AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. The R15 single-core score is 225 versus 160, R20 single-core is 939 versus 670, and R23 single-core is 2237 versus 1596. Each of these is a delta of about 40% in favor of AMD.

Q: What does the PassMark single-thread score tell us about the IPC and clock speed advantage?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT scores 3066 in PassMark single-thread, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1734. This 76.8% delta is the largest single-thread gap in the recorded data, indicating a substantial per-core performance advantage for the AMD part.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 221TE wins two of the seventeen head-to-head tests. It scores 59 in PassMark find prime numbers versus 54 for AMD (an 8.5% win), and it scores 977 in PassMark physics versus 840 for AMD (a 14% win).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT has an average benchmark score of 26748, while the Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860. AMD sits at the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 71st percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, compared to 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values for these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT has a launch MSRP of $125, and the Intel Core 5 221TE has a launch MSRP of $232.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT uses the Zen 3 architecture on TSMC's 7 nm process node, with a codename of Cezanne. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The chip packs 10,700 million transistors on a die size of 180 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. The CPU is built for the AMD Socket AM4 and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. It also features Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics and a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process node. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The die size is 215 mm², and the cache design uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It includes UHD Graphics 730 and a PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes from the CPU. ECC memory is supported on the Intel side, which is not available on the AMD part.

The process node difference is notable: AMD uses 7 nm while Intel uses 10 nm, which likely contributes to the AMD part's higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 1.80 GHz). However, the Intel chip has a much higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz), suggesting a wider operating range and possibly different power scaling behavior. The Intel part also has a lower TDP of 45 watts compared to 65 watts for AMD, despite having more cores and a higher boost clock.

The cache configurations differ significantly. Intel provides more L1 per core (80 KB versus 64 KB) and much more L2 per core (1.25 MB versus 512 KB), plus a larger shared L3 pool (24 MB versus 16 MB). This larger cache hierarchy on the Intel side does not translate into benchmark wins, as the AMD part dominates in most tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 5 221TE taking only 2. The Cinebench suite shows a remarkably consistent pattern. In R15 multicore, AMD scores 1597 versus 1139, a 40.2% advantage. R15 single-core shows 225 versus 160, a 40.6% edge. R20 multicore delivers 6656 versus 4748 (40.2%), and R20 single-core gives 939 versus 670 (40.1%). R23 multicore shows 15848 versus 11305 (40.2%), and R23 single-core gives 2237 versus 1596 (40.2%). The consistency across these six tests suggests a structural per-core advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark suite reveals where the AMD part stretches its lead even further. Data compression shows 243904 versus 156682, a 55.7% delta. Data encryption gives 14754 versus 8963, a 64.6% delta. Extended instructions score 17027 versus 9655, a 76.4% delta. Integer math delivers 64218 versus 42303, a 51.8% delta. Multithread shows 19000 versus 13301, a 42.8% delta. Random string sorting gives 24583 versus 16929, a 45.2% delta. Floating point math shows a smaller but still decisive 15.9% advantage, 36694 versus 31661.

PassMark single-thread is the largest delta in the entire dataset at 76.8%, with AMD scoring 3066 versus 1734. This enormous gap in single-thread performance explains why the AMD part dominates despite having fewer cores. The two Intel wins are narrow in one case and moderate in the other. PassMark find prime numbers shows 59 versus 54, an 8.5% win for Intel. PassMark physics shows 977 versus 840, a 14% win for Intel.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. AMD averages 26748 across all tests, while Intel averages 17860. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9554 (26743, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-12700H (26717, 0.1% delta), placing it in a much higher performance tier. The Intel Core 5 221TE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, -0.2% delta) and the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, -0.2% delta), showing it clusters around a lower performance band.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT for nearly every workload category. With 15 wins out of 17 tests, the AMD part delivers superior multi-core performance, single-core performance, and most specialized workloads. The Cinebench results are uniform at roughly 40% advantages, while PassMark tests show advantages ranging from 15.9% to 76.8%. The AMD part also ranks at the 79th percentile of all CPUs, compared to 71st for Intel.

The Intel Core 5 221TE has a clear use case in physics-related workloads, where it wins by 14%, and prime number calculations, where it wins by 8.5%. Its higher core count (10 versus 6) and larger cache (24 MB L3 versus 16 MB) do not translate into general performance wins, but they may serve specific compute patterns that the PassMark physics test captures.

For users relying on Cinebench scores, the choice is unambiguous: AMD leads by 40.2% in R23 multicore and 40.2% in R23 single-core. For users running PassMark integer math or data compression, AMD leads by 51.8% and 55.7% respectively. The Intel part's lower TDP (45 watts versus 65 watts) and support for DDR5 and ECC memory may appeal to specific system builders, but the recorded performance data does not indicate a competitive advantage outside the two narrow wins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD and 1.80 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.40 GHz for AMD and 5.00 GHz for Intel. TDP is 65 watts for AMD and 45 watts for Intel.

Socket types differ: AMD uses Socket AM4, Intel uses Socket 1700. The process nodes are 7 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 10 nm (Intel) for Intel. Die sizes are 180 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel. Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 10,700 million, with no figure for Intel.

Cache configurations differ substantially. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for AMD and 80 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for AMD and 1.25 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 16 MB for AMD and 24 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support differs: AMD supports only DDR4, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for AMD and 76.8 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is not supported on AMD but is supported on Intel. PCIe generation differs: Gen 3 for AMD, Gen 5 for Intel, both with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon Vega 7, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD but locked on Intel. Release dates differ by about one year, with AMD launching in January 2024 and Intel in January 2025. Launch MSRP is $125 for AMD and $232 for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT wins in every Cinebench test, all three versions, both single-core and multi-core, with consistent 40% deltas. It also wins PassMark data compression (55.7%), data encryption (64.6%), extended instructions (76.4%), floating point math (15.9%), integer math (51.8%), multithread (42.8%), random string sorting (45.2%), and single-thread (76.8%). These wins cover general productivity, scientific computing, encryption, and integer-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins PassMark find prime numbers (8.5% delta) and PassMark physics (14% delta). The prime number test may favor its higher core count and larger L3 cache, while the physics test likely benefits from its high boost clock (5.00 GHz) in a workload that may be more latency-sensitive than throughput-bound.

The data shows a clear split: AMD dominates all mainstream workloads in the database, while Intel holds narrow leads in two specialized tests. The Intel part's advantage in memory bandwidth (76.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s) and PCIe Gen 5 support does not appear in the benchmark results, suggesting these features matter more for system expansion than for raw CPU compute performance. The AMD part's 79th percentile ranking versus Intel's 71st percentile confirms that the Ryzen 5 5500GT sits in a higher overall performance class, despite having fewer cores and less cache.