AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40144, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G records 24089. The Intel part sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 76th percentile for the AMD part.

Q: How large is the Cinebench R23 multi-core gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 17.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G's 21503. The same 17.1% delta appears across all six Cinebench tests recorded.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G win any recorded benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark extended instructions with a score of 22610, which is 24.1% ahead of the Intel Core 5 221E's 18216. The Intel part wins the other 16 head-to-head tests.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G boosts to 5.00 GHz. However, the AMD part has a higher base clock at 4.30 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the Intel part.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E delivers 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G delivers 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the AMD part supports DDR5 only.

Q: What is the difference in the number of cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, compared to 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G. The Intel part also has a larger L3 cache at 24 MB shared, versus 16 MB shared for the AMD part.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221E, by contrast, uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel with a 257 mm² die size.

The core configurations diverge substantially. AMD fields 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel fields 14 cores and 20 threads. This difference in scale directly explains the multi-threaded benchmark deltas. The cache hierarchy also differs: AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache favors Intel at 24 MB versus 16 MB.

Memory support separates the two as well. The AMD part supports DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration and does not support ECC memory. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode and includes ECC memory support. The recorded memory bandwidth for Intel is 89.6 GB/s, slightly above the 83.2 GB/s for AMD.

PCIe connectivity differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 221E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 760M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, making it a candidate for overclocking. The Intel part has a locked multiplier. The AMD processor mounts on AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel processor mounts on Intel Socket 1700. Production status for both is listed as Active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall margin. The Intel Core 5 221E wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, with a single win for the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G.

The Cinebench series tells a consistent story. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core tests show the Intel part ahead by exactly 17.1%. In R15 multi-core, Intel scores 2613 versus 2167 for AMD. In R15 single-core, Intel scores 368 versus 305. The R20 results show Intel at 10891 multi-core and 1537 single-core, versus 9031 and 1274 for AMD. The R23 results show Intel at 25933 multi-core and 3661 single-core, versus 21503 and 3035 for AMD. The uniform 17.1% delta across all six tests suggests a consistent per-thread advantage for Intel rather than a workload-specific effect.

The PassMark suite reveals where each part excels. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G takes the extended instructions test at 22610, which is 24.1% ahead of Intel's 18216. This is the only test where AMD leads. The Intel part counters with a 44.5% lead in find prime numbers (173 versus 96), a 39.4% lead in floating point math (79028 versus 47919), and a 34.6% lead in integer math (117813 versus 77042). Intel also leads in physics at 2230 versus 1450, a 35% margin.

The remaining PassMark tests show narrower but consistent Intel advantages. Data compression favors Intel at 324285 versus 293306, a 9.6% delta. Data encryption favors Intel at 19205 versus 17181, a 10.5% delta. Random string sorting favors Intel at 37686 versus 35067, a 6.9% delta. Single-thread tests show Intel at 4147 versus 3878, a 6.5% delta in both the single_thread and singlethread entries. The PassMark multithread score goes to Intel at 30510 versus 25294, a 17.1% delta that mirrors the Cinebench figures.

The overall benchmark picture places the Intel part in a different performance class. Its average benchmark score of 40144 sits close to rivals such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.2% delta). The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G's average of 24089 sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U at 24188 (-0.4% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U at 23982 (0.4% delta). The percentile ranking reinforces this gap: 87th percentile for Intel versus 76th for AMD.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation in intended use cases. The Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger multi-threaded processor across the recorded benchmarks. It leads by 17.1% in every Cinebench test and by a similar margin in PassMark multithread. Its advantages in floating point math (39.4%), integer math (34.6%), and physics (35%) indicate a substantial lead in compute-heavy workloads. The 14-core, 20-thread configuration with 24 MB of L3 cache and PCIe Gen 5 support positions it as the higher-throughput option.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G holds one specific advantage: a 24.1% lead in extended instructions. This indicates a narrower but real strength in workloads that exercise specialized instruction sets. Its lower base clock of 4.30 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for Intel does not translate into benchmark wins, as the Intel part still leads in all single-thread tests by 6.5% to 17.1%. The AMD part also carries the Radeon 760M integrated graphics, which may be relevant for systems relying on the built-in GPU, though the recorded benchmarks do not cover graphics performance.

For users prioritizing raw CPU throughput across rendering, math, and general multi-threaded tasks, the recorded data points to the Intel Core 5 221E. For those needing the extended instructions advantage or the AMD platform features such as the unlocked multiplier and Socket AM5, the Ryzen 5 8600G offers a specific but limited edge. The average benchmark scores of 40144 versus 24089 summarize the overall performance hierarchy without ambiguity.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8600G | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not specified |

| Codename | Phoenix | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 760M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $229 | $232 |