AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, which wins 13 of the 15 direct benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 223PE claims only two wins, both in Cinebench single-core tests, though those wins are substantial in percentage terms.

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to the AMD part in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 5905 against Intel's 2666, a 121.5% advantage. That result is consistent with the broader multi-threaded picture. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 37159 versus 26455 for the Intel part, a 40.5% lead. The PassMark multi-thread test shows an 80.5% gap, with scores of 56171 and 31124 respectively.

The Intel Core 5 223PE counters in single-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3734 against AMD's 2174, a 41.8% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 376 to 336, a 10.6% margin. These are the only two tests where Intel comes out ahead, but they indicate a real difference in lightly threaded peak performance.

Outside of Cinebench, the AMD processor dominates every PassMark workload. The largest of these is extended instructions, where AMD scores 57946 against 24672, a 134.9% delta. Data compression shows a 111.2% lead (731998 versus 346623), and random string sorting shows a 117.6% lead (77890 versus 35798). Integer math is nearly identical in proportional terms at 113% (212598 versus 99819), while encryption shows a 102.4% gap (37330 versus 18448).

The closest result in the whole set is PassMark physics, where AMD wins by only 9.1% with scores of 2720 and 2493. The single-thread PassMark result is also close, with AMD ahead by 4.1% (4393 versus 4219), which is notable because Intel wins the Cinebench single-core tests but loses the PassMark single-thread test. Floating point math and prime number finding show 78.7% and 80.5% leads respectively for AMD.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is 91199, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 223PE has an average score of 40585, placing it in the 87th percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Xeon 654 at 90717 (0.5% behind) and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 90541 (0.7% behind). The Intel part's closest competition is the Intel Core 7 253PE at 40557 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Xeon 6357P at 40630 (0.1% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Fire Range codename, part of the 9000 series. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The database does not record a transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both use an 80 KB L1 cache per core, but L2 differs: AMD uses 1 MB per core, Intel uses 2 MB per core. Shared L3 also differs, with AMD at 64 MB and Intel at 24 MB.

Clock behavior is mixed. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel part has a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz but a lower boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The higher Intel base clock likely contributes to its Cinebench single-core wins, while the AMD part's higher boost and larger core count drive its multi-thread dominance.

The AMD processor supports DDR5 memory only, while the Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus with the same recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

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

The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. The AMD part targets the mobile segment on AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part targets the desktop segment on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor carries an active production status with a release date of 2025-01-05, while the Intel processor is also active with a release date of 2026-03-08.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear split based on workload type. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is the stronger processor for any multi-threaded or throughput-oriented task. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 37159 is 40.5% above the Intel part, and its PassMark multi-thread score of 56171 is 80.5% above. The compression, encryption, and integer math results all show leads above 100%, which points to a wide advantage in content creation, data processing, and compilation workloads.

The Intel Core 5 223PE has the edge in Cinebench single-core tests, with a 41.8% lead in R23 single-core and a 10.6% lead in R15 single-core. However, the PassMark single-thread test contradicts that pattern, showing the AMD part 4.1% ahead. The Cinebench single-core results may reflect the Intel chip's higher 2.90 GHz base clock and 5.20 GHz boost, but the PassMark single-thread data suggests the advantage is workload dependent rather than universal.

The database places the AMD chip at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, against the 87th percentile for the Intel chip. The average benchmark score gap is large: 91199 versus 40585, a difference of roughly 2.25 times. The AMD part's nearest rivals are all high-end server or workstation class processors, while the Intel part's nearest rivals are other mid-range desktop and mobile parts.

For users prioritizing raw multi-thread performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is the clear choice from this data. For workloads that depend on single-core Cinebench performance, the Intel Core 5 223PE shows a measurable advantage, though it loses the PassMark single-thread comparison. The AMD chip also offers more PCIe lanes, a larger L3 cache, and an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory and has a higher base clock.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 223PE wins only the two Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 37159 versus 26455 for Intel, a 40.5% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the gap is 121.5% (5905 versus 2666).

Q: Does the Intel chip win any single-thread test?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core it leads by 41.8% (3734 versus 2174), and in Cinebench R15 single-core it leads by 10.6% (376 versus 336). However, in the PassMark single-thread test, the AMD chip leads by 4.1% (4393 versus 4219).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory with a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the Intel part?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE has a launch MSRP of $232. The database does not record a launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins every PassMark workload in the comparison. Its largest margins come in extended instructions (134.9% ahead), random string sorting (117.6%), integer math (113%), and data compression (111.2%). It also leads in data encryption by 102.4%, floating point math by 78.7%, prime number finding by 80.5%, and multithread by 80.5%. The physics test is its smallest win at 9.1%. These results make it the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering, encryption, compression, and general compute-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core 5 223PE wins the Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests. Its R23 single-core advantage of 41.8% is the second largest margin in the entire comparison, after AMD's R15 multi-core win. This indicates a genuine strength in lightly threaded Cinebench workloads, which often correlate with certain legacy applications and specific simulation tasks. However, the PassMark single-thread result goes to AMD by 4.1%, so the Intel advantage does not extend to every single-threaded benchmark.

The AMD chip also holds structural advantages that matter in sustained workloads: 64 MB of shared L3 versus 24 MB, 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus 16, and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip counters with a higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz), double the L2 cache per core (2 MB versus 1 MB), and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel chip is a desktop part on Socket 1700, while the AMD chip is a mobile part on Socket FL1, which affects platform choice but not the raw benchmark comparisons recorded here.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process with 16,630 million transistors and a 2x 70.6 mm² die size. The Intel Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process, with no transistor or die size data recorded.

Core and thread counts differ by a factor of two: AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads, Intel has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds differ in both directions: AMD has a 2.50 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost, Intel has a 2.90 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. TDP also differs, with AMD at 55 and Intel at 65.

Cache configuration differs in L2 and L3. Both use 80 KB L1 per core. AMD uses 1 MB L2 per core and 64 MB shared L3. Intel uses 2 MB L2 per core and 24 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 only, Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both are dual-channel with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and both support ECC. PCIe lanes differ: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier and a part number of 100-000001028. The Intel chip is locked and has part number SA4QF. The AMD chip targets the mobile segment on AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel chip targets the desktop segment on Intel Socket 1700. The Intel chip has a recorded launch MSRP of $232; the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates differ as well: the AMD part is dated 2025-01-05, the Intel part 2026-03-08.