AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 7 170, which wins 9 of the 11 recorded comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The scale of the AMD advantage is substantial across most workloads, with the largest margins appearing in integer math, extended instructions, and data encryption.

The single biggest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 79738 against Intel's 42303, a delta of 88.5%. This is closely followed by extended instructions at 18107 versus 9655, a 87.5% advantage. These two results indicate that the AMD processor handles arithmetic-heavy and specialized instruction workloads with far greater efficiency than the Intel part. The data encryption test also shows a major divergence: AMD scores 16078 while Intel manages only 8963, a 79.4% difference. For any workload involving encryption or secure data processing, the Ryzen 7 170 is clearly the stronger option.

Single-thread performance also favors AMD heavily. The PassMark single-thread score for the Ryzen 7 170 is 3128, compared to 1734 for the Core 5 221TE, an 80.4% lead. This is a critical finding because many everyday applications rely on single-core speed, and the AMD chip's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 1.80 GHz for Intel contributes to this outcome. The data compression test shows AMD at 265920 against Intel's 156682, a 69.7% margin, while random string sorting favors AMD by 64.2% (27804 versus 16929). Floating point math is another AMD win, with 44979 versus 31661, a 42.1% difference. Multithread performance, which matters for rendering and compilation tasks, shows AMD at 20760 versus Intel's 13301, a 56.1% gap.

Intel does win two comparisons, though by much smaller margins. The find prime numbers test shows Intel at 59 against AMD's 49, a 16.9% advantage in Intel's favor. The physics test also goes to Intel, with a score of 977 versus AMD's 890, an 8.9% lead. These wins suggest that Intel has some advantage in specific algorithmic patterns, but the overall picture is one of AMD dominance across the board. Even in the tests Intel wins, the margins are modest compared to the double-digit and often triple-digit percentage leads AMD holds in its victories.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this hierarchy. AMD's Ryzen 7 170 posts an average score of 43689, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Intel's Core 5 221TE averages 17860, which lands in the 71st percentile. The delta between these averages is roughly 145%, a massive separation in overall capability.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher overall benchmark average?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has an average benchmark score of 43689, while the Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860. The AMD processor sits in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, whereas Intel is in the 71st percentile.

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

A: Yes, Intel wins two tests. It scores 59 in find prime numbers versus AMD's 49, a 16.9% advantage, and 977 in physics versus AMD's 890, an 8.9% lead.

Q: How large is AMD's lead in multithreaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 7 170 scores 20760 in the multithread test, which is 56.1% higher than Intel's 13301. This reflects the AMD chip's ability to handle parallel workloads more effectively.

Q: What is the difference in single-thread scores?

A: AMD's single-thread score is 3128, while Intel's is 1734. This represents an 80.4% advantage for the Ryzen 7 170, indicating substantially better per-core performance.

Q: Which CPU supports more memory types?

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

Q: Is there any difference in PCIe capabilities?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Intel's newer PCIe standard offers higher bandwidth per lane, though AMD provides more total lanes.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is built on the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename, fabricated on a 6 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. This process node difference is significant: the smaller 6 nm node typically allows for better power efficiency and higher transistor density, which helps explain some of the performance deltas in the benchmark results.

Core configuration differs markedly between the two. AMD uses 8 cores with 16 threads, while Intel uses 10 cores with 16 threads. The Intel processor has more physical cores but matches AMD's thread count, suggesting that the AMD cores are more efficient at handling two threads per core. Cache layouts also diverge. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has larger per-core caches and a bigger L3 pool, which could benefit certain workloads, but the benchmark data shows that AMD's overall architecture delivers superior results in most tests.

Die sizes are similar at 210 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel, but the production details differ. AMD uses a 6 nm TSMC process, while Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses a Radeon 680M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Both processors support ECC memory, which is a notable feature for reliability-sensitive applications.

Market segments differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is classified as a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP and uses the AMD Socket FP7. Intel's Core 5 221TE is a desktop processor with a 45 W TDP on the Intel Socket 1700. These platform differences mean the AMD chip is designed for power-constrained mobile environments, while Intel targets desktop systems with more cooling headroom.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 is the superior processor in nearly every measurable aspect. It wins 9 out of 11 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 42.1% to 88.5% in its favor. The average benchmark score of 43689 places it in the 88th percentile, far above Intel's 71st percentile and average score of 17860. The single-thread advantage of 80.4% is particularly telling, as it indicates that even applications that do not use multiple cores will run substantially faster on the AMD chip.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does have its strengths, but they are narrow. Its wins in find prime numbers and physics show that it has some algorithmic advantages, and its larger L3 cache of 24 MB could theoretically help in cache-sensitive workloads. However, the benchmark evidence does not show these advantages translating into broad performance superiority. The Intel processor also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which provides more flexibility in system building, and its PCIe Gen 5 interface offers a newer standard, though with fewer lanes.

For users who prioritize raw performance across a wide range of tasks, from data encryption to floating point math to multithreaded rendering, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 is the clear choice. The data shows no scenario where Intel's modest wins in two tests outweigh AMD's dominance in the other nine. The 88th percentile ranking versus 71st percentile is a concise summary of the overall capability gap.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores; Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores
• Base Clock: AMD at 3.20 GHz; Intel at 1.80 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD at 4.75 GHz; Intel at 5.00 GHz
• TDP: AMD at 35 W; Intel at 45 W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP7 versus Intel Socket 1700
• Codename: Rembrandt-R versus Bartlett Lake
• Process Node: 6 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel)
• Die Size: 210 mm² versus 215 mm²
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 16 MB shared versus 24 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR5 only versus DDR4 and DDR5
• PCIe: Gen 4, 20 lanes versus Gen 5, 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon 680M versus UHD Graphics 730
• Market Segment: Mobile versus Desktop
• Release Date: 2025-09-30 versus 2025-01-12
• Part Number: 100-000000989 versus SRVQS

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 dominates in data-heavy and computational workloads. Its encryption score of 16078 is 79.4% higher than Intel's, making it the obvious choice for security-focused tasks. Data compression shows a 69.7% advantage, and random string sorting is 64.2% ahead, indicating superior performance in file archiving, database operations, and text processing. The 88.5% lead in integer math and 87.5% lead in extended instructions make AMD the pick for scientific computing, financial modeling, and any application that relies heavily on arithmetic operations.

Multithreaded workloads also favor AMD decisively, with a 56.1% advantage in the multithread test. This translates to better performance in video rendering, 3D animation, and software compilation. The single-thread lead of 80.4% means that even lightweight applications like web browsing, office suites, and general desktop use will feel snappier on the AMD system. Floating point math, which matters for physics simulations and engineering software, is 42.1% better on AMD.

The Intel Core 5 221TE claims two specific wins. Its find prime numbers score of 59 versus AMD's 49 suggests it handles certain prime-number algorithms more efficiently, which could be relevant for cryptography-related tasks. The physics score of 977 versus 890 indicates a slight edge in physics simulations, though the margin is small. Intel also offers platform advantages not captured in CPU benchmarks: its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory allows builders to use cheaper DDR4 RAM or newer DDR5 modules, and its PCIe Gen 5 interface provides a more modern connection standard for high-bandwidth devices like graphics cards and NVMe storage.

For a desktop system where power consumption is less critical and memory flexibility matters, the Intel part has some appeal. For a mobile platform or any scenario where performance across a broad range of workloads is the priority, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 delivers measurably better results in 9 of 11 benchmarks, with an average score more than double that of its rival.