AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Intel Core i3-1220P Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Core i3-1220P are close competitors in the aggregate, with average benchmark scores of 21088 and 21066 respectively, a difference of only 0.1%. Both sit at the 74th percentile of all CPUs. However, this near-identical overall performance masks starkly different workload profiles. The data shows the 5600G dominates in multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks, while the i3-1220P wins decisively in single-core performance and one specific rendering test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel i3-1220P scores 13314 against the AMD's 10551, a 20.8% advantage. The single-core result is even more lopsided: Intel leads 1879 to 1409, a 25% gap. Yet in the older Cinebench R15 tests, the tables turn completely. The 5600G wins multicore with 1724 versus 1341 (28.6% ahead) and single-core with 228 versus 189 (20.6% ahead). This reversal suggests the two chips have fundamentally different scaling behaviors across benchmark versions.

PassMark results overwhelmingly favor the AMD part. In passmark_multithread, the 5600G scores 19717 against 14481, a 36.2% lead. The encryption test shows a 39.6% margin (15247 vs 10923), and data compression sees the AMD chip at 249302 versus 180528, a 38.1% advantage. The largest wins come in extended instructions (17334 vs 10051, a 72.5% lead) and prime number finding (57 vs 33, a 72.7% lead). Integer math favors AMD by 25.9% (67344 vs 53507), and physics simulation shows a 41.3% gap (900 vs 637).

The Intel part's only other win besides Cinebench R23 is in passmark_single_thread, where it scores 3362 versus 3177, a 5.5% edge. Floating point math is nearly a tie: AMD scores 37830 and Intel 37294, a mere 1.4% difference. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 21.6% (25354 vs 20846). Overall, AMD wins 11 head-to-head comparisons, while Intel wins 4. The average scores are so close because Intel's Cinebench R23 victories are large enough to offset some of AMD's many smaller-to-medium wins across the PassMark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G edges out the Intel Core i3-1220P with an average score of 21088 versus 21066, a 0.1% difference.

Q: How do they compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel i3-1220P wins passmark_single_thread with 3362 versus 3177, a 5.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel is also ahead by 25% (1879 vs 1409). However, in Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD wins by 20.6% (228 vs 189).

Q: Which chip is better for multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD 5600G wins passmark_multithread by 36.2% (19717 vs 14481). It also leads in Cinebench R15 multicore by 28.6% (1724 vs 1341). But the Intel i3-1220P wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 20.8% (13314 vs 10551).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are their power ratings?

A: The AMD chip has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel chip has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Do both support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD 5600G supports only DDR4 memory. The Intel i3-1220P supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is built on Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-1220P uses Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-P codename) on Intel's 10 nm process. Intel does not list transistor count or die size in the data.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its single-thread wins, while the AMD part's larger L3 pool may help in sustained multi-threaded loads.

Memory support also separates them. AMD supports dual-channel DDR4 with a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Intel supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5, though no bandwidth figure is provided. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics are different as well. AMD uses Radeon Vega 7, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 64EU. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD is a desktop part on the AM4 socket with a launch MSRP of $259, whereas the Intel is a mobile part on BGA 1744 with no launch MSRP listed. The AMD released on 2021-04-12, and the Intel on 2022-02-22.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision. If the priority is raw multi-threaded compute outside of Cinebench R23, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is the stronger pick. It wins the PassMark multithread test by 36.2%, encryption by 39.6%, and data compression by 38.1%. Its 72.5% lead in extended instructions and 72.7% lead in prime number finding show a major advantage in specialized workloads. For integer-heavy tasks, the 25.9% margin in integer math confirms AMD's dominance.

If the priority is single-core responsiveness or specific rendering workloads, the Intel Core i3-1220P is better. Its 25% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 5.5% lead in passmark_single_thread indicate snappier day-to-day performance in lightly threaded applications. The Cinebench R23 multicore win by 20.8% suggests the Intel part scales better in that particular rendering engine, which could matter for content creators.

The 0.1% aggregate difference means both chips perform at essentially the same level overall. The choice comes down to workload. Builders targeting general productivity, gaming with integrated graphics, or compute-heavy tasks should lean toward the AMD. Users prioritizing single-thread speed and mobile power efficiency (given the 28W TDP versus 65W) should consider the Intel.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD 6 vs Intel 10
• Threads: Both 12
• Base Clock: AMD 3.90 GHz vs Intel 1500.00 MHz
• Boost Clock: Both 4.40 GHz
• TDP: AMD 65 W vs Intel 28 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 vs Intel BGA 1744
• Architecture: Zen 3 vs Alder Lake
• Codename: Cezanne vs Alder Lake-P
• Process Node: 7 nm (TSMC) vs 10 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: 10,700 million vs not listed
• Die Size: 180 mm² vs not listed
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core vs 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core vs 1.25 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 16 MB vs 12 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4 only vs DDR4, DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s vs not listed
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes vs Gen 4, 20 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 7 vs UHD Graphics 64EU
• Market Segment: Desktop vs Mobile
• Unlocked Multiplier: Yes vs No
• Release Date: 2021-04-12 vs 2022-02-22
• Launch MSRP: $259 vs not listed

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity tasks. Its 36.2% lead in passmark_multithread and 38.1% advantage in data compression make it the better choice for file archiving, database operations, and parallel processing. The 39.6% encryption lead suits security-focused workloads. The 41.3% physics win and 25.9% integer math advantage point to scientific computing and engineering simulations. The 72.5% extended instructions margin suggests superiority in code using advanced CPU instruction sets, such as cryptography or media encoding. For any task that can utilize all cores, the AMD chip's PassMark results are consistently 21-73% ahead.

The Intel Core i3-1220P wins where single-thread speed matters most. The 5.5% passmark_single_thread lead and 25% Cinebench R23 single-core advantage indicate better performance in legacy software, web browsing, and office applications that rely on one or two fast cores. The Cinebench R23 multicore win by 20.8% makes it the better option for users working specifically in that benchmark environment, which often correlates with certain 3D rendering pipelines. Its lower 28W TDP also makes it more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where sustained performance under power limits matters more than raw throughput. The Intel part's support for DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 4 provides a more modern platform foundation, though the benchmark data does not directly quantify these benefits.