AMD Ryzen 7 8700F vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The largest margin appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD part scores 28,474 versus 9,655, a delta of 194.9%. That category typically stresses AVX-class workloads, and the gap here is substantial.

PassMark random string sorting also shows a wide divide. The 8700F records 45,425 against 16,929, a 168.3% advantage. Integer math follows at 100,371 versus 42,303, a 137.3% delta. Data encryption shows 22,117 versus 8,963, a 146.8% margin. Data compression delivers 378,160 versus 156,682, a 141.4% lead. Floating point math reaches 62,629 versus 31,661, a 97.8% delta.

Cinebench results mirror the same pattern. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD chip scores 26,646 against 11,305, a 135.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 3,761 versus 1,596, also a 135.7% delta. Cinebench R20 multicore records 11,191 versus 4,748, again 135.7%. R20 singlecore is 1,579 versus 670, same margin. R15 multicore is 2,685 versus 1,139, and R15 singlecore is 378 versus 160, both at 135.7% or 136.3% respectively.

PassMark multithread yields 30,893 versus 13,301, a 132.3% delta. PassMark single thread shows 3,872 versus 1,734, a 123.3% margin. PassMark physics records 1,553 versus 977, a 59% delta, the smallest relative gap in the set. Prime number finding shows 98 versus 59, a 66.1% lead.

The average benchmark score tells the broader story. The 8700F carries an average of 30,746 across its benchmark suite, while the Core 5 221TE averages 17,860. That difference places the AMD part at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the 8700F include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS at 30,879 average score (0.4% behind) and the Intel Core i5-13600H at 30,548 (0.6% ahead). The Core 5 221TE, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17,891 (0.2% behind) and the Intel Core 5 120U at 17,898 (0.2% behind).

No benchmark in the recorded data favors the Intel part. Even the categories where Intel architectures sometimes compete, such as encryption or compression, show AMD ahead by wide margins in this comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is unambiguous. The 8700F wins every tested category, but the magnitude of the win varies meaningfully across workload types.

In extended instruction workloads, the AMD part shows its largest edge at 194.9%. This category includes SIMD-heavy and cryptography-related operations. The 8700F's Zen 4 architecture with a 4 nm process appears well suited to these tasks. Random string sorting also shows a very large 168.3% delta, indicating strong memory subsystem performance and cache behavior.

Integer math, a common proxy for general-purpose compute, shows a 137.3% delta. Data encryption shows 146.8%, and data compression shows 141.4%. These are all heavily parallel workloads where the AMD part's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz combined with its 8 cores and 16 threads delivers consistent advantages.

Cinebench results across R15, R20, and R23 versions all show essentially identical 135.7% deltas. This consistency suggests the performance difference scales uniformly with thread count and clock speed, rather than being workload-specific. The singlecore deltas match the multicore deltas almost exactly, indicating that per-thread performance is the dominant factor.

The smallest relative gaps appear in physics at 59% and prime number finding at 66.1%. These workloads may be more sensitive to memory latency or specific instruction patterns where the Intel part's larger L3 cache (24 MB shared versus 16 MB shared) partially compensates for its lower clock speeds.

PassMark single thread shows a 123.3% delta. This is significant because it indicates the AMD part's per-core advantage is not just a multicore artifact. The 8700F boosts to 5.00 GHz, and the Core 5 221TE also boosts to 5.00 GHz, yet the AMD part still leads by a wide margin in single-threaded tests. The Intel part's base clock of 1.80 GHz versus the AMD part's 4.10 GHz base likely explains part of this, as sustained single-thread performance may be affected by power and thermal limits.

For users running heavily threaded workloads, the 8700F delivers between 132.3% and 141.4% higher scores depending on the specific test. For single-threaded workloads, the advantage sits around 123.3% to 136.3%. The Intel part does not win any category, but its closest relative performance appears in physics and prime number calculations, where the deltas drop below 70%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F belongs to the 8000 series, uses the Zen 4 architecture, and carries the codename Phoenix. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a 215 mm² die size. No transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

Core counts differ. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite having two additional physical cores, the Intel part trails in every benchmark, indicating that core count alone does not compensate for per-core performance differences.

Clock speeds show a notable split. The 8700F has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core 5 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and the same 5.00 GHz boost. The lower base clock on the Intel part is substantial and likely contributes to its lower sustained performance in multithreaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies differ in structure and capacity. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has more total cache at each level, yet still loses decisively. Neither part has 3D V-Cache.

Memory support differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The AMD part has slightly higher memory bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported on the AMD part but is supported on the Intel part.

PCIe capabilities differ. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has the newer PCIe standard and more per-lane bandwidth, though the AMD part offers more total lanes.

Integrated graphics distinguish the two. The AMD part has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A. The Intel part includes UHD Graphics 730. This is a meaningful feature difference for systems that require a display output without a discrete GPU.

Socket and platform requirements differ completely. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel part has a TDP of 45 watts. The lower TDP on the Intel part suggests it is designed for more power-constrained environments, but the recorded performance data shows a substantial cost in benchmark scores.

The release dates differ by about nine months. The AMD part launched on 2024-03-31, and the Intel part launched on 2025-01-12. Both are listed as Active in production status and target the desktop market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both have the same thread count.

Q: Do both processors boost to the same clock speed?

A: Yes, both have a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. However, the AMD part has a base clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 1.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F does not support ECC memory.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

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

A: The largest margin is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD part scores 28,474 versus 9,655, a delta of 194.9%.

Q: What is the smallest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The smallest margin is in PassMark physics, where the AMD part scores 1,553 versus 977, a delta of 59%.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 76.8 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a one-sided comparison. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The average benchmark scores place the AMD part at 30,746 versus 17,860 for the Intel part, a difference of roughly 72%. The AMD part ranks at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel part ranks at the 71st percentile.

The architecture differences explain the outcome. The AMD part uses a 4 nm process at TSMC, has a base clock of 4.10 GHz, and supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part uses a 10 nm process at Intel, has a base clock of 1.80 GHz, and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Even though the Intel part has more cores (10 versus 8), more L3 cache (24 MB versus 16 MB), and a newer PCIe standard (Gen 5 versus Gen 4), it cannot overcome the per-core performance gap.

The Intel part does offer features the AMD part lacks. It supports ECC memory, includes UHD Graphics 730 for display output without a discrete GPU, and has a lower TDP of 45 watts compared to 65 watts. It also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing platform flexibility.

The AMD part counters with an unlocked multiplier, a higher base clock, more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), and a smaller die size of 178 mm² compared to 215 mm². It also has a higher memory bandwidth figure.

For workloads that depend on raw compute throughput, single-threaded performance, or heavily parallel integer and floating-point math, the data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F. The margins range from 59% in physics to 194.9% in extended instructions, with most categories showing deltas above 120%.

For users who require ECC memory support, integrated graphics, or a lower thermal design power, the Intel Core 5 221TE has structural advantages despite its benchmark deficit. The 45-watt TDP and integrated GPU make it suitable for compact or power-limited desktop builds, and the DDR4 compatibility may reduce platform costs in some configurations.

The recorded data does not show any benchmark category where the Intel part wins. The decision between these two processors hinges on whether the Intel part's platform features (ECC, integrated graphics, dual memory support, lower TDP) outweigh the AMD part's substantial and consistent performance advantage across every measured workload.