AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 5 211TE Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the clear performance leader in every recorded benchmark, winning 15 of 15 head-to-head tests with zero wins for the Intel Core 5 211TE. The data shows a massive performance gap: the AMD chip averages 97,453 in the database while the Intel chip averages 15,370, a difference of over six times the average score. The Ryzen 9 9955HX3D sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 211TE sits at the 69th percentile.

For workloads that demand heavy multi-threading, large data sets, or encryption and compression work, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the only rational choice. It delivers between 212.8% and 629.2% higher scores across the full benchmark suite. The Intel Core 5 211TE, however, has its own place: it is a lower-power desktop chip (45W TDP versus 55W) with a $221 launch MSRP, and it supports DDR4 memory alongside DDR5. Anyone building a modest desktop system on an existing DDR4 platform or on Intel Socket 1700 boards may find the Core 5 211TE sufficient for lighter tasks, but the benchmark data indicates it cannot compete with the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D in any measured category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses the Zen 5 architecture built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with the Fire Range codename. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core 5 211TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel, with 10 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The transistor count for the Intel chip is not recorded, while the AMD chip carries 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². Intel's die is a single 215 mm² piece.

Cache configurations differ sharply. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core, but the AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 per core and 128 MB of L3, while the Intel chip has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and only 20 MB of shared L3. That 108 MB L3 gap is the single largest architectural difference and explains much of the AMD chip's advantage in compression and encryption work.

The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1 and is a mobile-market processor, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700 and is a desktop part. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel chip does not. The AMD chip integrates Radeon 610M graphics, while the Intel chip integrates UHD Graphics 730. Both support ECC memory, but the AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is higher on the AMD side: 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. PCIe lane counts differ as well: the AMD chip provides 28 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides 16 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most extreme differences appear in PassMark's extended instruction tests. The AMD chip scores 62,813 versus 8,615 for the Intel chip, a 629.1% delta. Prime number finding shows a 629.2% delta: 525 versus 72. Integer math shows a 554.6% delta: 222,503 versus 33,991. Floating point math shows 144,122 versus 26,150, a 451.1% delta. Data compression shows 785,811 versus 133,434, a 488.9% delta. Data encryption shows 39,446 versus 7,231, a 445.5% delta. Random string sorting shows 83,497 versus 14,838, a 462.7% delta. Multithreaded PassMark shows 62,674 versus 11,685, a 436.4% delta. Single-thread PassMark shows 4,511 versus 1,408, a 220.4% delta.

Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 38,161.5 versus 12,201, a 212.8% delta. In R23 single-core, the gap narrows considerably: 2,159.5 versus 1,722, only a 25.4% delta. That single-core result is the closest margin in the entire comparison. In R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 6,042.5 versus 1,229, a 391.7% delta. In R15 single-core, the AMD chip scores 332 versus 173, a 91.9% delta.

The Intel chip has no recorded Cinebench R20 results, while the AMD chip does not have an R20 entry either, so no comparison can be made there. The overall pattern is consistent: the AMD chip wins by anywhere from 25.4% to 629.2% across all 15 recorded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the AMD chip scores 525 versus 72 for the Intel chip, a 629.2% difference. The extended instructions test is nearly identical at 629.1% (62,813 versus 8,615).

Q: Does the Intel chip support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes. The Intel Core 5 211TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D supports only DDR5.

Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core 5 211TE has 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Is the AMD chip's single-core lead as large as its multi-core lead?

A: No. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip leads by only 25.4% (2,159.5 versus 1,722). In R23 multi-core, the lead expands to 212.8% (38,161.5 versus 12,201).

Q: Which chip has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 5 211TE does not.

Q: What are the production statuses of both chips?

A: Both are listed as Active in the database. The AMD chip was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel chip was released on 2025-01-12.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins every single recorded benchmark, so the use-case split comes down to scale and workload type. The largest wins are in PassMark extended instructions, prime number finding, integer math, floating point math, data compression, and encryption. These are all workloads that benefit from large L3 cache and many cores. The 128 MB L3 cache on the AMD chip versus 20 MB on the Intel chip explains why compression and encryption deltas exceed 445%. For video rendering, code compilation, scientific simulation, or any parallel compute task, the AMD chip is the clear pick based on the data.

The Intel Core 5 211TE, despite losing every benchmark, still has a defined role. It is a desktop processor with a 45W TDP, lower than the AMD chip's 55W TDP. It supports DDR4 memory, which means builders with existing DDR4 systems can upgrade without replacing memory. It uses Intel Socket 1700, a widely available desktop platform. It also carries a $221 launch MSRP, which the database records. For a basic desktop build that does not demand high multi-thread performance, the Intel chip can handle lighter workloads: the data shows its single-core Cinebench R23 score of 1,722 is within 25.4% of the AMD chip, so for lightly threaded tasks the practical difference is smaller.

The AMD chip, by contrast, is a mobile-market processor on AMD Socket FL1. It targets laptops and high-performance mobile workstations. Its 55W TDP is modest for a 16-core part, but the architecture is designed for mobile use. The Intel chip is a desktop part, so the socket and platform differences matter more than raw benchmark scores for someone choosing between them.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D | Intel Core 5 211TE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 55W | 45W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Fire Range | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 128 MB | 20 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

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

| ECC memory | Yes | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | Active |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $221 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001030 | SRQDL |

The specification table confirms the benchmark results. The AMD chip has more cores, more threads, higher clocks, more L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, more PCIe lanes, and a smaller process node. The Intel chip has a lower TDP, larger L2 per core, DDR4 support, and a desktop socket. The Intel chip also has a recorded launch MSRP of $221, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.