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

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and Intel Core 5 221TE occupy different corners of the processor market, yet the benchmark data from our database shows a remarkably one-sided contest. Across 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD part wins every single one, with the Intel chip failing to secure a single victory. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 5 8500G sits at 20425, placing it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 221TE averages 17860, good for the 71st percentile. The Ryzen’s closest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 9454P and Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, both within 0.1 percent of its average score, whereas the Core 5 221TE trades places with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U, both of which sit within 0.2 percent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic gap appears in single-thread performance. In the passmark_single_thread test, the Ryzen 5 8500G scores 3891 against the Core 5 221TE’s 1734, a delta of 124.4 percent. That is not a narrow margin; it is a complete rout. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD chip scores 2593 versus 1596, a 62.5 percent lead. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 63.1 percent and Cinebench R20 single-core by 62.5 percent. Across the board, the AMD processor’s per-thread advantage is consistent and large.

Multi-threaded workloads tell a similar story, though the margins are slightly smaller. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 5 8500G posts 18368, while the Core 5 221TE manages 11305, a 62.5 percent difference. The passmark_multithread test shows the AMD part at 21610 versus 13301, also a 62.5 percent gap. Interestingly, the Intel chip has 10 cores and 16 threads, compared to the Ryzen’s 6 cores and 12 threads, yet the AMD processor still wins decisively in heavily threaded tests. The Ryzen also leads in passmark_integer_math with 63123 against 42303, a 49.2 percent edge, and in passmark_floating_point_math with 39074 versus 31661, a 23.4 percent advantage.

Some of the largest deltas appear in specialized workloads. Passmark_extended_instructions shows the Ryzen 5 8500G at 19098 versus 9655, a 97.8 percent lead. Passmark_random_string_sorting favors the AMD chip by 73.7 percent, with scores of 29407 and 16929. Passmark_data_compression goes to the Ryzen by 59.7 percent, and passmark_data_encryption by 58.7 percent. Even passmark_find_prime_numbers, which often favors raw integer throughput, shows the AMD part ahead by 47.5 percent. The narrowest win for the Ryzen is in passmark_physics, where it leads by 34.9 percent with 1318 against 977.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename, built on TSMC’s 4 nm process. It packs 20,900 million transistors into a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a die size of 215 mm². The transistor count for the Intel part is not recorded in the database, but the larger die on an older process node gives an immediate clue about density and efficiency differences.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Ryzen 5 8500G provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 5 221TE offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. So the Intel chip has more cache at every level, yet it still loses in every benchmark. The core count also favors Intel: 10 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having 4 more cores and 4 more threads, the Intel part cannot overcome the per-core performance deficit.

Memory and platform support reveal further divergence. The Ryzen 5 8500G supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a slightly lower memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Ryzen provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Ryzen featuring Radeon 740M and the Intel chip using UHD Graphics 730.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows that the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins in every measured category in this comparison. There is no benchmark in the head-to-head set where the Intel Core 5 221TE comes out ahead. The Ryzen leads in single-core performance by a wide margin, which affects everything from everyday responsiveness to lightly threaded applications. Its lead in passmark_single_thread of 124.4 percent is the largest of any recorded test, indicating a massive per-clock advantage.

The Ryzen also dominates in multi-threaded scenarios despite having fewer cores. Its 62.5 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and passmark_multithread suggests that the Zen 4 cores are far more efficient per thread than the Bartlett Lake cores. In integer math, floating point math, and extended instructions, the AMD processor leads by margins ranging from 23.4 percent to 97.8 percent. Even in memory-sensitive tasks like data compression and random string sorting, the Ryzen holds a 59.7 percent and 73.7 percent lead respectively.

For the Intel Core 5 221TE, the strongest recorded result relative to the Ryzen is in passmark_floating_point_math, where the gap narrows to 23.4 percent. That is still a significant loss, but it is the closest the Intel chip comes to matching the AMD processor. The Intel part does offer advantages in platform features: PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 14 lanes, support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and a lower TDP of 45 watts against the Ryzen’s 65 watts. The Intel chip also has a larger L3 cache and more cores, but those architectural advantages do not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G. In passmark_single_thread, it scores 3891 against the Intel Core 5 221TE’s 1734, a 124.4 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen scores 2593 versus 1596, a 62.5 percent lead.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 8500G leads in Cinebench R23 multicore with 18368 against 11305, a 62.5 percent difference. In passmark_multithread, the Ryzen scores 21610 versus 13301, also a 62.5 percent gap.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is built on TSMC’s 4 nm process with a die size of 137 mm². The Intel Core 5 221TE uses Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm².

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and the Intel Core 5 221TE support ECC memory. The Ryzen supports DDR5 only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the Ryzen runs at 3.50 GHz, while the Intel chip runs at 1.80 GHz. Both reach a 5.00 GHz boost clock. The Ryzen has a TDP of 65 watts, the Intel part 45 watts. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM5, the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700.

The process nodes are different: 4 nm for AMD (TSMC foundry) versus 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). Die size also differs, with the AMD chip at 137 mm² and the Intel chip at 215 mm². The Ryzen contains 20,900 million transistors; the Intel transistor count is not recorded. Cache configurations vary: the Ryzen has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3.

Memory support splits the pair: the Ryzen supports DDR5 only with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s. PCIe differs, with AMD providing Gen 4 and 14 CPU lanes versus Intel’s Gen 5 and 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 740M on the AMD side and UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel side. The release dates differ by nearly a year: the Ryzen launched on 2024-01-07, the Intel chip on 2025-01-12. The launch MSRP for the Ryzen is $179, while the Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $232.