AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins 8 of the 13 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 221E takes 5. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The Intel Core 5 221E delivers its most decisive victory in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3661 against the AMD part's 1857. That is a 49.3% advantage, an enormous gap that reflects a fundamental difference in how these chips are designed. The Intel processor also wins the PassMark single-thread test, though by a far smaller margin: 4147 versus 3958, a 4.6% edge. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel edges ahead with 25933 against 25265, a modest 2.6% lead. The PassMark physics test goes to Intel by a hair, 2230 versus 2185, a 2% difference.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX answers with a series of substantial wins in PassMark workloads. The largest is in extended instructions, where it scores 36527 against Intel's 18216, a 100.5% advantage, meaning it more than doubles the Intel part's result. Data encryption shows a 55.8% lead, 29919 versus 19205. Data compression favors AMD by 53.1%, with scores of 496427 and 324285. Random string sorting goes AMD's way by 53.8%, 57971 versus 37686. The multithread test shows AMD ahead 41732 to 30510, a 36.8% margin. Integer math favors AMD by 24.4%, 146506 versus 117813. Floating point math is closer, with AMD winning 86747 to 79028, a 9.8% edge. Prime number finding goes to AMD by 75.7%, 304 versus 173.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this split: the AMD processor holds a 71797 average against Intel's 40144. The AMD chip sits at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part is at the 87th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX's nearest rivals in the database, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Xeon 6517P, and Xeon 6724P, sit within 0.8% of its average score, indicating it is grouped with high-end desktop and server parts. The Intel Core 5 221E, by contrast, groups with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, Ryzen AI 9 365, Ryzen 9 270, and Intel Core i9-13905H, all within 0.4% of its average.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD chip integrates 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 71 mm². Intel does not disclose transistor count in the database, but the die size is listed at 257 mm², a single monolithic piece of silicon.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. The AMD part offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel part offers 14 cores but only 20 threads. This indicates the Intel processor uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores, which do not all contribute to thread count equally. The AMD chip is fully symmetric with simultaneous multithreading across all 12 cores.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221E uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's 64 MB of L3 is nearly three times the Intel cache, which likely contributes to its strong performance in data-heavy PassMark workloads like compression and encryption.

Memory support also differs. The AMD processor supports DDR5 only, across a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with slightly higher maximum bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports ECC memory; the AMD chip does not.

PCIe connectivity favors AMD. The Ryzen 7 8840HX provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 5 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 610M, while Intel uses the UHD Graphics 730.

The market positioning is distinct. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is a mobile processor on the AMD Socket FL1, released on 2025-04-22. The Intel Core 5 221E is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, released on 2025-01-12. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The Intel launch MSRP is $232.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test decisively, scoring 3661 against the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX's 1857, a 49.3% advantage. It also wins PassMark single-thread, 4147 versus 3958, a 4.6% edge.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has more physical cores at 14, but the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has more threads at 24 versus 20, thanks to its 12-core design with simultaneous multithreading on every core.

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

A: The Cinebench R23 multi-core test slightly favors Intel, 25933 versus 25265, a 2.6% lead. The PassMark multithread test, however, favors AMD by a much larger margin, 41732 versus 30510, a 36.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a 64 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB shared L3. The AMD part provides nearly three times the L3 capacity.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, with Intel listed at 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and AMD at 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX does not list ECC support in the database.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX | Intel Core 5 221E |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not listed |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 2x 71 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 64 MB shared | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2025-01-12 |

| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX dominates compute-heavy, data-intensive workloads. Its 100.5% lead in extended instructions, 55.8% lead in data encryption, and 53.1% lead in data compression make it the clear choice for tasks that stress cryptographic operations, compression algorithms, and SIMD-style instruction streams. The 24.4% lead in integer math and 9.8% lead in floating point math further cement its position in general numeric processing. The large 64 MB L3 cache on the AMD part likely drives much of this advantage, as the workloads where it wins most decisively are cache-sensitive. Its mobile form factor, lower 55 W TDP, and unlocked multiplier also make it the more flexible option for portable systems where the user wants to push performance beyond stock settings.

The Intel Core 5 221E wins where single-core speed matters most. The 49.3% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and the 4.6% lead in PassMark single-thread confirms the pattern. This makes it the better fit for lightly threaded applications, legacy software that cannot use many cores, and workloads where per-thread latency dominates. Its 2.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core shows it can hold its own in at least one heavily threaded render test, and the 2% edge in physics suggests solid performance in simulation-style workloads. The Intel part also supports ECC memory and both DDR4 and DDR5, which broadens its compatibility with existing platforms and reliability-focused builds. Its desktop form factor and higher 65 W TDP indicate it is designed to sit in a workstation or desktop system where sustained power delivery is less constrained.