AMD Ryzen 5 4600G vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear overall advantage for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G, which wins 14 of the 17 shared tests. The Intel Core 5 221TE takes only 3 wins, but those wins are substantial in their specific workloads. Looking at the Cinebench suite, the AMD part leads every single test by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD scores 13,593 against Intel's 11,305, a 16.8% gap. The same 16.8% delta appears in R20 multicore (5,709 vs 4,748) and R15 multicore (1,370 vs 1,139). Single-core results follow the same pattern: R23 single-core shows 1,919 for AMD versus 1,596 for Intel, again a 16.8% difference. The R20 and R15 single-core tests also show exactly 16.8% and 17.1% deltas respectively, all favoring the Ryzen.

The Passmark suite reveals a more nuanced picture. AMD dominates the data-centric workloads. Data compression scores 231,426 for AMD versus 156,682 for Intel, a 32.3% advantage. Data encryption shows a 34% gap (13,572 vs 8,963). Extended instructions favor AMD by 36.8% (15,280 vs 9,655). Random string sorting goes to AMD by 30.2% (24,246 vs 16,929). Integer math shows a 16.6% AMD lead (50,723 vs 42,303). The multithread test shows a 16.8% gap (15,992 vs 13,301), and single-thread performance shows a 34.6% AMD advantage (2,653 vs 1,734).

Intel's wins are concentrated in three specific tests. The largest is find prime numbers, where Intel scores 59 against AMD's 32, an 84.4% advantage. Physics also goes to Intel at 977 versus 676, a 44.5% lead. Floating point math is closer: Intel scores 31,661 versus AMD's 29,947, a 5.7% margin. These three tests suggest Intel's architecture has specific strengths in prime-number calculation and physics simulation, but those strengths do not translate into broader performance leadership.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G wins in the vast majority of productivity and general-purpose workloads. Its Cinebench sweep across all six tests, both single-core and multicore, indicates strong rendering performance for content creation tasks. The Passmark data compression, encryption, and extended instructions wins point to advantages in file archiving, security-related workloads, and multimedia processing. The integer math and random string sorting results suggest strong database and text-processing capabilities. For users running standard office applications, web workloads, or light rendering, the AMD part consistently outperforms Intel across the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in three specialized areas. The 84.4% advantage in find prime numbers is remarkable and suggests a significant edge in cryptographic key generation or mathematical computation involving prime numbers. The 44.5% physics win indicates better performance in physics simulation workloads, which could matter for certain scientific computing tasks or game physics. The floating point math win, while modest at 5.7%, still shows Intel ahead in raw floating-point throughput. These wins are narrow in scope but substantial in magnitude where they apply.

The overall average benchmark score in the database places these two processors at nearly the same level. Intel has an average score of 17,860, while AMD sits at 17,507, a difference of roughly 2%. Both processors occupy the 71st percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for Intel include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891 (0.2% higher) and the Intel Core 7 350 at 17,779 (0.5% lower). For AMD, the nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE at 17,482 (0.1% lower) and the Intel Core 7 150U at 17,395 (0.6% lower). These proximity figures show that both CPUs sit in a dense performance cluster where small differences separate many models.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G as the stronger overall performer for general-purpose use. Its 14 wins out of 17 head-to-head tests, combined with consistent double-digit advantages in rendering, compression, encryption, and single-thread performance, make it the default choice for most workloads. The Cinebench results alone justify this conclusion: AMD leads by roughly 17% across every rendering metric, whether single-core or multicore. For users running office productivity, web browsing, light content creation, or any mixed workload, the benchmark data favors AMD.

The Intel Core 5 221TE is the pick when specific workloads align with its strengths. The 84.4% lead in prime number finding is the largest margin recorded in any test between these two parts. Anyone whose work involves heavy prime-number computation, such as certain encryption algorithms or mathematical research, should favor Intel. The 44.5% physics advantage also makes Intel the data-backed choice for physics simulation workloads. The floating point math edge, while smaller at 5.7%, still favors Intel for floating-point-heavy tasks.

The database also shows both CPUs are active production parts, meaning neither is discontinued. AMD launched in July 2020, while Intel launched in January 2025. AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, AMD wins most tests, which indicates that its higher clock speeds, base clock of 3.70 GHz against Intel's 1.80 GHz, and Zen 2 architecture deliver better per-core and per-thread efficiency. Intel's boost clock of 5.00 GHz is higher than AMD's 4.20 GHz, but the recorded single-thread scores favor AMD by 34.6%, showing that peak clock alone does not determine performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17,860, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has 17,507, so Intel is ahead by roughly 2% in the overall average.

Q: How much faster is AMD in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G scores 13,593 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 11,305, giving AMD a 16.8% advantage.

Q: What is Intel's largest winning margin?

A: Intel's largest win is in Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 59 against AMD's 32, an 84.4% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G does not.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are the integrated graphics on each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G includes Radeon Vega 7.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. Intel's Core 5 221TE is built on the Bartlett Lake codename, using a 10 nm process node manufactured at Intel's own foundry. AMD's Ryzen 5 4600G uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The process node difference is notable: TSMC's 7 nm process is denser than Intel's 10 nm node, which helps explain how AMD fits its design into a 156 mm² die size despite integrating 9,800 million transistors. Intel's die is larger at 215 mm², though the transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache structures differ substantially. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 difference is stark: Intel has three times the shared L3 capacity of AMD. Despite this, AMD wins most cache-sensitive workloads in the data, suggesting its memory subsystem or core efficiency compensates for the smaller L3.

Memory support also diverges. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while AMD supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but Intel's memory bandwidth is listed at 76.8 GB/s, while AMD's is 51.2 GB/s. PCIe capabilities differ as well: Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers Gen 3 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The newer PCIe standard on Intel provides higher bandwidth for compatible devices, though the benchmark data does not isolate PCIe performance.

Specification Differences

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 221TE is $232, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has a launch MSRP of $154. The base clock differs significantly: Intel runs at 1.80 GHz, while AMD runs at 3.70 GHz. Boost clocks show Intel at 5.00 GHz, AMD at 4.20 GHz. Thermal design power differs, with Intel rated at 45 W and AMD at 65 W.

The core and thread counts differ as noted: 10 cores and 16 threads for Intel, 6 cores and 12 threads for AMD. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not. Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1700, AMD uses Socket AM4. The AMD processor is part of the 4000 series and uses the Zen 2 architecture, while Intel's generation is listed as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake). The AMD part has its transistor count recorded at 9,800 million, while Intel's is not recorded. Die sizes are 215 mm² for Intel and 156 mm² for AMD. The AMD part number is 100-000000147, and the Intel part number is SRVQS. Intel supports ECC memory, AMD does not. The memory bandwidth figures of 76.8 GB/s for Intel and 51.2 GB/s for AMD also differ, as do the PCIe generations (Gen 5 for Intel, Gen 3 for AMD).