AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U across every benchmark in the comparison set, with 17 wins and zero for the Intel Core 5 221TE. The most dramatic gap appears in single-threaded PassMark testing, where the AMD part scores 3563 against Intel's 1734, a delta of 105.5%. This is not a marginal edge; it indicates fundamentally different per-core performance characteristics.

Cinebench results reinforce the pattern. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U leads by 36.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (15456 vs 11305) and the same 36.7% margin in single-core (2182 vs 1596). The consistency of that 36.7% delta across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single and multi-threaded runs, suggests a uniform architectural advantage rather than workload-specific luck. The R15 numbers are 1557 vs 1139 for multi-core and 219 vs 160 for single-core. R20 shows 6491 vs 4748 and 916 vs 670 respectively.

PassMark integer math shows the AMD part at 56738 versus 42303, a 34.1% lead. Floating-point math is closer: 34865 vs 31661, a 10.1% advantage. Extended instructions widen the gap substantially, with the Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U scoring 15410 against Intel's 9655, a 59.6% delta. Data compression favors AMD by 31.3% (205703 vs 156682), while data encryption shows a 37.4% lead (12319 vs 8963). Random string sorting delivers a 46.5% edge (24797 vs 16929). The multithread aggregate PassMark score lands at 18218 for AMD versus 13301 for Intel, a 37% difference.

The closest contest is in PassMark physics, where AMD scores 983 and Intel scores 977, a mere 0.6% gap. Prime number finding shows an 11.9% delta (66 vs 59). Across all measured categories, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U holds the higher score, and the Intel Core 5 221TE does not claim a single winning result in this dataset.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U scores 15456, which is 36.7% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE's 11305.

Q: Is the single-thread performance gap consistent across all benchmark suites?

A: No. The gap ranges from 36.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2182 vs 1596) to 105.5% in PassMark single-thread (3563 vs 1734). The Cinebench margin is stable, while PassMark shows a much larger difference.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two CPUs?

A: PassMark physics is the tightest race. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U scores 983, and the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 977, a difference of 0.6%.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has an average benchmark score of 23709, while the Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860. The AMD part sits in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel part sits in the 71st percentile.

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 221TE compare to its own nearest rivals?

A: The Intel chip's average score of 17860 places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, a 0.2% difference) and the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, also a 0.2% difference). It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 by 0.7%, which scores 17994.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE have any benchmark where it outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head data, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins all 17 benchmark comparisons.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear choice for workloads that prioritize raw speed across the board. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U outperforms the Intel Core 5 221TE in every recorded benchmark, with margins from 0.6% to 105.5%. The AMD chip's percentile ranking (76th vs 71st) and higher average score (23709 vs 17860) confirm its overall position in the database.

For builders focused on single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD part's PassMark single-thread score of 3563 versus Intel's 1734 is the deciding factor. For multi-threaded tasks, the Cinebench R23 result of 15456 versus 11305 gives the AMD chip a 36.7% advantage. The Intel Core 5 221TE, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, does not translate its higher core count into a win in any measured test.

The choice is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is the faster processor in every category recorded. The Intel Core 5 221TE is the slower option in this comparison, regardless of the workload.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: AMD runs at 3.20 GHz, Intel at 1.80 GHz. Boost clocks are close, with AMD at 4.90 GHz and Intel at 5.00 GHz. Thermal design power is 28 watts for AMD and 45 watts for Intel. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP7, while Intel uses Intel Socket 1700.

Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 exclusively, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but memory bandwidth is higher on AMD at 89.6 GB/s versus Intel's 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are the Radeon 740M on AMD and UHD Graphics 730 on Intel. The market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $232. The AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is built on Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, part of the 8000 series and the Ryzen 5 generation. It uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC, with 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 5 generation, on a 10 nm process node from Intel, with a 215 mm² die size; transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache structures differ. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither chip has vCache3d. The AMD part lists its architecture explicitly as Zen 4, while the Intel part does not have an architecture field recorded.

The release dates differ: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U came out on 2024-04-15, and the Intel Core 5 221TE on 2025-01-12. Both are listed as Active in production status. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part has two part numbers (100-000001329 for FP7r2 and 100-000001331 for FP7), while Intel lists one (SRVQS).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins in every benchmark category recorded. Its largest margins appear in single-threaded PassMark testing (105.5% over Intel) and extended instruction workloads (59.6%). It also dominates in random string sorting (46.5%), data encryption (37.4%), multithread aggregate (37%), and all Cinebench versions (36.7% consistently). Integer math shows a 34.1% edge, and data compression a 31.3% edge.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does not win a single recorded benchmark. Its closest relative performance appears in PassMark physics, where it trails by only 0.6%, and in prime number finding, where the gap is 11.9%. Floating-point math is also relatively close at 10.1%. These areas represent the least disadvantage for the Intel chip, but they remain losses.

For specific use cases, the data suggests the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is the stronger choice for any task measured in this database. The Intel Core 5 221TE's higher core count (10 vs 6) and larger L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB) do not yield any benchmark victory. Its higher boost clock (5.00 GHz vs 4.90 GHz) also fails to overcome the AMD chip's performance. Even in memory bandwidth, AMD's 89.6 GB/s exceeds Intel's 76.8 GB/s. The AMD part's lower TDP (28 W vs 45 W) further reinforces its efficiency profile in the recorded data.