AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX records an average benchmark score of 81103, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 221E averages 40144, sitting in the 87th percentile.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 32521 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 25.4% ahead of the Intel Core 5 221E's 25933.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark categories?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins in Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark physics, and PassMark single-thread tests. Its largest single-core win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 47.6%.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E provides 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX provides 83.2 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX belongs to the 8000 series and uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename. It is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a transistor count of 13,140 million and a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel, and has a die size of 257 mm². The transistor count for the Intel part is not recorded in the database.

Core and cache structures differ significantly. The AMD processor offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel processor offers 14 cores and 20 threads. Per-core L1 cache is 64 KB on the AMD chip versus 80 KB on the Intel chip. Per-core L2 cache is 1 MB on the AMD chip versus 2 MB on the Intel chip. L3 cache totals 64 MB on the AMD processor, while the Intel processor has 24 MB shared L3.

Memory support splits the two as well. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX supports DDR5 only, with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also on a dual-channel bus, and includes ECC memory support. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs in lane count. The AMD processor provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD chip uses Radeon 610M, and the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730.

Socket and market positioning separate the two further. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX fits AMD Socket FL1 and targets the mobile segment, with a TDP of 55. The Intel Core 5 221E fits Intel Socket 1700, targets the desktop segment, and has a TDP of 65. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD processor released on 2025-04-22, and the Intel processor released on 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates the multi-core and throughput-oriented tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 5355 against the Intel chip's 2613, a 104.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 25.4% lead for AMD, with scores of 32521 and 25933 respectively.

PassMark workloads reinforce the AMD lead. Data compression goes to AMD at 650984 versus 324285, a 100.7% margin. Data encryption favors AMD at 39318 versus 19205, a 104.7% margin. Extended instructions show the largest gap: AMD scores 47802, Intel scores 18216, for a 162.4% advantage. Integer math favors AMD at 189221 versus 117813, a 60.6% lead. Floating-point math favors AMD at 113921 versus 79028, a 44.2% lead. Find prime numbers goes to AMD at 251 versus 173, a 45.1% lead. Random string sorting favors AMD at 75381 versus 37686, exactly 100% ahead. PassMark multi-thread falls to AMD at 49731 versus 30510, a 63% advantage.

The Intel Core 5 221E claims the single-thread and physics categories. Cinebench R15 single-core goes to Intel at 368 versus 292, a 20.7% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core goes to Intel at 3661 versus 1917, a 47.6% margin. PassMark single-thread goes to Intel at 4147 versus 3874, a 6.6% margin. PassMark physics goes to Intel at 2230 versus 2104, a 5.7% margin.

The benchmark record shows 10 wins for the AMD processor and 5 wins for the Intel processor across the 15 compared tests. The AMD wins are concentrated in multi-core and parallel workloads, while the Intel wins are concentrated in single-core and physics simulations.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates a clear division of labor between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the stronger multi-core performer across nearly every parallel workload in the database. Its average benchmark score of 81103 places it alongside much higher-tier desktop processors; its nearest recorded rivals include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81115 and the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81127, both within 0% delta. The AMD chip also sits ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 by 0.4% and the Intel Xeon 638 by 0.5%.

The Intel Core 5 221E, with an average score of 40144, sits in a different performance class. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048, the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246, and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313. The delta values among these rivals range from -0.4% to 0.2%, indicating the Intel chip is clustered closely with mid-range desktop and mobile parts.

For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, the Intel Core 5 221E is the better choice. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3661 is 47.6% higher than the AMD chip's 1917, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4147 beats the AMD chip's 3874 by 6.6%. The Intel chip also wins the physics test, scoring 2230 against 2104 for AMD.

For multi-threaded rendering, encryption, compression, and math-heavy tasks, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is decisively ahead. The data shows no multi-core test in which the Intel chip comes within 25% of the AMD chip, and several tests show leads over 100%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E uses 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clock is 2.40 GHz on the AMD chip and 2.70 GHz on the Intel chip. Boost clock is 5.30 GHz on the AMD chip and 5.20 GHz on the Intel chip.

TDP differs by 10 units: the AMD chip is rated at 55, the Intel chip at 65. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1; the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor is built on Zen 4 with the Dragon Range codename, while the Intel processor uses the Bartlett Lake codename. Process node is 5 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The AMD chip is fabricated by TSMC; the Intel chip is fabricated by Intel.

Cache configurations differ in size and organization. L1 cache is 64 KB per core on AMD and 80 KB per core on Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core on AMD and 2 MB per core on Intel. L3 cache is 64 MB on the AMD chip and 24 MB shared on the Intel chip.

Memory support diverges: the AMD chip supports DDR5 only, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s on AMD and 89.6 GB/s on Intel. ECC memory is supported on the Intel chip but not on the AMD chip. PCIe lanes are 28 on AMD and 16 on Intel, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on AMD and UHD Graphics 730 on Intel. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The AMD part number is 100-000001849, and the Intel part number is SRQDVQ659. The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $232.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins in scenarios driven by parallel throughput. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 104.9% advantage, which indicates the AMD chip is roughly twice as fast in that legacy render test. Data compression and encryption workloads favor AMD by roughly 100% or more, making the chip suited for archival, database compression, and encryption-heavy tasks. Extended instructions show a 162.4% lead, suggesting the AMD chip handles AVX-class or similar workloads with far greater efficiency. Integer math, floating-point math, and random string sorting all favor AMD by margins between 44.2% and 100%. The PassMark multi-thread score of 49731 versus 30510 confirms the AMD chip as the choice for heavily threaded production work.

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in scenarios where single-thread latency and physics simulation matter. Cinebench R23 single-core at 3661 versus 1917 represents a 47.6% advantage, which is substantial for lightly threaded applications. PassMark single-thread at 4147 versus 3874 is a smaller but consistent 6.6% lead. The physics test at 2230 versus 2104 gives the Intel chip a 5.7% edge, which may translate to better performance in physics-based simulation workloads that rely on one or two threads. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not, making it the safer choice for memory-integrity-sensitive deployments. Its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 provides broader memory compatibility, and its higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s gives it a small edge in memory-bound single-thread tasks.