AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and the Intel Core 3 201E is heavily lopsided, with the AMD part taking 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Ryzen 5 5500 dominates across nearly every category that stresses multi-threaded throughput, memory bandwidth, and instruction-level parallelism. Its six cores and twelve threads give it a structural advantage over the Intel Core 3 201E's four cores and eight threads, and the data reflects that in workloads like rendering, compression, encryption, and integer math.

The Intel Core 3 201E wins only four comparisons, but those wins are concentrated in areas that matter for specific use cases. The most significant is single-thread performance, where the Intel part scores 3482 in PassMark single-thread versus 3058 for the AMD chip, a 12.2% advantage. This is directly attributable to the Intel part's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.20 GHz on the AMD side. The Intel part also wins PassMark physics (1141 versus 896, a 21.5% margin) and PassMark find prime numbers (57 versus 56, a narrow 1.8% edge). These are workloads that respond to raw clock speed and per-core efficiency rather than core count.

For content creation and productivity, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is the clear choice. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 30.3% lead (16429 versus 12613), and the single-core variant also favors AMD at 2319 versus 1780, another 30.3% margin. The data compression test shows a 49.6% advantage (245533 versus 164160), and data encryption is even more pronounced at 66.3% (14851 versus 8931). Integer math, extended instructions, and random string sorting all show AMD leads between 39.2% and 56.2%. The only categories where Intel pulls ahead are the four listed above, which are either single-thread-bound or specialized.

The average benchmark scores place both parts in the same percentile bracket at 73, but the AMD part posts a higher aggregate average of 19593 versus 19056 for Intel. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12500, which scores 19668 on average, only 0.4% higher, and the Intel Core i7-10700F at 19499, which is 0.5% lower. The Intel Core 3 201E sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-12400F (19039, 0.1% delta). These proximity data points suggest both chips are competitive within their respective performance tiers, but the AMD part edges out the Intel part on overall throughput.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct buyer profiles. For anyone running multi-threaded workloads such as video rendering, batch photo processing, code compilation, or data analysis, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is the stronger pick. It holds a consistent 30% or greater advantage across all Cinebench iterations, and its compression and encryption results are dramatically higher. The 30.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is representative of the overall pattern: the AMD chip's six cores with twelve threads simply outwork the Intel part's four cores with eight threads in parallel tasks.

For users whose primary concern is snappy single-threaded response, the Intel Core 3 201E has the edge. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3482 beats the AMD part by 12.2%, and its boost clock of 4.80 GHz is the highest figure between the two. The physics test result, where Intel leads by 21.5%, suggests that some simulation or game-physics workloads may favor the Intel chip despite its lower core count. The find prime numbers result, though narrow, also favors Intel.

The Intel Core 3 201E also brings platform features that the AMD part lacks. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, has a higher memory bandwidth rating of 76.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, and supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has no integrated graphics, supports only DDR4, and does not support ECC. The Intel part also runs on a newer socket, Intel Socket 1700, versus AMD Socket AM4. The Intel chip's launch MSRP is $134, while the AMD chip's launch MSRP is $159. However, the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking, while the Intel part is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 14851 against 8931 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a 66.3% margin. This is the most decisive result in the entire comparison. PassMark extended instructions follows at 56.2% (17236 versus 11035), and data compression is close behind at 49.6% (245533 versus 164160). Integer math shows a 48.1% advantage (65001 versus 43894), and random string sorting comes in at 39.2% (24757 versus 17783).

The Cinebench suite is remarkably consistent. Every single iteration, from R15 to R23, shows the same 30.3% delta in favor of AMD, regardless of whether the test is single-core or multi-core. Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 16429 for AMD versus 12613 for Intel, while R23 single-core scores 2319 versus 1780. The R20 and R15 results follow the identical pattern. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural, driven by core count and architecture rather than workload-specific optimization.

PassMark floating point math is a closer contest, with AMD leading 36815 versus 33260, a 10.7% margin. PassMark multithread also shows the familiar 30.3% gap (19330 versus 14839). The Intel wins are smaller in magnitude but notable in direction. PassMark physics shows Intel ahead by 21.5% (1141 versus 896), which is the largest Intel win. PassMark single-thread shows Intel ahead by 12.2% (3482 versus 3058), and the find prime numbers test is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 1.8% (57 versus 56).

The aggregate picture is clear: AMD wins the throughput categories by large margins, while Intel wins the latency-sensitive and single-thread categories by smaller, though meaningful, margins. The AMD chip's 13 wins against Intel's 4 wins accurately reflects the balance of the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins all multi-threaded benchmarks by 30.3%, including Cinebench R23 multi-core (16429 versus 12613) and PassMark multithread (19330 versus 14839).

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 201E win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins four benchmarks: PassMark single-thread (3482 versus 3058), PassMark physics (1141 versus 896), PassMark find prime numbers (57 versus 56), and the duplicate PassMark single-thread result.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E leads PassMark single-thread by 12.2%, but the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 leads Cinebench R23 single-core by 30.3% (2319 versus 1780).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E supports 76.8 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 supports 51.2 GB/s. Intel also supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR4.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core 3 201E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 3 201E is locked.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is built on the Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 163 mm². The process node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 10 nm gives AMD a density and efficiency advantage, although Intel compensates with a higher boost clock.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's larger per-core L2 cache may contribute to its single-thread wins, while AMD's larger L3 and additional cores drive its multi-threaded leads.

Memory support is a key differentiator. AMD supports only DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, which the AMD part does not. PCIe support also differs: AMD uses PCIe Gen 3, while Intel uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the CPU.

The Intel Core 3 201E includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, making it a viable option for systems without a discrete GPU. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 requires a separate graphics card. The Intel part has a TDP of 60 watts, slightly lower than the AMD part's 65 watts. Both parts use different sockets: AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 3 201E. The Intel part was released on 2025-01-12, while the AMD part was released on 2022-04-03. The AMD part is unlocked for overclocking; the Intel part is not.