AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep in favor of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS, which wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The margins are substantial across every category, with the smallest gap appearing in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD part leads by 8% (1724 vs. 1596). That modest single-thread edge, however, is the exception; most other workloads show double-digit leads, and several exceed 100%.

The largest advantage appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS scores 22298 against 9655 for Intel, a delta of 130.9%. Integer math follows closely at 120.7% (93342 vs. 42303), and random string sorting shows a 124% lead (37922 vs. 16929). Data encryption delivers a 110.2% advantage (18838 vs. 8963), while data compression is 98.6% faster (311199 vs. 156682). These are not marginal differences; they indicate a fundamentally different performance tier.

Multi-threaded benchmarks reinforce this pattern. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the AMD processor at 2458 versus 1139 for Intel, a 115.8% gap. PassMark multithread scores 26646 against 13301, a 100.3% difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core is comparatively closer but still decisively in AMD’s favor: 14784 vs. 11305, a 30.8% lead. Floating-point math, physics, and prime number finding all follow the same trajectory, with deltas of 76%, 38.3%, and 42.4% respectively.

Single-threaded performance, beyond the R23 result, shows even larger spreads. PassMark single-thread places the AMD part at 3692 versus 1734 for Intel, a 112.9% advantage, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 271.5 against 160, a 69.7% gap. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS does not just win on core count scaling; it also wins per-thread efficiency by a wide margin in most tests. The Intel part’s only relatively competitive result is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the 8% deficit is far smaller than the 70% to 113% deficits seen elsewhere.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from distinct design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. That process gap alone helps explain the significant power efficiency and clock speed differences.

Clock speeds differ sharply. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part runs at 1.80 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. While the boost clocks are close, the base clock difference is 1.50 GHz, which affects sustained workloads and lower-load scenarios. The AMD processor also has a 28 W TDP, while the Intel processor draws 45 W, a 17 W difference that is notable for thermals and battery life in mobile contexts.

Core counts favor Intel in raw quantity but not in thread count. Intel provides 10 cores and 16 threads, while AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support 16 threads, so multithreading capability is equal on paper. The Intel part has larger L1 and L2 caches per core: 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively, versus 64 KB and 1 MB for AMD. However, AMD’s L3 cache is 16 MB shared, while Intel’s is 24 MB shared, giving Intel a 8 MB advantage in last-level cache.

Memory support differs in flexibility. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part achieves a higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s, compared to 76.8 GB/s for Intel, a 12.8 GB/s difference. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also diverges. AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The generation difference favors Intel for raw bandwidth per lane, but AMD offers more total lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 780M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The die sizes are 178 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel, a 37 mm² difference. AMD lists 25,000 million transistors; Intel does not report a transistor count in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data does not show any workload category where the Intel Core 5 221TE wins. Every recorded test, from Cinebench to PassMark sub-tests, favors the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS. That said, the magnitude of the loss varies, which hints at where Intel might be less disadvantaged.

The smallest Intel deficit is in Cinebench R23 single-core at 8%. This suggests that, in lightly threaded workloads with moderate duration, the Intel part can get closer to parity. The 5.00 GHz boost clock helps narrow the gap. Similarly, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 30.8% deficit, which is smaller than the 100%+ deficits in PassMark multithread tests. This might indicate that the Intel part handles sustained AVX-style loads better than bursty integer or data-processing tasks, though the data cannot confirm that hypothesis directly.

The AMD part wins decisively in data-heavy and encryption-heavy tasks. Data compression shows a 98.6% lead, data encryption a 110.2% lead, and random string sorting a 124% lead. These are memory-latency and cache-sensitive workloads, and AMD’s higher memory bandwidth (89.6 vs. 76.8 GB/s) likely contributes. Extended instructions, which often include AVX-512-like operations, show a 130.9% lead for AMD, indicating a strong SIMD implementation.

For productivity and content creation, the AMD part’s Cinebench scores are strong: R15 multi-core at 2458 vs. 1139 (115.8% lead) and R23 multi-core at 14784 vs. 11305 (30.8% lead). The PassMark multithread score of 26646 vs. 13301 (100.3% lead) reinforces that the AMD part is better suited for heavily parallel workloads. The Intel part, with its 10 cores and lower base clock, appears to struggle in sustained all-core scenarios.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS outperforms the Intel Core 5 221TE in every benchmark recorded in the database. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 39603, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part averages 17860, placing it in the 71st percentile. That is a difference of 21743 points in average score and 16 percentile ranks.

Looking at nearest rivals, the AMD part sits close to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS (0.7% higher), the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (0.4% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 (0.3% higher). The Intel part is nearly tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (0.2% lower), the Intel Core 5 120U (0.2% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (0.7% lower). This context shows that the Intel Core 5 221TE performs at the level of older mainstream processors, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS competes with top-tier current parts.

The Intel part does offer a lower launch MSRP of $232, which the database records. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. However, performance per watt clearly favors AMD: the 28 W TDP produces consistently higher scores than the 45 W TDP of Intel. For mobile users, this means less heat and potentially longer battery life without sacrificing performance. For desktop users, the Intel part’s Socket 1700 and DDR4 support might be appealing for system compatibility, but the benchmark data does not show any performance reason to choose it.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS wins all single-core tests. It leads by 8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1724 vs. 1596), by 69.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core (271.5 vs. 160), and by 112.9% in PassMark single-thread (3692 vs. 1734).

Q: How much faster is the AMD part in multi-core workloads?

A: The margin varies by test. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 30.8% lead (14784 vs. 11305), while Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 115.8% lead (2458 vs. 1139). PassMark multithread shows a 100.3% lead (26646 vs. 13301).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and the Intel Core 5 221TE support ECC memory.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS has a TDP of 28 W, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 W. The AMD part draws 17 W less.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which is 0.10 GHz higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE’s 5.00 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do their cache sizes compare?

A: The Intel part has larger per-core L1 (80 KB) and L2 (1.25 MB) caches, and a larger shared L3 at 24 MB. The AMD part has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with a 16 MB shared L3.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS | Intel Core 5 221TE |

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

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 780M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2024-04-15 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $232 |

| Part Number | 100-000001353 (FP7r2), 100-000001381 (FP7) | SRVQS |