AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Intel Core 5 213PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Intel Core 5 213PE is decisively one-sided, with the AMD part winning 15 of the 17 recorded tests. The Intel processor claims only two victories, both in identical single-threaded PassMark tests, where it posts a score of 4060 against AMD's 3474, a margin of 14.4% in Intel's favor.

The most dramatic deltas appear in compute-heavy workloads. In PassMark data encryption, the Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 37814 versus 15916 for the Core 5 213PE, a gap of 137.6%. The AMD chip also more than doubles the Intel part in integer math (177566 vs 92089, a 92.8% lead) and random string sorting (62537 vs 32027, a 95.3% lead). Data compression and extended instruction tests each show a 100.1% advantage for AMD, with scores of 597862 versus 298804 and 39141 versus 19565 respectively.

Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In multi-core tests, the Ryzen 9 5900XT leads by roughly two-thirds across all three versions: R15 shows 3767 versus 2264 (66.4% ahead), R20 shows 15696 versus 9436 (66.3% ahead), and R23 shows 37373 versus 22468 (66.3% ahead). The single-core Cinebench results are similarly lopsided: the AMD processor wins R15 single-core with 531 versus 319 (66.5% ahead), R20 single-core with 2215 versus 1332 (66.3% ahead), and R23 single-core with 5276 versus 3172 (66.3% ahead). This consistency across Cinebench versions suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The closest contest appears in PassMark physics, where the Ryzen 9 5900XT edges out the Core 5 213PE by just 5.6% (1715 vs 1624). The PassMark multithread score shows a 65.7% gap (43810 vs 26434). The overall picture is clear: in nearly every measured category, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT delivers between 44.9% and 137.6% higher performance, with the sole exception being the PassMark single-thread test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their underlying design. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 213PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process. These process differences correlate with the transistor counts: AMD lists 8,300 million transistors across a die size of 2x 74 mm², while Intel does not report transistor or die size data in the database.

Core configurations differ sharply. The Ryzen 9 5900XT packs 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Core 5 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, exactly half. Cache hierarchies also diverge. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB L3 cache. Intel uses a larger L1 at 80 KB per core, a much larger L2 at 2 MB per core, but a smaller shared L3 at 24 MB. The L3 difference is particularly notable: AMD's 64 MB versus Intel's 24 MB likely explains part of the AMD advantage in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The Intel Core 5 213PE has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to AMD's 3.30 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. Despite the higher boost, Intel still loses most single-threaded tests except PassMark. Memory support differs as well: AMD uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Intel's higher memory bandwidth does not translate into benchmark wins.

Other architectural distinctions include PCIe generation: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the AMD chip has none. Both support ECC memory. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while Intel's is locked. The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket AM4, Intel uses Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 5900XT dominates in multi-threaded and parallel workloads. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache, drive massive leads in Cinebench multi-core tests, integer math, data compression, and data encryption. For rendering, scientific computing, and server-style tasks that scale with core count, the AMD chip is clearly superior. The PassMark multithread score of 43810 versus 26434 reinforces this, and the 137.6% encryption lead suggests especially strong performance in security or database workloads.

The Intel Core 5 213PE wins in exactly one category: PassMark single-thread performance, where it scores 4060 versus AMD's 3474, a 14.4% advantage. This reflects its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus AMD's 4.80 GHz. For lightly-threaded applications that depend heavily on a single core's speed, the Intel part holds an edge. However, this advantage does not extend to Cinebench single-core tests, where AMD wins by 66.3% or more. The reason for this discrepancy likely lies in the different test methodologies, but the data clearly shows Intel's single-thread supremacy is not universal.

The physics test shows the smallest gap, with AMD winning 1715 versus 1624, a 5.6% margin. This suggests that for physics simulations with moderate thread usage, the two processors are closer in capability, though AMD still leads.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the stronger processor in almost every measurable way. It wins 15 out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 5.6% to 137.6%. The average benchmark score for AMD is 50718, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel's average is 35428, in the 85th percentile. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13850HX (delta -0.1%), Intel Core i9-14900T (delta -0.6%), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (delta 0.5%). The Core 5 213PE sits near the Intel Core i7-13700T (delta 0.1%), Intel Core i7-12700KF (delta 0.2%), and Intel Core i5-13600T (delta 0.3%).

For users prioritizing multi-threaded performance, the Ryzen 9 5900XT is the clear choice from the data. The Intel Core 5 213PE should be considered only for scenarios where the PassMark single-thread score is the primary criterion, and even then, the Cinebench single-core results complicate that picture. The Intel chip's lower TDP of 65 watts versus AMD's 105 watts could be relevant for power-constrained builds, but the performance data does not favor Intel otherwise. The AMD part also offers an unlocked multiplier, which the Intel chip lacks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 213PE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 37814 versus 15916 for the Intel Core 5 213PE, a 137.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 213PE win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two identical PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 4060 versus 3474 for AMD, a 14.4% margin.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 213PE has 24 MB of shared L3. Intel has larger per-core L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (2 MB vs 512 KB) caches.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT supports DDR4 only, with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 213PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 213PE includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT | Intel Core 5 213PE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

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

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $349 | $221 |