AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a clear verdict: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS dominates the Intel Core 5 220H in most workloads, winning 12 of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The most dramatic gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD scores 18,980 against Intel’s 11,198 — a 41% advantage. That is not a marginal lead; it is a generational-class difference in sustained multi-threaded rendering.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD posts 2,679 versus Intel’s 1,853, a 30.8% deficit for the Intel part. The R20 single-core test narrows the gap to just 2% (1,125 vs 1,102), but the R15 single-core result still favors AMD by 3% (270 vs 262). Only in PassMark’s single-thread test does Intel claw back a win, scoring 3,405 against AMD’s 3,301 — a 3.2% edge.

The multi-core trend extends across older Cinebench versions. In R15 multi-core, AMD leads 1,913 to 1,835 (4.1% ahead). In R20 multi-core, AMD leads 7,971 to 7,812 (2% ahead). The PassMark multi-thread score is nearly tied: AMD at 22,330, Intel at 21,884, a 2% difference. This suggests that while AMD’s lead is enormous in the newest Cinebench, older tests and PassMark’s aggregate multi-thread metric show a much closer contest.

Intel’s wins come in specialized, math-heavy workloads. The largest is PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 82 versus AMD’s 58 — a 41.4% blowout. PassMark physics also favors Intel heavily: 1,478 vs 1,065, a 38.8% margin. Floating-point math goes Intel’s way by 10.6% (51,671 vs 46,706). These three wins indicate Intel’s architecture handles certain integer and physics calculations with far greater efficiency.

AMD counters in every other PassMark subtest. Integer math goes to AMD by 13.9% (85,459 vs 73,555). Data encryption favors AMD by 12.3% (17,350 vs 15,216). Extended instructions see AMD ahead by 19.1% (18,091 vs 14,642). Data compression goes AMD’s way by 9.1% (272,838 vs 247,921). Random string sorting is close, AMD by just 0.9% (28,693 vs 28,438).

The overall average benchmark score confirms the near-parity of these two processors: Intel at 28,574, AMD at 28,549, a 0.1% difference. Both sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs. The head-to-head wins are lopsided, but the aggregate scores are almost identical because Intel’s few wins are large, while AMD’s many wins are often smaller.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: choose the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS for anything involving rendering, encoding, or general productivity. Its 41% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the single most important number in this comparison. That benchmark is a strong proxy for video rendering, 3D modeling, and compilation workloads. AMD also wins integer math, encryption, compression, and extended instructions — the bread-and-butter tasks of professional software.

The Intel Core 5 220H is the pick only for workloads that match its narrow strengths. If your primary application relies on prime-number calculations or physics simulation, Intel’s 41.4% and 38.8% leads respectively make it the clear winner. Its 10.6% advantage in floating-point math also matters for scientific computing that is FP-heavy. For single-threaded legacy tasks where PassMark’s metric is the guide, Intel’s 3.2% edge is real but modest.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, so neither chip is a universal dud. But the distribution of wins matters. AMD wins the tests that most users actually run. Intel wins the tests that are more specialized. If you do not know whether your workload is prime-number-heavy or physics-simulation-heavy, the safer bet is AMD, because its wins cover a broader range of common tasks.

For laptop buyers, the AMD part also comes with a lower 35W TDP versus Intel’s 45W. That suggests better sustained performance in thin chassis, though the data does not include thermal testing. The practical verdict: AMD for most users, Intel for the specific math-heavy niches where it excels.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. Intel’s Core 5 220H uses Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. AMD’s Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS uses Zen 3+ architecture, built on TSMC’s 6 nm process. The node advantage goes to AMD, which likely explains part of its efficiency and performance-per-watt edge.

Core counts differ significantly. Intel packs 12 cores and 16 threads, while AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having 50% more cores, Intel loses badly in multi-core Cinebench tests. This indicates AMD’s Zen 3+ cores are far more efficient per-core, or that Intel’s hybrid core arrangement does not scale as well under sustained load. The Raptor Lake-H design uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores, while Rembrandt uses a uniform set of Zen 3+ cores.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. Intel has more total cache, but AMD’s smaller per-core L2 is offset by its superior core efficiency. The 2 MB difference in L3 is unlikely to explain the 41% multi-core gap.

Memory support differs. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving system designers flexibility. AMD supports only DDR5. AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while Intel does not specify a number in the data. PCIe connectivity also varies: Intel provides Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. AMD has more lanes, but Intel has the newer PCIe standard.

Integrated graphics are different classes. Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. AMD uses Radeon 680M. The benchmark data does not include graphics tests, so no performance comparison is possible from the facts.

Process node and foundry also differ: Intel fabricates its own chip on 10 nm, while AMD uses TSMC’s 6 nm. AMD’s die size is listed at 208 mm², but Intel’s is not provided. The 6 nm process likely contributes to AMD’s lower 35W TDP versus Intel’s 45W.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ across several key specification fields. Clock speeds favor Intel on boost: 4.90 GHz versus AMD’s 4.70 GHz. AMD has the higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus Intel’s 2.70 GHz. The higher boost clock does not translate into single-core wins for Intel in most tests, suggesting AMD’s architecture extracts more instructions per clock.

TDP is a major differentiator. Intel consumes 45W, while AMD consumes 35W. This 10W difference matters for laptop thermal design and battery life, though the data does not include any power consumption measurements.

Socket compatibility is completely separate. Intel uses BGA 1744, while AMD uses Socket FP7. These are not interchangeable, so motherboard or laptop choice will be dictated by the processor.

Process node: Intel is on 10 nm, AMD on 6 nm. Foundry: Intel uses its own fabs, AMD uses TSMC.

Memory support: Intel accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, AMD only DDR5. The memory bus is dual-channel for both. AMD specifies a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while Intel does not provide a figure.

PCIe: Intel supports Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes, AMD supports Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. AMD provides more than double the lane count, but at an older standard.

Integrated graphics: Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics has 80 execution units; AMD’s Radeon 680M is the alternative. Neither has a benchmark score in this data.

Release dates differ substantially. Intel launched on 2024-12-17, while AMD launched on 2022-04-18. Intel is the newer part by more than two years. Despite this, AMD wins most benchmarks, which is a notable result for a chip with a 2022 launch.

Intel has a launch MSRP of $342. AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS scores 18,980 versus Intel’s 11,198, a 41% advantage. This is the largest single benchmark gap between the two.

Q: Does Intel win any benchmark by a significant margin?

A: Yes. Intel wins PassMark find prime numbers by 41.4% (82 vs 58) and PassMark physics by 38.8% (1,478 vs 1,065). Both are substantial leads.

Q: How close are the overall benchmark scores?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: Intel at 28,574 and AMD at 28,549, a mere 0.1% difference. Both processors sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: Intel has 12 cores and 16 threads. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having 4 more cores, Intel loses the multi-core Cinebench tests by wide margins.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: Intel has a 45W TDP, while AMD has a 35W TDP. AMD’s lower power draw may benefit laptop thermals and battery life, though the data does not include runtime tests.

Q: When did each processor launch?

A: Intel launched on 2024-12-17 with a $342 MSRP. AMD launched on 2022-04-18 with no listed MSRP. AMD is the older design but still wins most benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS wins in rendering and content creation. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18,980 versus Intel’s 11,198 makes it the clear choice for video editing, 3D rendering, and batch processing. The 41% lead is decisive. It also wins data compression (272,838 vs 247,921), encryption (17,350 vs 15,216), and integer math (85,459 vs 73,555) — tasks common in database work, file archiving, and financial modeling. Extended instructions go AMD’s way by 19.1%, which matters for AVX-heavy scientific and engineering software.

The Intel Core 5 220H wins in specialized computational niches. Its 41.4% lead in prime-number finding suggests strong performance in cryptography or number-theory workloads. The 38.8% win in physics benchmarks points to simulation software like physics engines in CAD or gaming. Floating-point math goes Intel’s way by 10.6%, which benefits scientific computing that relies heavily on FP64 operations. Its 3.2% single-thread PassMark win is modest but could matter for legacy single-threaded applications.

For general productivity and office work, AMD is the safer choice. It wins the multi-thread aggregate (22,330 vs 21,884) and most PassMark subtests. For gaming, neither chip has graphics benchmarks in this data, but the CPU-side physics win for Intel might hint at better gameplay physics, while AMD’s integer math advantage could help game logic. The data does not settle that question.

For laptop buyers concerned about thermals, AMD’s 35W TDP versus Intel’s 45W suggests better sustained performance in thin chassis. The data does not include thermal throttling tests, but the TDP difference is a clear specification advantage for AMD. For users needing DDR4 support or PCIe Gen 5, Intel has those features; for users needing more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8), AMD wins.

The verdict is straightforward: AMD wins the majority of use cases, and its wins are in more common workloads. Intel wins specific math-heavy niches. If your software is known to use prime-number or physics routines heavily, Intel is the pick. Otherwise, AMD’s broader benchmark dominance makes it the recommended choice.