AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 3661 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT scores 2643. The Intel part leads by 27.8% in this test.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core 5 221E in floating-point math?

A: The Intel processor scores 79028 in Passmark floating-point math, compared to 40537 for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT. That is a 48.7% advantage for the Intel part, the largest margin in any benchmark in the comparison.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory according to the recorded specifications.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark percentile?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT sits at the 81st percentile.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT supports 51.2 GB/s. The Intel part also supports both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the AMD part supports DDR4 only.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT is built on Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD chip contains 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, while the Intel chip has a 257 mm² die size with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Ryzen 5 5600XT offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 5 221E offers 14 cores and 20 threads. Cache layouts also differ. The AMD processor carries 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor carries 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Clock behavior separates the two as well. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel part has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Both are rated at 65 W TDP, which makes the power envelope identical even though the underlying designs differ.

Memory support is another point of distinction. The Ryzen 5 5600XT supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ. The AMD processor uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel processor uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics.

Socket compatibility separates the platforms entirely. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, whereas the Intel multiplier is locked. Release dates also differ: the Ryzen 5 5600XT was released on 2024-10-30, and the Core 5 221E was released on 2025-01-12. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $232; the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a decisive outcome. The Intel Core 5 221E wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, all 17 of them. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT does not win a single test. The Intel part also sits higher in the overall percentile ranking, 87th versus 81st, and has a higher average benchmark score of 40144 versus 28940.

The choice depends on what the data says about each platform. The Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger performer across every measured workload category, from single-core to multi-core, from integer math to floating-point math, from compression to encryption. It also provides integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks, and supports newer memory standards. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT offers an unlocked multiplier, which matters for overclocking, and uses the AM4 socket that has been widely deployed in existing systems.

For a user selecting between these two based purely on benchmark output, the Intel Core 5 221E is the clear pick. The AMD part would only be relevant in scenarios where the platform, specifically the AM4 socket and unlocked multiplier, takes priority over raw performance. The data does not show a workload where the AMD chip comes out ahead.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| Codename | Vermeer | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,150 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 74 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 32 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2024-10-30 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is one-sided, but the margins vary significantly across tests. The closest race is in Passmark extended instructions, where the Intel Core 5 221E scores 18216 against 17450 for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT, a 4.2% edge. That is the narrowest gap in the entire comparison.

The largest margin comes in Passmark floating-point math. The Intel part scores 79028, while the AMD part scores 40537, giving the Intel processor a 48.7% advantage. Passmark integer math follows with a 39.7% gap: 117813 for Intel versus 71063 for AMD. Passmark physics shows a 40.7% difference, with the Intel part scoring 2230 and the AMD part scoring 1322.

The Cinebench results are consistent across all versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 2613 versus 1887, a 27.8% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 368 versus 266, a 27.7% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 10891 versus 7864, a 27.8% gap, and Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1537 versus 1110, also 27.8%. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 25933 versus 18724, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3661 versus 2643, both at a 27.8% delta.

Passmark multithread results show the Intel part at 30510 versus 22283 for AMD, a 27% gap. Data compression shows 324285 versus 257118, a 20.7% difference. Data encryption shows 19205 versus 15944, a 17% gap. Find prime numbers shows 173 versus 143, a 17.3% difference. Random string sorting shows 37686 versus 26693, a 29.2% gap. Single-thread Passmark shows 4147 versus 3469, a 16.3% lead for the Intel part.

Every benchmark in the head-to-head list favors the Intel Core 5 221E. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT records zero wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in every workload category represented in the benchmark data. It leads in single-threaded performance, as shown by the Passmark single-thread score of 4147 versus 3469, a 16.3% advantage. It leads in multi-threaded performance, with Passmark multithread at 30510 versus 22283, a 27% advantage. It leads in floating-point math by 48.7%, integer math by 39.7%, and physics by 40.7%. It leads in memory-sensitive tasks like data compression by 20.7% and random string sorting by 29.2%. It leads in encryption by 17% and in extended instructions by 4.2%. It leads in every Cinebench iteration, both single-core and multi-core, by roughly 27.8%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT does not have a single benchmark win in the recorded data. Its closest showing is the 4.2% deficit in Passmark extended instructions, which suggests that for workloads heavily dependent on specialized instruction extensions, the gap narrows considerably. In every other test, the Intel part holds a margin of at least 16.3%.

The AMD part does have characteristics that matter outside of raw benchmark scores. The unlocked multiplier permits overclocking, which could narrow some gaps in practice. The AM4 socket is a long-established platform with broad compatibility in existing systems. The absence of integrated graphics means it relies on a discrete GPU, but for a desktop processor that is often an acceptable trade-off. The Intel part, by contrast, includes UHD Graphics 730, which provides a display output without a separate graphics card.

The data indicates that the Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger processor across all measured workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT remains a viable option only in scenarios where the AM4 platform, the unlocked multiplier, or the 65 W power envelope with fewer cores is the primary consideration. In pure performance terms, the benchmark record is unambiguous.