AMD Ryzen 7 160 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 7 160 and the Intel Core 5 221TE. The AMD processor wins 7 of the 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part takes 4. The magnitude of the victories, however, tells a more complex story.

The AMD Ryzen 7 160 delivers its largest margin in single-thread performance. In the passmark_single_thread test, the AMD scores 3435 against Intel's 1734, a delta of 98.1%. This near-doubling of the score is the single biggest gap in the entire comparison. The same result appears under the passmark_singlethread entry, confirming the consistency of the measurement.

Integer math heavily favors the AMD chip as well. The passmark_integer_math score for the Ryzen 7 160 is 81370, while the Core 5 221TE manages 42303. That is a 92.4% advantage for AMD. Data encryption shows a 73.2% lead (15520 vs 8963), and extended instructions follow with a 67.5% edge (16170 vs 9655). Data compression also goes to AMD at 242634 versus 156682, a 54.9% win, and random string sorting favors AMD by 53.5% (25981 vs 16929).

The Intel Core 5 221TE counters in several areas. The most dramatic Intel win is floating-point math: 31661 versus 6673, a 78.9% margin in Intel's favor. This is the second-largest delta in the dataset, and it is a substantial reversal of the overall trend. Prime number finding also goes to Intel, with a score of 59 against AMD's 43, a 27.1% advantage. The Intel part wins the multithread test 13301 to 12237, an 8% lead, and physics 977 to 793, an 18.8% margin.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 7 160 is 37117, placing it at the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860, putting it at the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Core i9-12900T at 37112 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-13700 at 37135 (0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at 37093 (0.1% delta). The Intel Core 5 221TE sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (-0.2% delta) and the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898 (-0.2% delta).

The data indicates that the AMD processor is not merely ahead in more tests, it is ahead by very large margins in its strongest workloads. The Intel processor wins fewer tests, but its floating-point result is so dominant that it defines its own area of strength.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 160 scores 3435 in the passmark_single_thread test, which is 98.1% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE's score of 1734.

Q: How do the two processors compare in floating-point performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE is significantly ahead, scoring 31661 in passmark_floating_point_math compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 160's 6673, a 78.9% difference.

Q: What is the multithread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE scores 13301 in passmark_multithread against the AMD Ryzen 7 160's 12237, giving Intel an 8% lead.

Q: Which processor ranks higher among all CPUs in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 160 is at the 85th percentile, while the Intel Core 5 221TE is at the 71st percentile.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any memory-related benchmarks?

A: Data compression, which is memory-intensive, goes to AMD with a score of 242634 versus 156682 for Intel, a 54.9% margin.

Q: What are the closest comparable processors for each chip?

A: For the AMD Ryzen 7 160, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-12900T, Intel Core i7-13700, and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, all within 0.1% of its average score. For the Intel Core 5 221TE, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, Intel Core 5 120U, and Intel Core 7 350 are the closest, with deltas between -0.2% and 0.5%.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for single-thread and integer-heavy workloads: the AMD Ryzen 7 160. Its 98.1% lead in single-thread performance and 92.4% lead in integer math are decisive. The AMD chip also dominates encryption, extended instructions, data compression, and random string sorting. Its 85th percentile ranking versus the Intel chip's 71st percentile confirms that the overall score distribution favors AMD.

The Intel Core 5 221TE is the choice when floating-point math is the priority. Its 78.9% advantage in that specific test is the largest single margin in the comparison. It also leads in prime number finding, multithread, and physics. The multithread lead, however, is modest at 8%, and the physics lead is 18.8%. The Intel part is competitive in these areas but does not approach the scale of AMD's wins in its own strong tests.

For a user whose workload is dominated by encryption, compression, sorting, or general integer calculation, the AMD Ryzen 7 160 is the stronger part. For workloads that rely heavily on floating-point throughput, the Intel Core 5 221TE has a clear and substantial advantage. The overall average benchmark score, 37117 for AMD versus 17860 for Intel, reflects the AMD processor's broader strength across the tested categories.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in core configuration. The AMD Ryzen 7 160 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.75 GHz. The Intel chip has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

The thermal design power differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 7 160 is rated at 28 W, while the Intel Core 5 221TE is rated at 45 W. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP7, and the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700.

The AMD processor supports DDR5 memory only, while the Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus and have the same memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ. The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part includes Radeon 680M integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics 730.

The market segments differ: the AMD Ryzen 7 160 is a mobile processor, and the Intel Core 5 221TE is a desktop processor. Both are active production parts and both have locked multipliers. The release dates are different, with the Intel chip released earlier.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 160 is built on the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename. It uses a 6 nm process node from TSMC, with a die size of 210 mm². The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process node from Intel, with a die size of 215 mm².

Cache structures differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has larger per-core caches and a larger L3 pool.

The AMD processor belongs to the Ryzen 7 generation under the Zen 3+ (Rembrandt) family. The Intel processor belongs to the Core 5 generation under Bartlett Lake. The foundries differ: TSMC produces the AMD chip, and Intel produces the Intel chip.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 160 wins in seven benchmark categories. These are data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, integer math, random string sorting, single-thread, and singlethread. The performance profile suggests a processor that excels at cryptographic workloads, data transformation, and general arithmetic. The 54.9% lead in compression and 73.2% lead in encryption point to strong throughput in these specific tasks.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in four categories: floating-point math, prime number finding, multithread, and physics. The floating-point result is extraordinary, with the Intel chip scoring 4.7 times the AMD chip's score. This makes the Intel part the better option for scientific computing, simulations, and any workload that depends on floating-point throughput. The wins in multithread and physics, while smaller, add to the case for the Intel chip in heavily threaded workloads.

The specification differences reinforce these performance patterns. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz helps explain its floating-point and multithread results, while the AMD chip's higher base clock of 2.70 GHz contributes to its efficiency in single-thread and integer tasks. The larger L3 cache on the Intel chip (24 MB versus 16 MB) supports its multithread advantage. The AMD chip's 6 nm TSMC process node and 28 W TDP contrast with the Intel chip's 10 nm node and 45 W TDP, which aligns with the AMD part's mobile positioning.

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 7 160 is the stronger overall performer, given its higher average score, higher percentile ranking, and larger number of wins. The Intel Core 5 221TE is the specialist in floating-point and certain threaded workloads. The recorded data does not show a single processor that dominates every category, but the AMD part holds the broader advantage.