AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 5 221E, which wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. The sole exception is the PassMark extended instructions test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS posts a 21212 score against Intel's 18216, a 16.4% advantage for AMD. This single win shows the Ryzen's strength in specialized instruction workloads, but it stands isolated against a broad Intel sweep.

The Cinebench suite delivers a consistent picture. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 versus the AMD's 19742, a 23.9% gap. The same 23.9% delta appears across every Cinebench test: R15 multi-core (2613 vs 1989), R15 single-core (368 vs 280), R20 multi-core (10891 vs 8291), R20 single-core (1537 vs 1170), and R23 single-core (3661 vs 2787). That uniform percentage across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tests indicates a systematic performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark integer math test shows Intel ahead by 38.3%, scoring 117813 against 72740. Floating point math follows a similar pattern with Intel at 79028 versus 45481, a 42.4% lead. The largest single delta in the entire comparison appears in the find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 173 against AMD's 73, a 57.8% margin. Physics simulation also favors Intel heavily: 2230 versus 1208, a 45.8% difference.

Data compression results show Intel at 324285 against AMD's 265826, an 18% lead. Encryption is closer: Intel scores 19205 versus 17387, a 9.5% edge. Random string sorting shows Intel ahead by 5.9% (37686 vs 35472), and the PassMark single-thread test records Intel at 4147 versus 3858, a 7% lead. The multi-thread PassMark score has Intel at 30510 versus 23569, a 22.7% gap.

The overall averages reflect this spread. The Intel part's average benchmark score is 40144, placing it at the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD chip's average is 30879, at the 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.2% delta), showing it sits in a competitive performance tier. The AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F at 30746 (0.4% delta) and the Intel Core i7-13700TE at 31028 (-0.5% delta), placing it at a lower overall performance level.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. This process gap explains part of the efficiency and transistor density differences: AMD's chip packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die, while Intel's die size is 257 mm² with no transistor count listed in the database.

Core configurations differ sharply. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel chip's base clock is 2.70 GHz with a boost of 5.20 GHz, whereas the AMD part runs at a 4.30 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. Despite the lower base clock, the Intel part's additional cores and higher boost clock drive its benchmark dominance.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The AMD chip uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The larger caches on the Intel side contribute to its advantage in data-intensive workloads.

Memory support differs: the AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth figures. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU-only lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes.

The integrated graphics are not comparable in specification. AMD uses the Radeon 760M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The Intel part carries a higher TDP of 65 watts versus AMD's 45 watts, which aligns with its desktop market segment. The AMD chip is classified as a mobile part on AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part was released in April 2024; the Intel part followed in January 2025. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core 5 221E as the stronger performer across nearly every measured workload. Its 87th percentile ranking versus AMD's 82nd, combined with a 30% higher average benchmark score (40144 vs 30879), makes the performance hierarchy clear. The Intel chip wins all Cinebench tests by a consistent 23.9% margin, all PassMark tests except extended instructions, and delivers particularly large leads in prime number finding (57.8%), physics (45.8%), and floating point math (42.4%).

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS retains a specific advantage in extended instructions, where its 16.4% lead indicates a more capable implementation for certain specialized compute tasks. Its lower TDP of 45 watts versus Intel's 65 watts also suggests a more power-efficient design for mobile applications, consistent with its mobile market segment.

For workloads that stress core count, multi-threading, integer math, or physics simulation, the Intel part is the clear choice from this data. For scenarios involving extended instruction sets, the AMD part offers a measurable edge despite its overall lower scores. The Intel chip's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory adds flexibility for system builders, while the AMD chip's smaller process node and lower TDP make it better suited to constrained thermal environments.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not listed |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 178 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 760M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2024-04-15 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $232 |

| Part number | 100-000001315 (FP7r2), 100-000001388 (FP7) | SRQDVQ659 |

Both parts share dual-channel memory buses, 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, ECC support, and locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins 16 of 17 comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS wins only the PassMark extended instructions test.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 versus AMD's 19742, a 23.9% advantage for Intel. The same 23.9% delta applies to all six Cinebench tests.

Q: Where does the AMD chip outperform the Intel chip?

A: In the PassMark extended instructions test, AMD scores 21212 against Intel's 18216, a 16.4% lead. This is the only benchmark where AMD wins.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: How do the memory support options differ?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS sits at the 82nd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E dominates in rendering workloads. All six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios across R15, R20, and R23, show a uniform 23.9% lead for Intel. This makes the Intel part the stronger choice for content creation tasks that rely on Cinebench-style rendering performance.

Integer math, floating point math, and prime number finding all favor Intel by substantial margins: 38.3%, 42.4%, and 57.8% respectively. These results indicate a decisive advantage for scientific computing, financial modeling, and any workload that stresses raw arithmetic throughput.

Physics simulation shows Intel ahead by 45.8%, with a score of 2230 versus 1208. Multithreaded PassMark performance favors Intel by 22.7%, and data compression by 18%. The Intel part also wins encryption by 9.5% and random string sorting by 5.9%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS wins only in extended instructions, with a 16.4% edge. This suggests a use case in specialized instruction-heavy code paths, such as certain cryptography or media codec workloads, where the AMD architecture's implementation proves more efficient.

The AMD chip's lower TDP of 45 watts versus Intel's 65 watts positions it for battery-conscious mobile systems. Its smaller 4 nm process node and 178 mm² die size, versus Intel's 10 nm and 257 mm², indicate a more compact and potentially more efficient design for laptops, despite its lower benchmark scores.

For desktop builds where power draw is less constrained and raw performance matters most, the Intel part's 14 cores, larger caches, and higher boost clock deliver measurable wins across nearly the entire benchmark suite. The data supports choosing Intel for maximum throughput and AMD for its single specialized workload advantage and lower power envelope.