AMD Ryzen 5 9500F vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE, with no single test favoring the Intel part. The margin of victory varies dramatically by workload, ranging from a 75.3% advantage in data encryption to a 272.9% lead in prime number finding.

The largest single gap appears in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the AMD part scores 220 against Intel's 59. That 272.9% delta indicates a fundamental advantage in integer-heavy, branch-dependent workloads. The Ryzen 5 9500F also dominates extended instructions by 173.1%, scoring 26370 versus 9655. This suggests the Zen 5 architecture handles advanced instruction sets with considerably more efficiency than Bartlett Lake.

In multithreaded throughput, the AMD processor delivers 28312 points versus 13301 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 112.9% lead. That result is particularly striking given the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD chip has only 6 cores and 12 threads. The per-core efficiency of the Zen 5 design overcomes the core-count deficit.

Single-thread performance shows a 145.6% gap. The Ryzen 5 9500F scores 4258 in passmark_single_thread, while the Core 5 221TE manages 1734. This is the largest proportional advantage in any conventional compute test, and it has direct implications for lightly threaded applications, legacy software, and general desktop responsiveness.

Integer math results show a near-doubling of performance. The AMD chip scores 84198 against 42303, a 99% delta. Floating point math is similarly lopsided at 78.7%, with scores of 56570 and 31661 respectively. Data compression favors the AMD part by 107.9%, scoring 325678 versus 156682. Random string sorting, a test sensitive to memory latency and cache behavior, shows a 101.9% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9500F.

Even the physics simulation test, which often rewards higher core counts, goes to the AMD processor. It scores 1851 against 977, a 89.5% lead. The Intel Core 5 221TE's best relative showing is in data encryption, where it trails by only 75.3%. That still represents a substantial loss, but it is the closest the Intel chip comes to competitiveness in any measured category.

The average benchmark score reinforces the gap. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F posts an average of 52873, placing it at the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860, good for the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53288, 0.8% higher), the AMD EPYC 7313P (53206, 0.6% higher), the Intel Xeon 634 (52974, 0.2% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 (52901, 0.1% higher). The Intel Core 5 221TE, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, 0.2% higher) and the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, 0.2% higher).

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F records 4258 points in the passmark_single_thread test, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1734. That is a 145.6% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE win any benchmark comparison?

A: No. Across all 11 head-to-head tests recorded in the database, the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F wins every one. The Intel chip's closest result is a 75.3% deficit in data encryption.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multithreaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F scores 28312 in passmark_multithread, which is 112.9% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE's 13301. This occurs despite the Intel chip having 10 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD part.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 221TE ranks at the 71st percentile.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F has an average benchmark score of 52873. The Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860. The AMD chip's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 at 52901, a 0.1% difference, while the Intel chip's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891, a 0.2% difference.

Q: How large is the gap in extended instruction performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F scores 26370 in passmark_extended_instructions, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 9655. The AMD part leads by 173.1%.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel. This process node difference is substantial and explains much of the efficiency gap between the two parts.

The AMD chip contains 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel chip has no transistor count recorded in the database, but its die size is listed at 215 mm². The AMD die is roughly one-third the physical size of the Intel die, yet it delivers higher performance in every recorded benchmark.

Cache configurations differ in the L2 and L3 levels. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F carries 1 MB of L2 per core and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has more total L3 cache, while the Intel part has slightly more L2 per core.

The AMD processor supports DDR5 memory exclusively, with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a lower recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both processors support ECC memory.

PCI Express connectivity also differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part offers more PCIe lanes for expansion.

Integrated graphics present another distinction. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A. The Intel Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD chip requires a discrete GPU, while the Intel part can drive a display without one.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a locked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core and thread counts. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Base clock speeds differ significantly. The AMD chip runs at 3.80 GHz base, while the Intel chip runs at 1.80 GHz base. Both reach the same 5.00 GHz boost clock.

Thermal design power differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Sockets are incompatible. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700.

Process nodes differ. The AMD chip uses 4 nm TSMC fabrication. The Intel chip uses 10 nm Intel fabrication. Die sizes are 70.6 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel.

Memory support differs in flexibility. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 76.8 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe lanes differ. AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes. Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel chip, which includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics.

The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 5 221TE does not.

The AMD chip launched on 2025-09-07 with a launch MSRP of $219. The Intel chip launched on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $232.

The AMD part number is 100-000001406. The Intel part number is SRVQS.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. That makes the use-case split unusually one-sided. For computationally intensive workloads, the AMD part is the clear choice. Its 112.9% lead in multithreaded performance means heavy rendering, video encoding, and compile tasks will complete in roughly half the time. The 272.9% advantage in prime number finding points to strength in scientific computing and cryptography-related integer workloads.

The AMD chip's 145.6% single-thread advantage matters for everyday desktop use, office productivity, and any software that relies on one or two fast cores. The 173.1% lead in extended instructions suggests strong SIMD and vectorized workload performance. The 99% integer math and 78.7% floating point leads cover most general-purpose compute scenarios.

The Intel Core 5 221TE has no benchmark wins to claim, but its specification profile suggests specific scenarios where it could be the more practical choice. Its 45 watt TDP is lower than the AMD chip's 65 watts, which points to lower power draw in constrained environments. The integrated UHD Graphics 730 means a system can be built without a discrete graphics card, which is relevant for basic office machines, thin clients, or media servers. The support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives system builders more memory options. The Intel chip also has more cores (10 versus 6) and more threads (16 versus 12), which could matter in niche threaded workloads if the per-core efficiency gap were smaller. But the recorded benchmark data shows the AMD part outperforming the Intel chip even in multithreaded tests, so the core-count advantage does not translate into measured performance wins.

The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and AMD EPYC 7313P. The Intel Core 5 221TE sits at the 71st percentile, with nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Intel Core 5 120U. The performance class difference is clear from the data.