CPU Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 221TE are closely matched in overall average benchmark scores, with the AMD part scoring 17,891 against Intel’s 17,860, a negligible 0.2% gap. However, the data tells a story of divergent strengths: the Ryzen 5 3600XT dominates in almost every measured workload, winning 16 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 221TE claims a single victory in floating-point math. The verdict is straightforward: if the workload relies on integer math, encryption, compression, or multi-threaded rendering, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT is the clear choice based on benchmark results. The Intel part’s only advantage appears in a narrow niche, making it a less compelling pick for general-purpose desktop tasks, despite its lower TDP and integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT outperforms the Intel Core 5 221TE in 16 of the 17 shared tests. In multi-core rendering, the AMD part leads by roughly 39.5% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, with scores of 1,590 vs 1,139 (R15), 6,625 vs 4,748 (R20), and 15,776 vs 11,305 (R23). Single-core performance shows an even larger gap, with the Ryzen leading by 40% in Cinebench R15 (224 vs 160) and 39.5% in R23 (2,227 vs 1,596). For users running CPU-intensive productivity, content creation, or any workload that scales with threads, the AMD processor is the superior choice.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does offer a lower TDP of 45 watts compared to AMD’s 95 watts, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, which the Ryzen 5 3600XT lacks entirely. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the data shows the Intel part only wins in PassMark floating-point math (31,661 vs 30,149, a 4.8% edge). This single win does not compensate for losses like the 91.5% deficit in PassMark find prime numbers (113 vs 59) or the 63% gap in data encryption (14,608 vs 8,963). Therefore, the Ryzen 5 3600XT is recommended for any user prioritizing computational speed, while the Intel Core 5 221TE may only be relevant for those needing an integrated GPU or lower power draw.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing nodes. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT is built on a 7 nm process by TSMC, using the Zen 2 architecture with the codename Matisse 2. It packs 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process from Intel’s own foundry, with the Bartlett Lake codename and a much larger 215 mm² die size; the transistor count is not listed.

Core and cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part offers 10 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen 5 3600XT features 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE has larger per-core caches: 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but a smaller 24 MB of shared L3. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD’s higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache contribute to its benchmark dominance.

Memory and I/O capabilities also differ. The Ryzen 5 3600XT supports only DDR4 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and does not support ECC. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with a higher dual-channel bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s and ECC support. On the PCIe front, AMD uses Gen 4, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part also integrates UHD Graphics 730, whereas the AMD has no integrated graphics. The AMD’s multiplier is unlocked for overclocking; the Intel’s is not.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT scores 15,776, which is 39.5% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE’s 11,305.

Q: Is the Intel Core 5 221TE better at any single benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins in PassMark floating-point math, scoring 31,661 versus the AMD’s 30,149, a 4.8% advantage.

Q: Do the two CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT supports only DDR4, while the Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to the AMD’s 4.50 GHz.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical: the AMD scores 17,891 and the Intel scores 17,860, a difference of 0.2%.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT | Intel Core 5 221TE |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Not listed |

| Codename | Matisse 2 | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 2 (Matisse)) | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $249 | $232 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT scores 113 against the Intel’s 59, a 91.5% advantage. This test emphasizes integer and algorithmic throughput, where the AMD’s higher clocks and architecture clearly excel. Similarly, PassMark data encryption shows a 63% win for AMD (14,608 vs 8,963), and data compression yields a 47.2% lead (230,645 vs 156,682). These results indicate that the Ryzen 5 3600XT is far more efficient at handling data-intensive and cryptographic workloads.

In PassMark single-thread performance, the AMD part scores 2,752 versus Intel’s 1,734, a 58.7% lead. This is consistent with the Cinebench single-core results, where AMD leads by 40% in R15 (224 vs 160) and 39.5% in R23 (2,227 vs 1,596). The Intel Core 5 221TE’s higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz does not translate into a single-thread win, suggesting that the AMD’s architectural efficiency overcomes the clock disadvantage.

Multi-threaded workloads show a consistent pattern. PassMark multithread gives AMD 18,562 versus Intel’s 13,301, a 39.6% lead, matching the Cinebench multi-core deltas. In PassMark integer math, AMD wins 51,416 to 42,303, a 21.5% margin. The only Intel victory is PassMark floating-point math (31,661 vs 30,149), a narrow 4.8% win, which is unlikely to sway most users given the scale of AMD’s other victories. The AMD also leads in PassMark physics (1,210 vs 977, a 23.8% gap) and random string sorting (24,960 vs 16,929, a 47.4% gap). The data points to a decisive overall performance advantage for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, despite the Intel part having more cores and a higher boost clock.