AMD Ryzen 5 5500U vs Intel Core 5 211TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a stark split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins the majority of head-to-head tests, taking 10 out of 15, but the Intel Core 5 211TE secures the most decisive victories in the workloads that matter most for sustained performance. The overall win count favors AMD, yet the magnitude of Intel’s wins in multi-core rendering and physics simulation tells a more nuanced story.

The largest single margin in the entire comparison belongs to Intel in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test. The Core 5 211TE scores 72 against the Ryzen 5 5500U’s 26, a 176.9% advantage. This is a mathematical workload that relies heavily on raw integer throughput and cache efficiency, and the Intel part dominates with more than two and a half times the score. Similarly, in passmark_physics, Intel leads by 139.8%, scoring 1278 to AMD’s 533. Physics simulations are typically latency-sensitive and benefit from higher clock speeds and larger caches, both of which favor the Intel design.

The Cinebench results are equally lopsided in Intel’s favor, but with a twist. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 5 211TE scores 12201 against 7186 for the Ryzen 5 5500U, a 69.8% lead. The single-core R23 test shows Intel ahead by 46.9%, with 1722 versus 1172. However, in the older Cinebench R15 tests, the tables turn. The Ryzen 5 5500U wins R15 multi-core by a narrow 1.4% margin, 1247 to 1229, and R15 single-core by 2.3%, 177 to 173. This discrepancy between R15 and R23 results suggests that the Intel processor scales much better with the newer, more demanding rendering workload, while the AMD part holds its own in legacy benchmarks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U’s wins are concentrated in PassMark’s everyday and cryptographic workloads. It leads in data compression by 23.6%, scoring 174584 to 133434, and in data encryption by 30.5%, 10405 to 7231. Integer math shows a 24.9% AMD advantage, 45258 to 33991, and random string sorting goes to AMD by 22%, 19035 to 14838. The extended instructions test also favors AMD, with a 20.5% lead, 10838 to 8615. These are the kinds of tasks that benefit from the Zen 2 architecture’s strong memory subsystem and efficient instruction handling.

The single-threaded PassMark results are the most surprising. The Ryzen 5 5500U scores 2419 in passmark_single_thread against Intel’s 1408, a 41.8% advantage. This is a massive gap for a single-thread test, especially given that Intel’s boost clock is higher at 4.80 GHz versus AMD’s 4.00 GHz. The data suggests that the AMD core is substantially more efficient at executing single-threaded PassMark workloads, likely due to architectural differences in instruction decoding and execution width. The floating-point math test is essentially a tie, with Intel edging out AMD by 0.5%, 26150 to 26029.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 5 211TE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U uses TSMC’s 7 nm node. The Intel chip is codenamed Bartlett Lake and belongs to the Core 5 generation, while AMD’s part is codenamed Lucienne, based on the Zen 2 architecture from the 5000 series.

Core counts differ substantially. The Intel processor has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite the lower core count, the AMD part wins many benchmarks, which points to higher per-core performance in specific workloads. The base clocks are 1.70 GHz for Intel and 2.10 GHz for AMD, but the boost clocks reverse the order: Intel reaches 4.80 GHz, while AMD tops out at 4.00 GHz.

Cache layouts are distinctly different. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has more than double the L3 cache, which likely explains its dominance in physics and prime number tests that benefit from large working sets. AMD’s smaller cache is offset by its 7 nm process efficiency and lower power envelope.

Power consumption is a major differentiator. The Intel part has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD part is rated at 15 watts. This threefold difference in thermal design power explains why the AMD processor is classified as a mobile part, while Intel is a desktop processor. The memory support also differs: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD is limited to DDR4. Memory bandwidth reflects this, with Intel at 76.8 GB/s and AMD at 51.2 GB/s. Intel also supports ECC memory, which AMD does not, and Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while AMD provides PCIe Gen 3 with 12 lanes.

The integrated graphics are another point of divergence. Intel uses UHD Graphics 730, while AMD features Radeon Graphics with 448 SPs. The transistor counts are not directly comparable because Intel’s figure is not listed in the data, but AMD’s die is 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors, while Intel’s die is 215 mm². The Intel chip has a larger physical footprint but uses an older process node.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to 4.00 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U. Despite this, the AMD part wins the single-threaded PassMark test by 41.8%, scoring 2419 to 1408.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core 5 211TE leads by 69.8%, scoring 12201 to 7186. However, in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins by a narrow 1.4%, 1247 to 1229.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Intel’s L3 cache is 12 MB larger.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is rated at 15 watts. This makes the AMD part more suitable for mobile and low-power applications.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has an average benchmark score of 15370, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U scores 14589. Both processors sit at the 69th percentile among all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but context-dependent conclusion. If the workload involves modern multi-core rendering, physics simulation, or prime number computation, the Intel Core 5 211TE is the stronger choice. Its 69.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 139.8% lead in PassMark physics are decisive margins that no other benchmark in the comparison can offset for those specific tasks.

If the workload is more typical of everyday computing, file compression, encryption, or single-threaded applications, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins. It leads in 10 of the 15 head-to-head tests, including a 41.8% advantage in single-threaded PassMark performance. The AMD part also delivers these results at a third of the TDP, making it more efficient for mobile and compact systems.

The Intel part’s overall average benchmark score is higher at 15370 versus 14589, but the AMD processor is more consistent across a wider range of tasks. The Intel chip’s wins are concentrated in a few heavy workloads, while the AMD chip wins across many lighter ones. The choice depends entirely on the primary use case: sustained multi-threaded rendering favors Intel, while diverse everyday workloads favor AMD.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 211TE | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |

|----------------|-------------------|-------------------|

| Cores | 10 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1.70 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Lucienne |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 12 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Radeon Graphics 448SP |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 156 mm² |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 211TE wins in workloads that demand raw compute throughput and large cache capacity. The 176.9% lead in prime number finding and the 139.8% lead in physics simulation are the standout results. Cinebench R23 multi-core, with a 69.8% margin, indicates that modern rendering engines scale exceptionally well with the Intel part’s 10 cores and 16 threads. The 46.9% single-core R23 lead further confirms that Intel’s architecture is well-suited for contemporary rendering workloads. The floating-point math test is essentially a tie, with Intel ahead by just 0.5%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins in data-centric and cryptographic tasks. The 30.5% lead in encryption and 23.6% lead in compression suggest that the Zen 2 architecture handles data manipulation more efficiently. The 24.9% lead in integer math and 22% lead in random string sorting reinforce this pattern. The extended instructions test, with a 20.5% AMD advantage, points to better SIMD and specialized instruction handling. The 41.8% single-threaded PassMark lead is the most significant everyday performance indicator, as many applications still rely on single-threaded performance. The multithreaded PassMark test also favors AMD by 8.9%, indicating that even in parallel workloads, the AMD part’s efficiency per core can overcome its lower core count.

For a desktop workstation focused on rendering, physics simulation, or mathematical computation, the Intel Core 5 211TE is the clear choice. For a mobile system handling general productivity, file operations, or encryption tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U provides superior performance at a fraction of the power draw. The AMD part’s lower TDP also makes it suitable for fanless or low-noise designs, while the Intel part requires more substantial cooling. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific recommendation.