AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 221TE reaches 5.00 GHz. The base clocks are 2.40 GHz and 1.80 GHz, respectively.

Q: How does the average benchmark score compare between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has an average benchmark score of 69875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 221TE averages 17860, which lands in the 71st percentile.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the memory type options for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor record in the head-to-head tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins all 13 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 221TE wins none.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is built on Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, and represents the 7000 series. It uses a 5 nm process from TSMC, with the die comprising 2x 71 mm² chiplets. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses Bartlett Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a larger 215 mm² die. The process node difference is substantial: the AMD part uses a more advanced 5 nm node, while Intel relies on 10 nm.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The AMD chip allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a large 64 MB L3 pool. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but its L3 cache is only 24 MB shared. This gives the Ryzen part a much larger total cache footprint, which matters for workloads with high data reuse.

Memory support also differs. The AMD processor is limited to DDR5 with dual-channel access and 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is lower at 76.8 GB/s. The Intel part includes ECC memory support, which the AMD part lacks, a factor for reliability-sensitive deployments.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD chip uses Radeon 610M, and the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD processor is a mobile part with an unlocked multiplier, fitting AMD Socket FL1. The Intel processor is a desktop part with a locked multiplier, using Intel Socket 1700. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $232. Production status for both is Active, with release dates of 2024-01-16 for AMD and 2025-01-12 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29400 versus 11305 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 160.1% advantage. This is the largest margin in the rendering tests, and it reflects the core and thread count difference: 16 cores and 32 threads versus 10 cores and 16 threads.

Single-core performance in Cinebench R23 is closer but still favors AMD. The Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 1807, while the Intel chip scores 1596, a 13.2% lead. The boost clock difference of 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz contributes, but the Zen 4 architecture appears more efficient per clock in this test.

The PassMark suite reveals even larger deltas. In data compression, the AMD chip scores 693741 versus 156682, a 342.8% lead. Data encryption shows 41974 versus 8963, a 368.3% advantage. Extended instructions score 51029 versus 9655, the largest delta at 428.5%. These tests stress the wider core count and higher thread count of the AMD part.

Integer math shows 202883 versus 42303, a 379.6% lead. Floating-point math scores 121383 versus 31661, a 283.4% advantage. The AMD chip also wins in prime number finding, 273 versus 59, a 362.7% delta. Multithread performance in PassMark is 53204 versus 13301, exactly a 300% advantage.

Physics tests show 2297 versus 977, a 135.1% lead. Random string sorting delivers 81775 versus 16929, a 383% delta. PassMark single-thread scores are 3942 versus 1734, a 127.3% advantage. Even in single-threaded tests, the AMD chip more than doubles the Intel chip's output, which is notable given the clock difference is only 0.20 GHz.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does have some benchmark entries not shared by the AMD part, such as Cinebench R15 and R20 results. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1139, and in single-core, 160. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 4748, with single-core at 670. These numbers are not directly comparable to the AMD chip because the database does not list R15 or R20 results for the Ryzen 9 7940HX, but they provide context for the Intel chip's standing relative to its own generation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification field. Core count: 16 versus 10. Thread count: 32 versus 16. Base clock: 2.40 GHz versus 1.80 GHz. Boost clock: 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP: 55 W versus 45 W. Socket: AMD Socket FL1 versus Intel Socket 1700.

Architecture: Zen 4 versus Bartlett Lake. Codename: Dragon Range versus Bartlett Lake. Generation: Ryzen 9 (Zen 4 (Dragon Range)) versus Core 5 (Bartlett Lake). Process node: 5 nm versus 10 nm. Foundry: TSMC versus Intel. Die size: 2x 71 mm² versus 215 mm². Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 13,140 million; the Intel part has no transistor count in the database.

Cache: L1 per core is 64 KB versus 80 KB. L2 per core is 1 MB versus 1.25 MB. L3 is 64 MB versus 24 MB shared. Memory support: DDR5 only versus DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth: 83.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory: false versus true. PCIe: Gen 5, 28 lanes versus Gen 5, 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: Radeon 610M versus UHD Graphics 730.

Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop. Multiplier unlocked: true versus false. Part number: 100-000001486 versus SRVQS. Release date: 2024-01-16 versus 2025-01-12. Launch MSRP is present only for the Intel chip at $232. The AMD chip shows no launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX holds the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69875. The Intel Core 5 221TE sits at the 71st percentile, averaging 17860. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (delta -0.2%), Intel Core i7-14700KF (delta -0.4%), AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (delta 0.5%), and Intel Core i7-14700K (delta 0.7%). The Intel chip's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (delta -0.2%), Intel Core 5 120U (delta -0.2%), Intel Core 7 350 (delta 0.5%), and AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (delta -0.7%).

For workloads that demand multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the dominant choice. Its 16-core, 32-thread configuration delivers 160.1% higher Cinebench R23 multicore scores, and the PassMark multithread test shows exactly 300% higher output. The AMD chip also leads in single-thread tests, with a 127.3% advantage in PassMark single-thread and 13.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This means the AMD part is not just a multicore specialist; it also wins in lightly threaded tasks.

The Intel Core 5 221TE, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, occupies a lower performance tier. Its average benchmark score of 17860 places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, which is within 0.2% in average score. The Intel chip does have advantages in the database: it supports ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving memory flexibility. It also has a lower TDP of 45 W compared to 55 W.

For users who need ECC memory support or prefer DDR4 compatibility, the Intel Core 5 221TE is the only option between the two. For raw performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database. The Intel chip is a desktop part with a locked multiplier, while the AMD chip is a mobile part with an unlocked multiplier. The decision rests on whether the workload prioritizes the Intel chip's memory features and lower TDP, or the AMD chip's overwhelming performance lead across all recorded tests.