AMD Ryzen 5 8500G vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and the Intel Core 5 221E is decisively one-sided. Across the 17 shared tests in the database, Intel wins 16 and AMD wins only one. The Intel Core 5 221E delivers the larger average benchmark score, 40144 versus 20425 for the Ryzen 5 8500G, placing the Intel part in the 87th percentile of all CPUs while the AMD part sits in the 74th percentile.

The most significant gaps appear in compute-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel chip scores 25933 against AMD's 18368, a delta of -29.2%. The same pattern holds across every Cinebench version: R15 multicore shows 2613 versus 1851 (-29.2%), R20 multicore shows 10891 versus 7714 (-29.2%), and the single-core variants follow with -29.1% in R15 and -29.2% in R20 and R23. These consistent deltas indicate a structural performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Floating-point math shows the widest divergence. The Intel Core 5 221E scores 79028 in PassMark floating point math, while the Ryzen 5 8500G manages 39074, a -50.6% delta. Integer math follows closely: 117813 versus 63123, a -46.4% gap. Prime number finding is similarly lopsided, with Intel scoring 173 against AMD's 87, a -49.7% delta. These results point to substantially higher raw arithmetic throughput on the Intel part.

Memory and data tasks also favor Intel, though by smaller margins. PassMark data compression shows 324285 versus 250197 (-22.8%), data encryption shows 19205 versus 14220 (-26%), and random string sorting shows 37686 versus 29407 (-22%). The multithreaded PassMark score favors Intel at 30510 versus 21610 (-29.2%), while physics simulation favors Intel at 2230 versus 1318 (-40.9%).

The single bright spot for AMD comes in PassMark extended instructions, where the Ryzen 5 8500G scores 19098 against Intel's 18216, a 4.8% advantage. This is the only test where AMD leads, and the margin is modest compared to the deficits elsewhere.

Single-thread performance is closer than multicore results. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4147 versus AMD's 3891, a -6.2% delta. The Cinebench single-core tests show larger gaps (-29.1% to -29.2%), but PassMark's different workload mix narrows the difference considerably.

Architecture Differences

The two processors take fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, built around the Phoenix2 codename. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process, with 14 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Die size and transistor count reflect the process differences. The AMD chip measures 137 mm² with 20,900 million transistors. The Intel chip is substantially larger at 257 mm², though its transistor count is not recorded in the database. The larger die and older process node partly explain why Intel needs more silicon area to deliver its higher core count.

Cache hierarchies also differ. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on Intel, combined with 50% more shared L3, give the Core 5 221E a memory-side advantage that shows up in the compression and sorting benchmarks.

Memory support diverges as well. The Ryzen 5 8500G supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a slightly higher bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both parts support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs significantly. The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes. The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, offering both a newer standard and more lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both, though they target different use cases. AMD pairs the Ryzen 5 8500G with Radeon 740M, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 730. The market segments also differ: the AMD part is classified as Mobile, while the Intel part is classified as Desktop. Both processors have locked multipliers, both are currently Active in production, and both use sockets that reflect their respective platforms: AMD Socket AM5 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 5.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E dominates almost every measurable workload category in the database. Its 16 wins cover rendering (all Cinebench versions), arithmetic (integer and floating-point math), encryption, compression, sorting, physics simulation, multithreaded throughput, and single-thread performance. The margins are largest in floating-point math (-50.6%) and prime number finding (-49.7%), indicating a major advantage in scientific and number-crunching tasks.

For content creation and rendering workloads, the Intel part is consistently about 29% ahead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore tests. This consistency suggests that the advantage holds regardless of scene complexity or thread scaling. The multicore advantage aligns with the core count difference: 14 cores versus 6, with 20 threads versus 12.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins only in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 19098 against Intel's 18216. This test likely includes specialized instruction sets or vector extensions where Zen 4's architecture holds an edge. The margin is 4.8%, which is meaningful but small compared to the deficits AMD faces elsewhere.

In single-thread PassMark tests, the gap narrows to -6.2%, which is the closest Intel margin outside of the extended instructions test. This suggests that while Intel leads in single-thread performance, the difference is not overwhelming when measured by PassMark's methodology. The Cinebench single-core tests show a much larger gap, however, so the PassMark result should not be interpreted as a general single-thread parity.

For workloads involving data movement, the Intel part leads by 22% to 26%. Compression, encryption, and sorting all favor Intel, which aligns with its larger cache hierarchy and higher memory bandwidth. The physics simulation test shows a -40.9% delta, indicating Intel's advantage extends to constrained-thread workloads that benefit from higher core counts.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 221E for users who need maximum throughput across a broad range of tasks. Its 14 cores and 20 threads deliver roughly 29% higher multicore scores in Cinebench, and the PassMark multithread score is 30510 versus 21610 for AMD. The Intel part also leads in every data-processing benchmark and in most single-thread tests, making it the stronger all-around choice for rendering, computation, and general productivity.

The Intel Core 5 221E sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40144. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.2% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.2% delta), and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 (-0.4% delta). This places the Core 5 221E in the upper tier of desktop processors, competitive with much higher-tier parts.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G, by contrast, sits at the 74th percentile with an average score of 20425. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9454P at 20422 (0% delta), the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V at 20454 (-0.1% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 at 20468 (-0.2% delta). These are all mid-range or older parts, confirming that the Ryzen 5 8500G competes in a lower performance tier.

The choice depends on the workload. For extended instruction workloads where AMD's 4.8% lead applies, the Ryzen 5 8500G is the better option. For everything else in the database, the Intel Core 5 221E delivers higher scores, often by substantial margins. The Intel part also offers the newer PCIe Gen 5 interface and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD part offers a smaller die, a more advanced 4 nm process, and a lower launch MSRP of $179 compared to Intel's $232.

The launch MSRP difference is notable, but the performance gap is larger. A 29% deficit in multicore rendering and a 50% deficit in floating-point math represent significant real-world differences, not marginal variations. Users who need the highest scores in the recorded benchmarks should choose the Intel Core 5 221E. Users who prioritize the extended instructions workload or who prefer the smaller, more power-efficient AMD design may find the Ryzen 5 8500G adequate, but the data shows it is outmatched in nearly every measured category.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has an average score of 20425.

Q: How large is the multicore performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 18368, a delta of -29.2% in favor of Intel.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark extended instructions with a score of 19098 versus Intel's 18216, a 4.8% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor supports more memory types?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G supports DDR5 only.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare in PassMark?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 3891, a -6.2% delta in favor of Intel.