AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Core 5 221E shows a split decision across the 15 recorded tests, with the AMD part taking 11 wins and the Intel part taking 4. The margin of victory varies dramatically by workload, from near-identical results to a 93.9% blowout.

The largest single victory belongs to the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 35,318 against the Intel Core 5 221E's 18,216. That 93.9% advantage reflects a substantial difference in how the two processors handle specialized instruction sets. The AMD chip also dominates in data compression, scoring 437,140 to 324,285, a 34.8% gap that indicates a strong edge in memory-bound throughput tasks.

Multithreaded workloads generally favor the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X. In PassMark multithread, the AMD part scores 37,161 versus 30,510, a 21.8% advantage. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a similar pattern, with AMD at 3,178 and Intel at 2,613, a 21.6% lead. Random string sorting also goes AMD's way by 24.1%, with scores of 46,782 versus 37,686. Data encryption gives AMD a 13.6% win (21,815 versus 19,205), and prime number finding shows an 11% edge (192 versus 173).

The Intel Core 5 221E counters with its own victories, most notably in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 25,933 against the AMD part's 20,485, a 21% margin. The single-core Cinebench results also favor Intel decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3,661 versus AMD's 2,211, a 39.6% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a smaller but still clear Intel win, 368 versus 346, a 6% margin. Floating-point math is effectively a tie, with Intel at 79,028 and AMD at 78,999, a delta of 0%.

The PassMark single-thread test breaks from the Cinebench single-core trend. There, AMD wins 4,654 versus 4,147, a 12.2% advantage. Integer math also goes to AMD, but narrowly, at 120,142 versus 117,813, a 2% edge. Physics is nearly even, with AMD at 2,241 and Intel at 2,230, a 0.5% difference.

The database also records average benchmark scores and percentile rankings. The Intel Core 5 221E holds an average benchmark score of 40,144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has an average score of 37,943, sitting in the 86th percentile. The overall average score difference is roughly 5.5% in Intel's favor, despite the AMD part winning more individual head-to-head tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X establishes its strongest territory in tasks that stress instruction throughput and data manipulation. The 93.9% lead in extended instructions suggests the Zen 5 architecture handles advanced SIMD and cryptographic-style workloads with far greater efficiency than the Intel part. The 34.8% data compression win points to a similar conclusion: the AMD chip moves and transforms data faster in bulk operations.

For multi-threaded general computing, the AMD part shows a consistent pattern of wins in PassMark multithread (21.8%), random string sorting (24.1%), and data encryption (13.6%). These results indicate that the Ryzen 7 9700X's 8 cores and 16 threads, while fewer in number than Intel's 14 cores and 20 threads, deliver more work per thread in many parallel scenarios. The 2% win in integer math and the 0.5% win in physics reinforce the picture of broad but modest AMD superiority in integer-heavy and physics-simulation tasks.

The Intel Core 5 221E wins where raw core count and boost clocks matter most. Its 14 cores and 20 threads give it a clear advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore, a benchmark that scales aggressively with core count. The 21% margin there is the inverse of the AMD win in Cinebench R15 multicore, which suggests the two Cinebench versions weight thread scaling differently.

The Intel part's single-core Cinebench results are emphatic. The 39.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and the 6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core indicate that a single Intel core, when boosted to 5.20 GHz, outperforms a single AMD core at 5.50 GHz in those specific rendering workloads. However, the PassMark single-thread result contradicts that picture, giving AMD a 12.2% win. The divergence likely stems from different instruction mixes between the Cinebench and PassMark single-thread tests.

Floating-point math is the one true tie, with both parts scoring effectively identically at roughly 79,000. The Intel Core 5 221E also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score, 40,144 versus 37,943, which reflects its higher percentile ranking at 87 versus 86.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing approaches and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with the Granite Ridge codename. It packs 8,315 million transistors into a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221E, codenamed Bartlett Lake, uses a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry and has a substantially larger die at 257 mm².

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. This is the primary structural difference that explains the Intel win in Cinebench R23 multicore. Clock speeds also favor AMD on paper: the Ryzen 7 9700X has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, versus the Core 5 221E's 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. The lower base clock on the Intel part is notable, but the boost clock difference is relatively small at 0.30 GHz.

Cache layouts differ in size and organization. Both parts have 80 KB of L1 per core. The L2 cache is 1 MB per core on the AMD part and 2 MB per core on the Intel part, giving Intel a larger total L2 footprint across its 14 cores. The L3 cache is shared and favors AMD: 32 MB versus 24 MB.

Memory support shows a key difference. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical theoretical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD part provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X includes Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier and a part number of 100-000001404. The Intel part has a locked multiplier and a part number of SRQDVQ659. The AMD processor sits in the AM5 socket, while the Intel processor uses Socket 1700.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40,144, which places it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has an average score of 37,943, in the 86th percentile.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 single-core and by how much?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3,661 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X's 2,211, a 39.6% advantage.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X leads by 93.9% in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 35,318 against the Intel Core 5 221E's 18,216.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9700X | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not specified |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 70.6 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Release date | 2024-08-07 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $359 | $232 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001404 | SRQDVQ659 |

The two processors share the same TDP of 65 watts, dual-channel memory bus, 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 80 KB L1 per core. Both target the desktop market segment and remain in active production. The AMD part carries a higher launch MSRP of $359, while the Intel part is listed at a launch MSRP of $232.