AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

Intel Core 5 220H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS are two mobile processors that land within 0.3% of each other in average benchmark score, making them direct competitors in the productivity laptop space. The Intel part edges ahead in overall win count, taking 11 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the AMD chip claims 6 decisive victories, including the most demanding multi-threaded workload in the comparison suite.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking divergence appears in Cinebench R23, where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS delivers a 38.1% higher multi-core score (18,104 vs 11,198) and a 27.5% higher single-core score (2,555 vs 1,853). This is a massive gap, far exceeding the single-digit margins seen elsewhere. The R23 results suggest the AMD part sustains higher all-core throughput despite having fewer cores, a point reinforced by its 4nm process versus Intel’s 10nm node.

Intel counters in Cinebench R15 and R20, however. The Core 5 220H wins R15 multi-core by 0.6% (1,835 vs 1,824) and single-core by 1.9% (262 vs 257). In R20, Intel’s lead grows to 2.7% in both multi-core (7,812 vs 7,603) and single-core (1,102 vs 1,073). These older benchmarks show Intel’s hybrid architecture performing well under shorter, bursty loads, while AMD’s advantage emerges in the longer R23 run.

PassMark results split along workload type. Intel dominates floating-point math with a 20.1% advantage (51,671 vs 43,019) and physics with a 41.7% margin (1,478 vs 1,043). Prime number finding also favors Intel by 15.5% (82 vs 71), as does integer math by 5.3% (73,555 vs 69,839). Data compression and encryption go narrowly to Intel, at 0.6% (247,921 vs 246,446) and 1.7% (15,216 vs 14,962) respectively.

AMD takes the remaining PassMark categories. Extended instructions show a 20.9% AMD advantage (18,507 vs 14,642), indicating better SIMD or AVX performance. Random string sorting favors AMD by 5.9% (30,235 vs 28,438), and single-threaded PassMark goes to AMD by 4.4% (3,561 vs 3,405). The multithread PassMark test is close, with Intel ahead by just 2% (21,884 vs 21,465).

The pattern is consistent: Intel wins math-heavy and physics-bound tasks, while AMD wins sustained multi-core rendering and instruction-heavy workloads. The deltaPct values in R23 are so large that they overshadow the narrow Intel wins elsewhere, suggesting the AMD part is the stronger choice for prolonged compute.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental split is core count versus process efficiency. Intel’s Core 5 220H uses a Raptor Lake-H design with 12 cores and 16 threads, built on Intel’s 10nm process. AMD’s Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS is a Zen 4 Hawk Point part with 6 cores and 12 threads, fabricated on TSMC’s 4nm node. The Intel chip has twice the core count but only 4 additional threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores rather than symmetric multithreading across all 12.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core caches help in bursty single-threaded work, while AMD’s smaller but denser cache layout benefits from the 4nm process’s lower latency. The total L3 difference is 2 MB in Intel’s favor, but AMD’s R23 results show this does not compensate for the core-count gap in sustained loads.

Clock speeds are nearly identical at the top end: both boost to 4.90 GHz. Base clocks differ, with AMD at 3.50 GHz versus Intel’s 2.70 GHz. The higher AMD base clock reflects its efficiency advantage; it can sustain higher frequencies at lower power draw. This is corroborated by TDP ratings: AMD is rated at 28W, Intel at 45W. The 17W difference is significant for mobile thermals and battery life, though the data does not include power draw measurements.

Memory and I/O also diverge. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 dual-channel memory, while AMD supports only DDR5 dual-channel. AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; Intel does not provide a figure. Both support ECC memory, but AMD enables it while Intel does not. PCIe lanes favor AMD heavily: 20 Gen 4 lanes versus Intel’s 8 Gen 5 lanes. The Intel Gen 5 interface offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but AMD’s lane count is more flexible for multiple devices. Integrated graphics differ, with Intel using Iris Xe Graphics 80EU and AMD using Radeon 760M; the benchmark data does not cover GPU performance.

Die size and transistor count are only listed for AMD: 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. Intel omits these fields, but the process node difference (10nm vs 4nm) explains why AMD fits 6 high-performance cores in a smaller, denser package. The AMD part also has a larger transistor budget per core, which contributes to its R23 single-core lead.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload. For sustained multi-core rendering, video encoding, or any long-running compute task, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS is the superior choice. Its 38.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is not a marginal edge; it is a generational gap that core count alone cannot explain. The 4nm process and higher base clock allow AMD to maintain performance without thermal throttling, which is critical in thin laptops.

For physics simulations, floating-point math, and prime number computations, the Intel Core 5 220H wins decisively. The 41.7% advantage in PassMark physics and 20.1% lead in floating-point math indicate that Intel’s architecture handles certain numerical workloads better, possibly due to larger L2 cache per core. The 15.5% margin in prime number finding also favors Intel’s integer pipeline.

Mixed-use scenarios favor AMD slightly. The 4.4% single-thread PassMark lead and 20.9% extended instructions margin show AMD’s Zen 4 cores are more capable per thread. The 5.9% random string sorting win suggests better memory access patterns. However, Intel’s 5.3% integer math advantage and 2% multithread PassMark win keep the overall averages nearly tied.

Both processors sit at the 80th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 0.3% (28,574 for Intel vs 28,478 for AMD). The choice hinges on the specific application mix. A user running Cinebench or similar renderers should pick AMD. A user running physics engines or heavy floating-point mathematics should pick Intel. The data does not support a universal winner.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 5 220H | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS |

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

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Zen 4 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 25,000 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 178 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | Radeon 760M |

| Release Date | 2024-12-17 | 2024-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $342 | Not specified |

| Part Number | SRQ6SQ5MM | 100-000001354(FP7r2), 100-000001382(FP7) |

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS wins by a substantial 38.1%, scoring 18,104 versus Intel’s 11,198. This is the largest margin in any tested benchmark.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 220H ever beat the AMD chip in multi-core tests?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests. Intel wins R15 by 0.6% (1,835 vs 1,824) and R20 by 2.7% (7,812 vs 7,603). The AMD advantage only appears in the longer R23 workload.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS is rated at 28W. This 17W difference matters for laptop cooling and battery life, though power draw is not directly benchmarked.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: AMD provides 20 Gen 4 lanes, while Intel provides 8 Gen 5 lanes. AMD’s higher lane count supports more simultaneous devices, though Intel’s Gen 5 interface has higher per-lane bandwidth.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H averages 28,574, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS averages 28,478. This is a 0.3% difference, with both CPUs at the 80th percentile of all processors.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 220H does not, despite supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5.