AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE vs Intel Core i3-1220P Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1220P and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE are both 12-thread processors that land in the same performance bracket, but they achieve that status through radically different designs. The Intel chip is a 10-core mobile Alder Lake-P part, while the AMD is a 6-core desktop Zen 2 part. Benchmark data shows the Intel part wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, yet the AMD chip counters with significant victories in specific workloads, making the choice highly dependent on the intended use case.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-1220P is decisively faster in single-threaded tests. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3362 versus 2660 for the AMD, a 26.4% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a similar story, with Intel scoring 1879 against AMD's 1700, a 10.5% lead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel chip holds a consistent, if modest, lead in most multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 13314 versus AMD's 12045, a 10.5% delta. The PassMark multithread test is closer, with Intel at 14481 and AMD at 14171, giving Intel only a 2.2% edge.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE wins?

A: Yes, the AMD chip wins 4 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks. Its most significant victory is in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 11792 versus Intel's 10051, a 14.8% advantage. It also wins in data compression, data encryption, and random string sorting.

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

A: The Intel Core i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the AMD chip matches the thread count thanks to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor has a newer manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core i3-1220P uses Intel's 10 nm node. The AMD chip's smaller process node contributes to its smaller die size of 156 mm².

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel chip integrates UHD Graphics with 64 execution units, while the AMD chip features Radeon Vega 7 graphics. The benchmark data does not include graphics performance metrics, so a direct comparison cannot be made from this data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different architectural approaches. The Intel Core i3-1220P is built on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-P mobile variant, and uses a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. It employs a hybrid design with 10 cores and 12 threads, a configuration that pairs performance and efficiency cores to balance power and throughput. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE, in contrast, uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC.

The cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The Intel chip allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and a substantial 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. This gives the Intel chip a theoretical advantage in per-core cache resources. However, the shared L3 cache tells a different story: Intel offers 12 MB, while AMD provides only 8 MB. The AMD chip's smaller L3 is partially offset by its larger transistor count of 9,800 million and a die size of 156 mm².

Memory support also highlights the generational gap. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The platforms differ entirely, with Intel using the BGA 1744 socket for mobile and AMD using the desktop AM4 socket. PCIe support also differs, with Intel offering Gen 4 (20 lanes) versus AMD's Gen 3 (20 lanes).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-1220P establishes dominance in compute-heavy, general-purpose tasks. Its 33.4% lead in PassMark floating-point math (37294 vs 27947) indicates a strong advantage in scientific and engineering calculations. The chip also leads in integer math by 10.3%, with a score of 53507 against 48513. The 17.9% advantage in prime number finding (33 vs 28) reinforces its strength in pure arithmetic operations. This pattern suggests the Intel chip is the better choice for software compilation, video encoding, and any workload that relies heavily on CPU compute.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE wins in specific data-handling scenarios. Its 14.8% advantage in extended instructions (11792 vs 10051) points to superior performance in cryptography and SIMD-heavy workloads. The chip also leads in data compression (193067 vs 180528, a 6.5% edge) and data encryption (11586 vs 10923, a 5.7% advantage). Random string sorting is another AMD win, with a 2.5% lead (21382 vs 20846). These results suggest the AMD chip is well-suited for database workloads, file compression utilities, and security-focused applications.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel chip is the clear winner. Its 26.4% lead in PassMark single-thread (3362 vs 2660) makes it better for everyday desktop responsiveness, legacy software, and lightly-threaded applications like web browsing and office productivity. The AMD chip's strengths lie in its consistent, if narrower, performance in its niche areas.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals two processors designed for different markets. The Intel Core i3-1220P is a mobile part with a TDP of 28 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE is a desktop processor with a higher 35 W TDP. The Intel chip has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD chip operates at a higher base clock of 3300 MHz but a lower boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Core configuration is the most notable divergence: Intel provides 10 cores and 12 threads, while AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD chip's higher base clock helps it compensate for fewer cores in some workloads. Cache sizes differ as detailed above, with Intel providing more L1 and L2 per core and more total L3. The AMD chip integrates ECC memory support, which Intel lacks, making the AMD part suitable for reliability-critical systems.

The process technology and foundry differ, with Intel at 10 nm and AMD at 7 nm from TSMC. The AMD chip has a specified transistor count of 9,800 million and a die size of 156 mm², while these figures are not listed for the Intel part. Memory support is broader on Intel (DDR4 and DDR5) versus AMD (DDR4 only). PCIe generation is also different, with Intel on Gen 4 and AMD on Gen 3. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU on Intel and Radeon Vega 7 on AMD. Release dates differ by about nine months, with Intel launching on 2022-02-22 and AMD on 2022-11-10.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear pattern of Intel winning most tests, but AMD winning the ones that matter for its target audience. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 13314 against 12045 for AMD, a 10.5% victory. This advantage is consistent across all Cinebench versions: R15 multi-core shows Intel at 1341 versus 1213 (10.6% delta), and R20 multi-core shows Intel at 5591 versus 5058 (10.5% delta). The single-core Cinebench results follow suit, with Intel leading by 10.5% in each test (189 vs 171 in R15, 789 vs 714 in R20, 1879 vs 1700 in R23).

The largest Intel win comes in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 37294 versus AMD's 27947, a massive 33.4% lead. This is complemented by a 26.4% advantage in PassMark single-thread (3362 vs 2660) and a 17.9% lead in find prime numbers (33 vs 28). The Intel chip also wins integer math by 10.3% (53507 vs 48513) and physics by 7.6% (637 vs 592). Its multithread victory is narrow at 2.2% (14481 vs 14171).

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE's biggest win is in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 11792 versus Intel's 10051, a 14.8% margin. Data compression is another clear AMD victory at 193067 versus 180528, a 6.5% edge. Data encryption shows AMD at 11586 versus 10923, a 5.7% win. Random string sorting is the closest AMD victory, with 21382 versus 20846, a 2.5% delta. These results indicate that while AMD loses most head-to-head comparisons, its wins are concentrated in data-centric tasks where its architecture excels.