AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous in its verdict: the Intel Core 5 221E wins every single head-to-head comparison recorded in the database, taking 11 of 11 benchmark tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does not record a single victory in any measured workload, from data compression to floating-point math to single-threaded performance.

The widest gaps appear in integer-heavy and physics workloads. The Intel part delivers a 117813 score in integer math against 79738 for the AMD processor, a 32.3% advantage. In physics, the Intel chip scores 2230 versus 890, a 60.1% lead that nearly triples the AMD result. Prime number finding shows the most extreme difference: Intel scores 173, AMD scores 49, a 71.7% deficit for the Ryzen part.

Floating-point math also favors Intel heavily, with 79028 against 44979, a 43.1% margin. Multithreaded performance follows the same pattern: 30510 for Intel, 20760 for AMD, a 32% difference. Data compression shows Intel ahead by 18%, encryption by 16.3%, and random string sorting by 26.2%.

The closest contest is extended instructions, where Intel leads by only 0.6% (18216 versus 18107). This near-parity suggests that for workloads relying on specialized instruction extensions, the two processors are effectively equivalent. Single-threaded performance favors Intel by 24.6%, with scores of 4147 versus 3128.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall picture but narrow the gap. The Intel Core 5 221E posts an average score of 40144, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 averages 43689. This discrepancy requires careful interpretation: the Intel processor was evaluated with additional Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests that are not present in the AMD dataset. Those Cinebench results, including a multicore score of 25933 in R23 and a single-core score of 3661, pull the Intel average upward relative to its PassMark-only results. The percentile rankings place both processors close together, with AMD at the 88th percentile and Intel at the 87th percentile of all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses the Zen 3+ architecture under the Rembrandt-R codename, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 210 mm². It is a mobile segment part on AMD Socket FP7. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a larger die at 257 mm², and targets the desktop segment on Intel Socket 1700.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip provides 14 cores and 20 threads. This core advantage explains much of the Intel lead in multithreaded workloads. The AMD base clock is higher at 3.20 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for Intel, but the Intel boost clock reaches 5.20 GHz against 4.75 GHz for AMD.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD processor uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor uses 80 KB of L1 per core, a considerably larger 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 and total L3 on the Intel side contribute to its performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support shows a generational split. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a higher bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s. Both processors support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs by generation: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. AMD ships the Radeon 680M, while Intel ships UHD Graphics 730. Power envelopes differ markedly: the AMD processor has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel processor has a 65 W TDP. The release timeline shows the Intel part arriving earlier, with a release date of 2025-01-12, while the AMD part followed on 2025-09-30.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 221E wins all 11 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including data compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, multithreaded tests, and single-threaded tests.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 only with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP. This makes the AMD part a lower-power design suitable for mobile use.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 boosts to 4.75 GHz. The AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for Intel.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has an average benchmark score of 43689, while the Intel Core 5 221E has an average of 40144. However, the Intel dataset includes additional Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests that the AMD dataset lacks.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear separation between the two processors across nearly every field.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 170 | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.75 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Rembrandt-R | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 6 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 210 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 2 MB per core |

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

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

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

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 680M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-09-30 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $232 |

Both processors lack an unlocked multiplier, both support ECC memory, and both are currently in active production. The AMD part carries part number 100-000000989, while the Intel part carries SRQDVQ659.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results tell a consistent story of Intel dominance, but the magnitude varies significantly by workload. The largest margin is in prime number finding, where Intel scores 173 against 49 for AMD, a 71.7% advantage. This workload often rewards large caches and high per-core throughput, both of which favor the Intel design with its 2 MB per-core L2 and 24 MB shared L3.

Physics simulation shows the second-largest gap at 60.1%, with Intel at 2230 and AMD at 890. This is a multithreaded workload that responds to core count, and the Intel part's 14 cores against 8 give it a structural advantage. Floating-point math follows at 43.1% (79028 versus 44979), again reflecting the core and cache disparity.

Integer math shows Intel ahead by 32.3% (117813 versus 79738). Multithreaded performance, measured by the PassMark multithread test, shows Intel at 30510 versus 20760, a 32% lead. Random string sorting shows a 26.2% Intel advantage (37686 versus 27804). Single-threaded performance, recorded identically in both the single_thread and singlethread tests, shows Intel at 4147 versus 3128, a 24.6% margin.

Data compression shows the smallest significant gap at 18%, with Intel at 324285 and AMD at 265920. Data encryption shows a 16.3% Intel lead (19205 versus 16078). The extended instructions test is the closest result overall: Intel scores 18216, AMD scores 18107, a difference of only 0.6%.

The Cinebench results recorded only for the Intel processor provide additional context for its multithreaded capability. The R23 multicore score of 25933 and single-core score of 3661 indicate strong performance in rendering-style workloads. The R20 scores of 10891 multicore and 1537 single-core, plus R15 scores of 2613 multicore and 368 single-core, follow the same pattern.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core 5 221E is the faster processor in every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its 14 cores and 20 threads, larger cache hierarchy, higher boost clock, and Gen 5 PCIe support give it consistent advantages across integer math, floating-point math, physics, compression, encryption, and single-threaded workloads. The smallest margin, 0.6% in extended instructions, still favors Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does have compensating attributes that matter outside raw benchmark scores. Its 35 W TDP is nearly half the Intel part's 65 W, making it a better fit for power-constrained mobile designs. Its 6 nm TSMC process and smaller 210 mm² die suggest a more power-efficient implementation. It also offers Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes versus Intel's Gen 5 with 16 lanes, which may matter for systems needing more total lanes.

The average benchmark scores require careful reading. The AMD processor shows a higher average of 43689 against 40144 for Intel, but this reflects the different test sets recorded for each part, not a reversal of head-to-head results. Intel's additional Cinebench scores raise its average while the AMD dataset relies solely on PassMark tests. The percentile rankings place both within one point of each other, 88th for AMD and 87th for Intel, indicating similar standing among all CPUs in the database.

For users prioritizing raw performance in multithreaded, integer, floating-point, and single-threaded tasks, the Intel Core 5 221E is the choice supported by the recorded measurements. For users prioritizing lower power draw, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 offers a 35 W TDP and a smaller process node, though it sacrifices substantial performance across every measured workload. The data does not show a scenario where the AMD processor outperforms the Intel part in any recorded benchmark.