AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT across all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 221TE does not win a single recorded test. The margins are substantial in every category, ranging from a 38.7% advantage in PassMark physics to a 151.4% advantage in PassMark extended instructions.

Starting with the multi-core rendering tests, the AMD part delivers 2398 points in Cinebench R15 multicore against 1139 for the Intel chip, a 110.5% delta. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the AMD scores 9993 versus 4748, again a 110.5% delta. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD reaches 23794 while the Intel manages 11305, preserving the identical 110.5% delta. This consistency across three Cinebench generations indicates a stable throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core results follow the same trajectory. Cinebench R15 single-core shows AMD at 338 versus Intel at 160, a 111.3% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core records AMD at 1410 and Intel at 670, a 110.4% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core has AMD at 3359 and Intel at 1596, a 110.5% delta. PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests both show AMD at 3535 against Intel at 1734, a 103.9% delta. The AMD chip roughly doubles the Intel chip in single-threaded throughput across every test in the database.

The largest relative margins appear in the PassMark extended instructions test, where AMD scores 24270 against 9655 for Intel, a 151.4% delta. Data encryption shows AMD at 21461 versus 8963, a 139.4% delta. Data compression has AMD at 352002 versus 156682, a 124.7% delta. Integer math records AMD at 93942 versus 42303, a 122.1% delta. Random string sorting shows AMD at 35911 versus 16929, a 112.1% delta. Floating point math has AMD at 53808 versus 31661, a 70% delta. Find prime numbers records AMD at 119 versus 59, a 101.7% delta. The smallest margin is PassMark physics, where AMD scores 1355 against 977, a 38.7% delta, still a clear win.

The average benchmark score places the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT at 29879, while the Intel Core 5 221TE sits at 17860. The AMD part also holds an 81st percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database, compared to a 71st percentile for the Intel part. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H at 29868, the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS and Ryzen 7 7840HS at 29955, and the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X at 29713. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891, the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898, the Intel Core 7 350 at 17779, and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17994. The AMD part's average score places it near the top of its rival cluster, while the Intel part's average score sits near the upper end of a much lower cluster.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear distinction. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas that range from 38.7% to 151.4%. Any workload captured by these tests, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, integer or floating point, encryption or compression, favors the AMD chip by a wide margin. The average benchmark score of 29879 for the AMD part versus 17860 for the Intel part reinforces this result, as does the 81st percentile placement versus the 71st percentile.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does have a lower TDP of 45 watts against 105 watts for the AMD part, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, which the AMD chip lacks. It also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip is limited to DDR4. These are meaningful specification differences for system design, but they do not translate into any performance win in the recorded benchmarks.

For a desktop build where benchmark performance is the primary selection criterion, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the consistent choice across every test in the database. For a system where the 45 watt TDP, integrated graphics, or DDR5 support are decisive factors, the Intel Core 5 221TE has a rationale, but the recorded data does not show any performance scenario where it takes the lead.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has an average benchmark score of 29879, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17860.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 24270 against 9655 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 151.4% delta.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 23794 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 11305, giving the AMD part a 110.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data lists 17 benchmarks, and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT wins all 17. The Intel Core 5 221TE has zero wins.

Q: What is the single-threaded performance difference?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 3535 and the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1734, a 103.9% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 3359 versus 1596 for Intel, also a 110.5% delta.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare for each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H at 29868, a 0% delta. The Intel Core 5 221TE's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891, a -0.2% delta.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The higher boost clock on the Intel chip does not translate into a single-thread win, as the AMD part leads every single-threaded test in the database.

The TDP values differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is rated at 105 watts, while the Intel Core 5 221TE is rated at 45 watts. The sockets differ as well: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip does not. The AMD part carries a launch MSRP of $249, and the Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $232.

Memory support differs on two fronts. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT supports DDR4 exclusively, while the Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the recorded memory bandwidth differs: 51.2 GB/s for the AMD part versus 76.8 GB/s for the Intel part. Both support ECC memory. PCIe support also differs: the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has no integrated graphics, while the Intel Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730. The release dates differ, with the AMD part released in 2024-07-30 and the Intel part released in 2025-01-12. Both are listed as Active in production status and both target the Desktop market segment. The part numbers are 100-000001582 for the AMD chip and SRVQS for the Intel chip.

Architecture Differences

The architectural profiles are distinct. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Vermeer codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD chip has a transistor count of 4,150 million and a die size of 74 mm². The Intel chip has no recorded transistor count and a die size of 215 mm².

Cache organization differs per core and at the shared level. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither chip has a recorded total L3 value, and neither has 3D V-Cache.

The generation labels reflect the respective families: the AMD part is listed as Ryzen 7 (Zen 3 (Vermeer)), while the Intel part is listed as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake). The Intel chip has no recorded architecture field, but the codename and generation fields identify it as a Bartlett Lake product. The Intel chip's process node is listed as 10 nm, while the AMD chip uses 7 nm, a difference that correlates with the AMD chip's smaller die size and higher transistor density.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is defined by the margins in each test rather than by any Intel victory. The largest AMD wins appear in extended instructions, data encryption, integer math, and data compression, with deltas of 151.4%, 139.4%, 122.1%, and 124.7% respectively. These are workloads that stress raw execution throughput and instruction-level parallelism, where the Zen 3 design with 8 cores and 16 threads at higher base and boost clocks holds a decisive edge.

The AMD chip also dominates the Cinebench family, with identical 110.5% deltas across R15, R20, and R23 multicore, and deltas around 110.4% to 111.3% in the single-core variants. Rendering, content creation, and any CPU-bound productivity workload that scales with Cinebench scores will favor the AMD part strongly. The PassMark multithread test shows AMD at 28053 versus 13301, a 110.9% delta, reinforcing the multi-threaded advantage.

The Intel Core 5 221TE has no recorded benchmark wins, but its specification sheet points to scenarios where it could be selected on grounds other than measured performance. The 45 watt TDP is less than half the AMD part's 105 watt rating, which suggests lower power draw in operation. The integrated UHD Graphics 730 means a system can be built without a discrete GPU, something the AMD chip cannot offer. The DDR5 support and higher memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s give the Intel platform a memory bandwidth advantage on paper. The Gen 5 PCIe interface with 16 lanes also exceeds the AMD part's Gen 4 with 20 lanes in per-lane bandwidth.

The closest benchmark margin is PassMark physics, where the AMD part leads by only 38.7%, a smaller gap than elsewhere but still a clear win. The nearest-rival data shows that the AMD chip competes at the level of high-end mobile and desktop parts like the Ryzen 7 7840H and Ryzen 5 9600X, while the Intel chip competes near the level of older desktop parts like the Ryzen 5 3600XT and Ryzen 5 1600. For workloads measured in this database, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the performance leader across the board, while the Intel Core 5 221TE offers platform-level attributes that the benchmarks do not capture.