AMD Ryzen 7 7735U vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

The Intel Core 5 220H and AMD Ryzen 7 7735U are both mobile processors targeting the same performance percentile, each sitting at the 80th percentile among all CPUs. Despite this parity in overall standing, the benchmark data reveals two very different designs: the Intel part wins 11 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD chip claims 4. The Core 5 220H’s victories are often decisive, with double-digit percentage margins in several workloads, whereas the Ryzen 7 7735U’s wins are narrower, mostly in the low single digits. The two processors also differ substantially in platform characteristics, including process node, memory support, and integrated graphics, making the choice between them dependent on the specific workload profile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H scores 11198, which is 11% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U’s 10085 in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core 5 220H leads by 24.4%, scoring 1853 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U’s 1490. The Intel part also wins the PassMark single-thread test by 5.2%, with scores of 3405 and 3236.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U outperforms the Intel Core 5 220H?

A: Yes, the AMD chip wins four head-to-head tests: PassMark data compression (250457 vs 247921), data encryption (15825 vs 15216), extended instructions (16349 vs 14642), and integer math (79580 vs 73555). Its largest win is 10.4% in extended instructions.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support simultaneous multi-threading, but Intel uses a higher physical core count.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H is manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U uses TSMC’s 6 nm process. The AMD part also has a specified die size of 208 mm², while the Intel die size is not provided in the data.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 220H does not. The AMD processor also has a higher memory bandwidth specification of 76.8 GB/s, whereas the Intel part’s memory bandwidth is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 220H is the clear choice for compute-heavy, multi-threaded rendering and physics simulation. Its 48.4% lead in PassMark physics (1478 vs 996) is the largest single margin in the entire comparison, and it also dominates floating-point math with a 20.3% advantage (51671 vs 42966). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part’s 11% lead (11198 vs 10085) confirms its strength in sustained all-core workloads. For single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel chip is also superior, with a 24.4% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core and a 5.2% edge in PassMark single-thread, making it the better pick for lightly-threaded applications and general snappiness.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U wins where the workload involves integer operations, data compression, or cryptographic tasks. Its 10.4% victory in PassMark extended instructions (16349 vs 14642) points to better SIMD or specialized instruction handling, and it also takes integer math by 7.6% (79580 vs 73555). The AMD chip’s wins in data compression (250457 vs 247921) and data encryption (15825 vs 15216) are smaller, at 1% and 3.8% respectively, but they indicate a slight edge in file archiving and security-related processing. The Ryzen 7 7735U’s lower 28 W TDP also makes it more suitable for thin-and-light chassis where thermal headroom is limited, versus the Intel part’s 45 W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 5 220H is built on Raptor Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process from Intel’s own foundry. It features 12 cores and 16 threads, which implies a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores, though the data does not specify the exact core type mix. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U uses Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt-R) on a 6 nm process from TSMC, with 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part’s process node advantage is significant, as 6 nm is a more advanced node than 10 nm, which typically allows for better power efficiency per transistor.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Intel Core 5 220H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part’s larger L2 and L3 caches could contribute to its multi-core and physics test victories. The AMD chip’s cache layout is smaller overall, but its 6 nm process and Zen 3+ architecture may compensate in power-sensitive workloads. The AMD part also has a specified die size of 208 mm², while the Intel die size is not listed.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel Core 5 220H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U uses Radeon 680M. The AMD Radeon 680M is generally considered a more powerful iGPU in the market, though no benchmark scores are provided in the data to quantify this. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not, and the AMD chip’s PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 20 lanes, whereas the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The most apparent specification difference is core count: the Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores versus the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U’s 8 cores, though both have 16 threads. Base clocks are identical at 2.70 GHz, but the Intel part boosts to 4.90 GHz, higher than the AMD chip’s 4.75 GHz. TDP is another major divergence, with the Intel processor rated at 45 W and the AMD processor at 28 W, making the Ryzen 7 7735U substantially more power-efficient on paper.

Memory support shows a split: the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part has a specified memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Intel part’s bandwidth is not given. ECC memory support is exclusive to the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U. The process node differs, with Intel at 10 nm and AMD at 6 nm (TSMC). The AMD chip’s die size is 208 mm², while Intel’s is not listed.

The sockets are not interchangeable: the Intel Core 5 220H uses Intel BGA 1744, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U uses AMD Socket FP7. The PCIe versions also differ, with the Intel part offering Gen 5 (8 lanes) and the AMD part offering Gen 4 (20 lanes). The Intel processor’s launch MSRP is $342, while the AMD processor has no launch MSRP listed. Both are active in production and launched in recent years, with the Intel part releasing in late 2024 and the AMD part in early 2023. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 220H’s most dominant win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 1478 against the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U’s 996, a massive 48.4% advantage. This suggests that the Intel part’s core configuration and cache hierarchy are far better suited to rigid body physics or similar simulation workloads. The next largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel chip scores 82 versus 57, a 43.9% lead. This test is sensitive to integer throughput and cache latency, and the Intel part’s larger L2 and L3 caches likely play a role.

In floating-point math, the Intel Core 5 220H wins 51671 to 42966, a 20.3% margin, which aligns with its strong Cinebench showing. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 24.4% lead for Intel (1853 vs 1490), and the Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a 12% lead (262 vs 234). These single-core margins are substantial and indicate that the Intel core’s higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.75 GHz, combined with its architecture, translates into faster per-thread performance. The Intel part also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 11% (11198 vs 10085) and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 8.1% (1835 vs 1698), confirming its overall multi-threaded superiority despite having fewer threads per core.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U’s wins are concentrated in specific integer and data-processing tests. Its largest victory is in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 16349 versus 14642, a 10.4% lead. This suggests better handling of advanced instruction sets or vectorized code. In PassMark integer math, the AMD chip wins 79580 to 73555, a 7.6% margin, showing an edge in pure integer arithmetic. The AMD part also takes data encryption (15825 vs 15216, a 3.8% lead) and data compression (250457 vs 247921, a 1% lead). These wins are notable but narrower than Intel’s biggest margins.

In the PassMark multi-thread test, the Intel Core 5 220H wins 21884 to 20723, a 5.6% margin, and it also wins random string sorting by 7.9% (28438 vs 26365). The single-thread PassMark test goes to Intel by 5.2% (3405 vs 3236). Overall, the Intel part wins 11 of the 15 head-to-head tests, with an average score of 28574 versus the AMD part’s 28350, a difference of less than 1%. The Intel Core 5 220H’s nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7203P with a delta of 0%, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 6337P with a delta of 0.1%, indicating both chips sit at nearly identical overall performance tiers.