AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

FAQ

Q: How large is the performance gap between the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Intel Core 5 211E in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD processor dominates in multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 42,018 versus 20,389 for the Intel Core 5 211E, a 106.1% advantage. The gap widens further in PassMark multithread, where the AMD part leads by 194.8% (70,255 vs. 23,833).

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 211E win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: Yes, one test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core 5 211E scores 2,878, which is 21.5% higher than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D's 2,259. This is the only recorded win for the Intel part across all 15 compared benchmarks.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between these two processors?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X3D has an average benchmark score of 75,779, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 211E averages 37,829, placing it in the 86th percentile. The AMD part's average score is roughly double the Intel part's average.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 211E has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part provides double the thread count.

Q: What are the thermal design power (TDP) ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has a TDP of 170 watts. The Intel Core 5 211E has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel part is rated for considerably lower power draw.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 211E boosts to 4.90 GHz. The AMD part holds a 0.80 GHz advantage in maximum boost frequency.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 211E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, produced on a 10 nm process at Intel. These different process nodes directly influence transistor density and power characteristics, with the AMD part using a much smaller geometry.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D integrates 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design, with each die measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 5 211E uses a single monolithic die of 257 mm². The database does not record a transistor count for the Intel processor.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 1 MB per core on the AMD part versus 2 MB per core on the Intel part. The L3 cache presents a major divergence: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 211E has 20 MB shared. This 108 MB difference in L3 capacity is one of the largest architectural gaps recorded between these two desktop parts.

Memory support also separates the two. The AMD processor supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 5 211E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ in branding and capability. The AMD part uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel processor is locked.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins decisively in almost every recorded workload category. Its 14 wins out of 15 head-to-head benchmarks establish it as the superior choice for compute-heavy tasks. The largest margins appear in prime number finding (1,325.6% ahead), physics simulation (707.7% ahead), and extended instruction workloads (238.1% ahead). Data compression (162% ahead), integer math (176% ahead), and random string sorting (178.1% ahead) all show the AMD part delivering more than double the throughput of the Intel part.

The AMD processor's advantage in encryption (148.3% ahead) and floating-point math (140.5% ahead) confirms strength in both integer and floating-point dominated tasks. Its multithread score of 70,255 versus 23,833 indicates the 16-core/32-thread configuration scales effectively across parallel workloads.

The Intel Core 5 211E wins only in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2,878 versus 2,259 for the AMD part, a 21.5% advantage. This suggests the Intel architecture, despite its older 10 nm process, achieves higher per-core frequency efficiency in this specific rendering test. The Intel part also carries a lower TDP (65 watts versus 170 watts), making it the more power-conscious option for systems where thermal output is constrained.

For desktop users running heavily multithreaded applications such as rendering, scientific computing, or data processing, the recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D as the clear performance leader. For workloads that depend heavily on single-threaded performance in this particular benchmark, the Intel Core 5 211E holds a narrow but measurable edge.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D | Intel Core 5 211E |

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

| Cores | 16 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 170 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L3 cache | 128 MB | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $699 | $221 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scoring 6,536 against 2,055 for the Intel Core 5 211E, a 218.1% advantage. This is the second-largest relative margin in the comparison. Single-core in Cinebench R15 is much closer: the AMD part scores 350 versus 289, a 21.1% lead.

Cinebench R23 reverses the single-core result. The Intel Core 5 211E scores 2,878, which is 21.5% higher than the AMD's 2,259. This is the only head-to-head test where the Intel part wins. In R23 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D returns to dominance with 42,018 versus 20,389, a 106.1% margin.

PassMark tests amplify the AMD advantage. The largest single delta in the entire comparison is PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD part scores 613 versus 43 for the Intel part, a 1,325.6% difference. PassMark physics shows 5,670 versus 702, a 707.7% margin. Extended instructions show 73,011 versus 21,592, a 238.1% gap.

Data-heavy workloads follow the same pattern. PassMark data compression scores 908,421 for the AMD part versus 346,757 for the Intel part, a 162% lead. Data encryption shows 44,536 versus 17,938, a 148.3% margin. Random string sorting records 95,423 versus 34,308, a 178.1% advantage.

Math throughput favors the AMD processor decisively. PassMark floating-point math scores 159,724 versus 66,402, a 140.5% lead. Integer math scores 243,209 versus 88,117, a 176% advantage. PassMark multithread records 70,255 versus 23,833, a 194.8% margin.

Single-threaded PassMark results show a narrower gap. The AMD part scores 4,737 versus 4,006 for the Intel part, an 18.2% lead. This confirms that even in lightly threaded workloads, the AMD processor maintains a measurable advantage, aside from the single Cinebench R23 exception.

The overall record stands at 14 wins for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 1 win for the Intel Core 5 211E. The AMD part's average benchmark score of 75,779 places it near the top of the database at the 95th percentile, while the Intel part's 37,829 average places it at the 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (0.1% behind), and the AMD EPYC 8224P (0.3% behind). The Intel Core 5 211E sits closest to the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 (0.2% behind), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (0.2% ahead).