AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data presents an unambiguous outcome. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS wins every single comparison against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The AMD processor holds a decisive lead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, with the largest margin reaching 105.4% in single-thread performance. The Intel Core 5 221TE, despite having more cores and a higher boost clock, trails substantially in every measured category.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS is the clear choice for workloads that prioritize raw processing throughput, particularly for users who need strong single-thread speed, high multi-core output, and efficient memory encryption or compression tasks. The Intel Core 5 221TE remains relevant only in scenarios where the platform itself matters more than raw benchmark scores, such as systems built around the Intel Socket 1700 ecosystem with PCIe Gen 5 support. For pure performance based strictly on the database measurements, the AMD part dominates without exception.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their architectural foundations. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221TE employs the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die size. These process and design differences contribute to the performance gap observed in the benchmarks.

Core configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip packs 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel chip offers 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite the Intel processor having more cores, the AMD processor achieves higher multi-core scores in every Cinebench test. The AMD base clock sits at 3.50 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz, whereas the Intel part starts lower at 1.80 GHz but boosts to 5.00 GHz. The higher base clock of the AMD processor likely contributes to its sustained performance advantage.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD processor features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and a larger 24 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has more total cache, yet this does not translate into benchmark wins.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth rating of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth figure of 76.8 GB/s. Both processors support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The AMD processor uses the Radeon 760M, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part targets the mobile segment with a 28 W TDP, whereas the Intel chip is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP. The AMD processor was released on 2024-04-15, while the Intel processor launched later on 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results show a consistent and often large performance advantage for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 1824 against the Intel's 1139, a 60.1% lead. The single-core test shows a similar 60.6% margin, with 257 versus 160. These margins repeat across all Cinebench versions. Cinebench R20 multicore delivers 7603 versus 4748, a 60.1% advantage, and single-core shows 1073 versus 670, also 60.1%. Cinebench R23 continues the pattern: multicore 18104 versus 11305 (60.1%) and single-core 2555 versus 1596 (60.1%).

The PassMark suite reveals even wider gaps in several workloads. The largest delta appears in PassMark single-thread, where AMD scores 3561 against Intel's 1734, a 105.4% advantage. This is the single biggest performance difference recorded. PassMark extended instructions shows AMD at 18507 versus Intel's 9655, a 91.7% lead. Random string sorting displays an 78.6% margin (30235 versus 16929). Data encryption shows a 66.9% gap (14962 versus 8963). Integer math follows at 65.1% (69839 versus 42303). Multithread performance lands at 61.4% (21465 versus 13301).

Smaller but still clear margins appear in other tests. Floating-point math shows AMD ahead by 35.9% (43019 versus 31661). Find prime numbers yields a 20.3% difference (71 versus 59). The narrowest margin is in physics, where AMD scores 1043 versus 977, a 6.8% lead. Data compression completes the picture with a 57.3% advantage (246446 versus 156682).

The average benchmark score places the AMD processor at 28478, while the Intel processor sits at 17860. The AMD part ranks in the 80th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part ranks in the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Xeon E-2436 (average score 28530, delta -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS (28549, -0.2%), and the Intel Core 5 220H (28574, -0.3%). The nearest rivals for the Intel Core 5 221TE include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, -0.2%), the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, -0.2%), and the Intel Core 7 350 (17779, +0.5%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS scores 3561 in PassMark single-thread, compared to the Intel Core 5 221TE's 1734, a 105.4% advantage for AMD.

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

A: No. The recorded database shows 17 wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS and 0 wins for the Intel Core 5 221TE across all head-to-head tests.

Q: How do the multi-core Cinebench scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD processor scores 18104 versus 11305 for Intel, a 60.1% lead. The same 60.1% margin appears in R15 and R20 multicore tests.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS supports DDR5 only with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

Q: How do the core counts differ between the two processors?

A: The AMD processor has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel processor has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite fewer cores, the AMD processor wins all multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS is built on TSMC's 4 nm process with 25,000 million transistors. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses Intel's 10 nm process with no transistor count recorded.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS wins every single workload category measured. The database records 17 wins for the AMD processor and zero for the Intel processor. There is no benchmark category where the Intel Core 5 221TE takes the lead.

The AMD processor shows its largest advantage in single-threaded performance, where the 105.4% margin indicates a processor that delivers over twice the single-thread throughput of the Intel part. This makes the AMD chip clearly stronger for applications that depend on per-core responsiveness, such as lightly threaded productivity tasks or interactive workloads. The PassMark single-thread score of 3561 versus 1734 confirms this dominance.

Multi-threaded workloads also favor AMD decisively. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 18104 versus 11305 shows a 60.1% advantage, meaning the AMD chip completes multi-threaded render workloads substantially faster despite having only 6 cores against Intel's 10. The PassMark multithread score of 21465 versus 13301 reinforces this, with a 61.4% margin. The data indicates that the AMD processor's higher base clock and architectural efficiency overcome the Intel chip's core-count advantage.

Specialized workloads show the widest gaps. Extended instructions performance gives AMD a 91.7% lead, suggesting strong vector or SIMD processing capabilities. Random string sorting yields a 78.6% advantage, pointing to superior memory handling or sorting algorithms. Data encryption shows a 66.9% lead, and integer math a 65.1% lead. These results indicate the AMD processor is particularly strong in computational tasks that stress instruction throughput and memory bandwidth.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does not win anywhere in the recorded data. Its closest showing is in the PassMark physics test, where it trails by only 6.8% (977 versus 1043). This remains a loss, but the narrow margin suggests the Intel chip is at least competitive in physics-related workloads. The find prime numbers test also shows a relatively smaller delta at 20.3% (59 versus 71).

For users selecting between these two processors based purely on database measurements, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS is the superior performer in every category. The Intel Core 5 221TE may still be considered for systems requiring Intel Socket 1700 compatibility, PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, or DDR4 memory support, but the benchmark scores provide no performance-based reason to choose it. The AMD processor's higher average benchmark score of 28478 versus 17860, combined with its higher percentile ranking of 80 versus 71, places it firmly ahead in the recorded performance hierarchy.