follows closely, with Intel at 82 and AMD at 21, a 74.4% difference. These results indicate that the Intel processor carries a dominant advantage in compute-heavy tasks that rely on instruction-level parallelism and math throughput.

Multithreaded performance also heavily favors Intel. The PassMark multithread score for the Intel Core 5 220H is 21884, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U manages 7071, a 67.7% difference. Physics simulation scores show Intel at 1478 versus AMD at 483, a 67.3% gap. Data compression and encryption follow the same pattern: Intel leads with 247921 versus 87380 in compression (64.8% gap) and 15216 versus 5580 in encryption (63.3% gap). Random string sorting shows Intel at 28438 against AMD's 10414, a 63.4% difference. Integer math completes the sweep with Intel at 73555 and AMD at 26321, a 64.2% gap.

The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. The Intel Core 5 220H averages 28574 across the database, placing it in the 80th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, sitting in the 69th percentile. That puts the Intel part roughly at double the average score of the AMD chip. The nearest rivals for the Intel processor include the AMD EPYC 7203P at 28583 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS at 28549 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Xeon E-2436 at 28530 (0.2% delta). The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 at 14336 (0.1% delta), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C at 14277 (0.3% delta), and the Intel Core 7 160UL at 14232 (0.6% delta). These surrounding data points confirm that the two processors occupy entirely different performance tiers, with no overlap in their nearest competitor sets.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 220H scores 3405 in PassMark single-thread, versus 2136 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. That is a 37.3% lead for Intel.

Q: How large is the multithread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H posts a PassMark multithread score of 21884, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 7071. The AMD part trails by 67.7%.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H boosts to 4.90 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core 5 220H uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H averages 28574, which is exactly double the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 14320 average. The Intel chip sits in the 80th percentile of all CPUs, the AMD chip in the 69th percentile.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 5 220H wins every single shared benchmark, often by wide margins. Its 12 cores and 16 threads give it a structural advantage in multithreaded workloads, and its 4.90 GHz boost clock supports stronger single-thread results. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, with 4 cores and 4 threads and a 3.70 GHz boost, cannot match the Intel part in any measured category.

The Intel Core 5 220H also carries a higher launch MSRP of $342, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. For anyone selecting a processor based strictly on benchmark performance, the Intel Core 5 220H is the stronger option in every recorded test. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U remains a functional mobile processor, but its performance class is closer to embedded and low-power parts like the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 or the Intel Core 7 160UL than to the Intel Core 5 220H's tier, which includes the AMD EPYC 7203P and the Intel Core i5-12600.

The percentile data reinforces this. The Intel part at the 80th percentile is a mainstream-to-high-performance mobile chip. The AMD part at the 69th percentile is a mid-range entry. There is no scenario in the recorded benchmarks where the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U closes the gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core 5 220H uses 12 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ as well: the AMD chip runs at 2.10 GHz, the Intel chip at 2.70 GHz. Boost clocks show an even larger gap, with Intel reaching 4.90 GHz versus AMD's 3.70 GHz.

Thermal design power also separates the two. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is rated at 15 W, the Intel Core 5 220H at 45 W. This means the Intel part draws three times the power budget, which aligns with its much higher performance output. The sockets differ completely: AMD uses Socket FP5, Intel uses BGA 1744.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 220H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but has no recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe support also differs: AMD uses Gen 3, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 8 lanes available on the CPU.

The integrated graphics are different. The AMD part features Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel part uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part has a part number of YM3501C4T4MFG, the Intel part SRQ6SQ5MM. Release dates differ as well: the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a recorded release date of 2026-05-31, the Intel Core 5 220H of 2024-12-17. Neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two chips is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, from the 3000 series. It uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. It uses a 10 nm process node from Intel, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 220H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part thus carries a much larger total cache footprint, especially at the L3 level, where it has 18 MB versus AMD's 4 MB.

The Intel Core 5 220H is a Raptor Lake Refresh part, meaning it builds on the hybrid architecture introduced with Alder Lake. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, by contrast, is a Zen+ design from the Picasso generation, an older architecture that predates Zen 2, Zen 3, and Zen 4. The 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries is also an older manufacturing technology compared to Intel's 10 nm node. These architectural differences help explain the performance gaps observed in the benchmark data.

The integrated graphics also reflect different design generations. AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Both are integrated solutions intended for mobile use, but they come from different architectural lineages.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 220H wins in every recorded benchmark category. There is no shared test where the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U comes out ahead. The closest contest is single-thread performance, where Intel leads by 37.3%, but even that is a decisive margin.

For workloads that stress multithreaded throughput, such as data compression, encryption, integer math, and physics simulation, the Intel part is the clear choice. Its 12 cores and 16 threads, combined with 18 MB of L3 cache, allow it to sustain significantly higher throughput. The PassMark multithread score of 21884 versus 7071 demonstrates this advantage in practical terms.

For single-thread-sensitive applications, the Intel Core 5 220H also wins, thanks to its 4.90 GHz boost clock. The 3405 single-thread score is well above the AMD part's 2136. Even in floating-point math and extended instruction workloads, where CPU architecture plays a major role, the Intel part dominates with margins above 75%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win any category in the head-to-head data. Its strengths, if any, would have to come from areas not covered by these benchmarks, such as power efficiency. At 15 W TDP versus 45 W, the AMD part draws far less power, which could make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life matters more than raw performance. However, the database does not record any power-efficiency benchmark, so this remains a qualitative observation.

In summary, the Intel Core 5 220H is the performance leader in every measured dimension. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U occupies a lower performance tier, closer to embedded processors and low-power mobile chips. For workloads defined by the recorded benchmarks, the Intel part is the only one that delivers competitive results.