AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

The benchmark database places the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Intel Core 5 221TE in entirely different performance strata. The Ryzen 9 5900XT wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded, 17 wins to 0, with margins that are frequently over 200%. The Intel Core 5 221TE is a lower-power desktop part aimed at a different segment, and the data consistently confirms the AMD processor’s decisive advantage in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the near-uniformity of the victory margins in Cinebench. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 37,373 against the Intel Core 5 221TE’s 11,305, a delta of 230.6%. The single-core R23 result shows the same pattern: 5,276 versus 1,596, again a 230.6% difference. This consistency extends across the older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core the AMD part leads 15,696 to 4,748, and in R20 single-core it leads 2,215 to 670, both also at 230.6%. The R15 results mirror this exactly, with the AMD chip scoring 3,767 multi-core and 531 single-core, against Intel’s 1,139 and 160, representing deltas of 230.7% and 231.9% respectively.

The PassMark suite shows even larger gaps in specific workloads. The biggest single margin is in data encryption, where the Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 37,814 versus the Intel part’s 8,963, a 321.9% advantage. Integer math follows closely, with the AMD processor at 177,566 compared to 42,303, a 319.7% delta. Extended instructions show a 305.4% lead (39,141 vs 9,655). Data compression is also lopsided: 597,862 versus 156,682, a 281.6% margin. Random string sorting favors the AMD part by 269.4% (62,537 vs 16,929), and finding prime numbers shows a 247.5% edge (205 vs 59).

Even the narrower wins remain substantial. Floating point math sees the Ryzen 9 5900XT ahead by 213.9% (99,398 vs 31,661). The PassMark multi-thread score is 43,810 versus 13,301, a 229.4% lead. The smallest margin in the entire dataset is in PassMark physics, where the AMD part scores 1,715 against 977, a 75.5% advantage. Single-thread performance in PassMark shows the AMD chip at 3,474 versus 1,734, a 100.3% lead, which is still a doubling of the Intel score.

The average benchmark scores confirm the separation. The Ryzen 9 5900XT has an average benchmark score of 50,718, while the Intel Core 5 221TE sits at 17,860. In percentile terms against all CPUs, the AMD part ranks at the 90th percentile, while the Intel part ranks at the 71st. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 9 5900XT are high-end HX-series mobile chips and a low-power desktop i9, with deltas in the range of 0.1% to 0.6%. The Intel Core 5 221TE, by contrast, competes with older six-core desktop parts like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and Ryzen 5 1600, with deltas of -0.2% and -0.7% respectively.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses the Zen 3 architecture in the Vermeer codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It is part of the 5000 series and belongs to the Ryzen 9 generation. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, and is part of the Core 5 generation.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD part has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD processor’s base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost of 4.80 GHz. The Intel part has a lower base clock of 1.80 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The TDP figures reflect their positioning: the Ryzen 9 5900XT is rated at 105 watts, while the Intel Core 5 221TE is rated at 45 watts.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a 24 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD processor uses dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, supporting ECC. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, with a higher bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and also supports ECC.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The AMD part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Intel part offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 730, whereas the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD die consists of two 74 mm² chiplets with a total transistor count of 8,300 million, while the Intel die is a single 215 mm² piece with no transistor count recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 5,276 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1,596. The AMD part leads by 230.6%.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE support faster memory?

A: Yes. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT supports only DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the power ratings of these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has a TDP of 105 watts. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a 24 MB shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 16 cores; Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 32 threads; Intel Core 5 221TE has 16 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT runs at 3.30 GHz; Intel Core 5 221TE runs at 1.80 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT boosts to 4.80 GHz; Intel Core 5 221TE boosts to 5.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is rated at 105 W; Intel Core 5 221TE is rated at 45 W.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses AMD Socket AM4; Intel Core 5 221TE uses Intel Socket 1700.
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is on 7 nm (TSMC); Intel Core 5 221TE is on 10 nm (Intel).
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses 2x 74 mm²; Intel Core 5 221TE uses 215 mm².
• L1 Cache: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 64 KB per core; Intel Core 5 221TE has 80 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 512 KB per core; Intel Core 5 221TE has 1.25 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 64 MB; Intel Core 5 221TE has 24 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT supports DDR4; Intel Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 51.2 GB/s; Intel Core 5 221TE has 76.8 GB/s.
• PCIe: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has Gen 4 with 20 lanes; Intel Core 5 221TE has Gen 5 with 16 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has none; Intel Core 5 221TE has UHD Graphics 730.
• Unlocked Multiplier: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is unlocked; Intel Core 5 221TE is locked.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT wins every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its dominance is most pronounced in compute-heavy multi-threaded workloads, with margins exceeding 300% in integer math, data encryption, and extended instructions. The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 230% advantage across all versions and both single-core and multi-core tests. The PassMark multi-thread score of 43,810 versus 13,301 indicates that the AMD part is far better suited for rendering, compilation, and other parallel tasks. Even in physics simulation, where the margin is the smallest at 75.5%, the AMD processor still wins decisively.

The Intel Core 5 221TE has no benchmark wins in this dataset. Its strengths are architectural rather than performance-based. It offers a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which does not translate into a single-thread victory in the recorded tests. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing platform flexibility, and its 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is higher than the AMD part’s 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip also includes integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks, and its 45 W TDP is less than half of the AMD processor’s 105 W rating. The PCIe Gen 5 interface, while offering fewer lanes at 16, is a newer generation than the AMD part’s PCIe Gen 4.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the stronger processor in every measured workload. Its 16-core, 32-thread configuration with a 64 MB L3 cache delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 37,373, which is 230.6% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE’s 11,305. The single-thread results are equally one-sided, with the AMD part doubling the Intel score in PassMark single-thread (3,474 vs 1,734) and leading by 230.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core. The 90th percentile ranking against all CPUs places it firmly in high-end territory, while the Intel part’s 71st percentile aligns it with mid-range desktop parts from past generations.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does not compete with the Ryzen 9 5900XT on performance. Its role is different: a lower-power desktop chip with integrated graphics, dual memory support, and a 45 W TDP. The higher 5.00 GHz boost clock and PCIe Gen 5 support do not offset the core count and cache advantages of the AMD part in any recorded test. For users prioritizing raw throughput in multi-threaded applications, the Ryzen 9 5900XT is the clear choice. For those needing a compact, low-power processor with graphics output and modern memory options, the Intel Core 5 221TE serves a separate purpose. Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the superior performer in all measured categories.