AMD Ryzen 7 5700U vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers 15 benchmark comparisons between the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and the Intel Core 5 221TE. The AMD part wins 11 of those comparisons, while the Intel part takes 4. The overall average benchmark score tells a similar story: the Ryzen 7 5700U sits at 18176, roughly 1.8% above the Intel Core 5 221TE's 17860. Both processors land within one percentile point of each other in the database-wide distribution, at the 72nd and 71st percentiles respectively.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U's largest wins come in the PassMark suite. In single-threaded performance, the AMD part scores 2560 against 1734 for the Intel part, a 47.6% advantage. That same margin appears twice because PassMark records both "single_thread" and "singlethread" results, and both favor AMD by the same 47.6%. Integer math shows a 41.9% lead for AMD (60037 versus 42303), while data encryption and extended instructions each show a 40% advantage (12549 versus 8963, and 13519 versus 9655 respectively). Data compression follows closely at 39.7% (218853 versus 156682), and random string sorting is 39.5% ahead (23608 versus 16929). Even in floating-point math, where the margin is narrower, AMD leads by 4.7% (33151 versus 31661). The AMD part also wins the multithread PassMark test by 17.5% (15623 versus 13301).

In Cinebench, the results split by workload generation. The older Cinebench R15 test favors AMD: multicore shows 1480 versus 1139, a 29.9% win for the Ryzen 7 5700U, and singlecore shows 188 versus 160, a 17.5% win. However, the newer Cinebench R23 test reverses the outcome. The Intel Core 5 221TE scores 11305 in R23 multicore against 8650 for the AMD part, a 23.5% margin. In R23 singlecore, Intel leads with 1596 versus 1258, a 21.2% advantage.

The Intel Core 5 221TE's other two wins are narrower in percentage terms but still decisive. In PassMark physics, Intel scores 977 versus 622, a 36.3% lead. In the find-prime-numbers test, Intel scores 59 versus 29, a 50.8% margin, the largest percentage swing in either direction across the entire comparison.

The pattern here is instructive. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U dominates most integer-heavy, data-processing, and single-threaded PassMark workloads. The Intel Core 5 221TE counters in the physics simulation, prime-number search, and the newer Cinebench R23 rendering workloads. The R15 versus R23 split is particularly notable: the two Cinebench versions clearly reward different architectural traits, with the older test favoring AMD and the newer one favoring Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has an average benchmark score of 18176, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 17860, a difference of roughly 1.8% in favor of the AMD part.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U scores 2560 against 1734 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 47.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, however, the Intel part leads with 1596 versus 1258, a 21.2% margin.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 11305 versus 8650 for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, a 23.5% lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare on data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U scores 218853 in PassMark data compression, which is 39.7% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE's 156682.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find-prime-numbers, where the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 59 against 29 for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, a 50.8% difference.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U supports DDR4 only, while the Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the clear choice for workloads that stress integer arithmetic, data manipulation, and encryption. Its 41.9% lead in integer math and 40% leads in both data encryption and extended instructions make it the stronger option for compression tasks, hashing, and general-purpose compute that relies on fixed-point operations. The 39.7% advantage in data compression and 39.5% in random string sorting reinforce this picture. For users running single-threaded PassMark workloads, the AMD part's 47.6% lead is substantial, and it also wins the multithread PassMark test by 17.5%. Even in floating-point math, where the gap is smallest, the AMD part still holds a 4.7% edge.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in specific scenarios. Its 50.8% margin in find-prime-numbers points to an advantage in workloads that involve heavy iteration or number-theoretic computation. The 36.3% lead in PassMark physics suggests it handles physics simulation better, which can matter for certain game physics or scientific modeling tasks. The Cinebench R23 results are the most important for rendering: the Intel part leads by 23.5% in multicore and 21.2% in singlecore. For content creators who use current-generation Cinebench as a proxy for rendering performance, the Intel Core 5 221TE is the better fit.

The overall split is clear: AMD wins the majority of data-centric and single-threaded PassMark tests, while Intel wins the newer rendering benchmark and the two specialized compute tests. The choice depends on whether the target workload resembles PassMark's integer and data tasks or Cinebench R23's rendering pipeline.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core 5 221TE differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads. Both have the same thread count, but the Intel part has two additional physical cores.

Clock speeds differ in the boost range. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel part boosts 700 MHz higher.

Power and platform targets are very different. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a TDP of 15 watts and uses AMD Socket FP6. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts and uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is in the mobile segment, while the Intel part is in the desktop segment.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD part supports DDR4 only with dual-channel memory and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, which the AMD part does not.

PCIe capabilities differ: the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U offers Gen 3 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 5 221TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics 512SP on the AMD side and UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel side.

The Intel Core 5 221TE has a launch MSRP of $232. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries, process nodes, and architectural generations. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process with a die size of 156 mm² and 9,800 million transistors. It uses the Zen 2 architecture under the codename Lucienne, part of the Ryzen 7 generation. The Intel Core 5 221TE is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². Its architecture is listed as Bartlett Lake, and it belongs to the Core 5 generation.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has a larger cache at every level, with three times the L3 capacity.

The production status is active for both, but the release dates are far apart. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U was released on 2021-01-11, while the Intel Core 5 221TE was released on 2025-01-12, four years later. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The transistor count is only recorded for the AMD part, at 9,800 million. The Intel part has no transistor count in the database. The foundry difference (TSMC versus Intel) and process node difference (7 nm versus 10 nm) reflect the distinct manufacturing approaches. The Intel part's larger die size of 215 mm² versus 156 mm² for AMD is consistent with the different cache and core configurations. The Intel Core 5 221TE's 10 cores with 1.25 MB L2 per core require more silicon, and the 24 MB L3 is three times larger than the AMD part's 8 MB. These architectural differences explain why the Intel part carries a 45 watt TDP versus 15 watts for AMD, and why the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with higher memory bandwidth.