AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Core 5 223PE occupy different positions in the desktop processor market, and the benchmark data reflects a clear performance hierarchy. The Ryzen 9 9900X delivers dominant multi-threaded performance, while the Core 5 223PE shows surprising strength in specific single-threaded legacy tests. The database records 15 head-to-head comparisons, with the AMD part winning 13 and the Intel part winning 2.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test. The Ryzen 9 9900X scores 436, which is 174.2% ahead of the Core 5 223PE's 159. This is the largest relative margin in the entire comparison. The extended instructions test shows similar dominance, with the AMD processor scoring 55243 versus 24672, a 123.9% advantage. Random string sorting also favors the Ryzen 9 9900X heavily: 72013 against 35798, a 101.2% gap.

Data compression follows the same pattern. The AMD part scores 683579, which is 97.2% higher than the Intel part's 346623. Data encryption shows an 81.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X (33421 versus 18448), and integer math delivers an 81.4% edge (181056 versus 99819). The multithread score for the Ryzen 9 9900X is 54643, putting it 75.6% ahead of the Core 5 223PE's 31124. Floating point math rounds out the major compute workloads: 120083 versus 76468, a 57% advantage.

Cinebench results confirm the multi-threaded story but with a smaller margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 9900X scores 32172 versus 26455, a 21.6% lead. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a much larger gap: 5008 versus 2666, an 87.8% advantage for the AMD chip. Physics simulation in PassMark goes to the Ryzen 9 9900X as well, at 3381 versus 2493, a 35.6% difference.

The Intel Core 5 223PE wins both single-core Cinebench comparisons. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 376 against 353, a 6.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is far more dramatic: the Intel part scores 3734 versus 2253, a 39.7% advantage for the Core 5 223PE. This is the second-largest margin in the entire dataset. The PassMark single-thread tests go the other way, with the Ryzen 9 9900X scoring 4672 against 4219, a 10.7% lead. The database records this same single-thread result twice under slightly different test names.

The average benchmark score places the Ryzen 9 9900X at 57498, which sits at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 223PE averages 40585, placing it at the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core i9-14900, which scores 58115 and trails the Ryzen 9 9900X by 1.1%. The AMD EPYC 9015 scores 57555, just 0.1% behind. The Intel part's closest competitor is the Intel Core 7 253PE at 40557, a 0.1% difference.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design points. The Ryzen 9 9900X uses AMD's Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename and belongs to the 9000 series. It packs 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core 5 223PE uses Intel's Bartlett Lake silicon with 8 cores and 16 threads. The manufacturing process differs substantially: the AMD chip is built on a 4 nm node at TSMC, while the Intel chip uses a 10 nm node at Intel's own foundry. The transistor count for the Ryzen 9 9900X is recorded at 16,630 million across two chiplets, each measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel part has no transistor or die size data in the database.

Cache configurations diverge in the L2 and L3 levels. Both parts use an 80 KB L1 per core. The Ryzen 9 9900X provides 1 MB of L2 per core and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Core 5 223PE doubles the per-core L2 to 2 MB, but its L3 is much smaller at 24 MB shared. Clock speeds show the AMD part running a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Intel part runs a 2.90 GHz base and a 5.20 GHz boost. Thermal design power differs by nearly double: 120 W for the Ryzen 9 9900X versus 65 W for the Core 5 223PE.

Socket and platform support separate the two clearly. The Ryzen 9 9900X uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Core 5 223PE uses Intel Socket 1700. Both support dual-channel memory, but the AMD chip is limited to DDR5, whereas the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is identical at 89.6 GB/s, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors the AMD processor with Gen 5 and 24 CPU lanes; the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 9 9900X carries Radeon Graphics, and the Core 5 223PE uses UHD Graphics 730.

The Ryzen 9 9900X has an unlocked multiplier, making it suitable for overclocking. The Core 5 223PE does not. Release dates are far apart: the AMD chip launched on 2024-08-14, while the Intel chip is dated 2026-03-08. Both are marked as Active in production status and target the desktop market segment.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear split between heavy multi-threaded workloads and legacy single-core Cinebench tests. The Ryzen 9 9900X is the stronger performer in nearly every recorded metric. Its 12 cores and 24 threads deliver massive advantages in compute-heavy tasks, with margins exceeding 100% in several PassMark tests. The 64 MB L3 cache and higher base and boost clocks contribute to its dominance in data compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads.

The Core 5 223PE wins precisely two benchmarks, both in Cinebench. The 39.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is striking, but it does not translate into PassMark single-thread performance, where the Ryzen 9 9900X leads by 10.7%. The Intel part's lower TDP of 65 W and support for DDR4 memory make it a different class of product, aimed at systems where power draw and memory flexibility matter more than raw throughput.

The average benchmark score gap is substantial: 57498 versus 40585, a difference of roughly 41.7% in favor of the AMD part. The percentile rankings reinforce this, with the Ryzen 9 9900X at the 92nd percentile and the Core 5 223PE at the 87th. For workloads that scale across cores, the Ryzen 9 9900X is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For applications that rely on the specific Cinebench R23 single-thread path, the Core 5 223PE shows a notable edge.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core 5 223PE |

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

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 4.40 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2024-08-14 | 2026-03-08 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the largest gap, with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scoring 436 versus 159 for the Intel Core 5 223PE, a 174.2% difference.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 223PE win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two Cinebench single-core tests: R15 single-core at 376 versus 353 (6.1% lead) and R23 single-core at 3734 versus 2253 (39.7% lead).

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 223PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the processors compare in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scores 4672, which is 10.7% ahead of the Intel Core 5 223PE's 4219.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has a TDP of 120 W, and the Intel Core 5 223PE has a TDP of 65 W.