AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall win for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, which takes 13 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 223PE wins only 2, both in single-core Cinebench tests. The margin of victory in the AMD-favored tests is often dramatic, frequently exceeding 100%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 6042.5 against 2666 for the Intel part, a 126.7% advantage. That same pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD leads 38161.5 to 26455, a 44.3% gap. The PassMark suite shows similar dominance: data compression goes to AMD at 785811 versus 346623 (126.7% delta), floating point math favors AMD 144122 to 76468 (88.5%), and integer math sees AMD ahead 222503 to 99819 (122.9%). The largest single delta in the entire comparison is in PassMark find prime numbers, where AMD scores 525 versus Intel's 159, a 230.2% difference. Extended instructions also lean heavily AMD, 62813 to 24672, a 154.6% margin. Random string sorting goes AMD's way at 83497 versus 35798 (133.2%), data encryption favors AMD 39446 to 18448 (113.8%), and multithreaded PassMark shows AMD at 62674 versus 31124 (101.4%). Physics simulation also favors AMD, 4687 to 2493, an 88% delta.

The Intel part's wins are confined to single-core Cinebench workloads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 376 versus AMD's 332, an 11.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3734 versus AMD's 2159.5, a 42.2% advantage. However, PassMark's single-thread test tells a different story: AMD wins there, 4511 to 4219, a 6.9% margin. So the Intel single-core advantage appears workload-dependent, while the AMD multi-core advantage is consistent and large across every measured multi-threaded test.

The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 97453, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel part averages 40585 and sits in the 87th percentile. AMD's nearest rivals are all high-core-count server or prosumer parts: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX at 98504 (1.1% above), the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 at 96083 (1.4% below), the AMD EPYC 4565P at 95764 (1.8% below), and the AMD EPYC 9175F at 95615 (1.9% below). Intel's nearest rivals are much closer in score: the Intel Core 7 253PE at 40557 (0.1% below), the Intel Xeon 6357P at 40630 (0.1% above), the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H at 40518 (0.2% below), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G at 40718 (0.3% above). This indicates that the Intel part sits in a tightly packed performance band, while the AMD part occupies a much higher tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design points. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range, built on a 4 nm TSMC process with 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². It is a 16-core, 32-thread mobile processor. The Intel Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process, with 8 cores and 16 threads, and is classified as a desktop part.

Cache configurations differ sharply. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core, but the AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core versus 2 MB per core for Intel. The L3 cache is the standout difference: AMD provides 128 MB of L3, while Intel provides 24 MB shared. The AMD part's 128 MB L3 is a major structural advantage for workloads that benefit from large resident datasets. The Intel part compensates with double the per-core L2, but that does not overcome the L3 deficit in the recorded benchmarks.

Process node and foundry also separate the two. AMD uses TSMC at 4 nm; Intel uses its own 10 nm process. The AMD part is socketed AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses Socket 1700. Both support dual-channel memory at 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. AMD supports DDR5 only; Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe generation is Gen 5 for both, but AMD provides 28 CPU lanes versus Intel's 16. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD includes Radeon 610M, Intel includes UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part is locked. The AMD processor is from the 9000 series, while the Intel part has no series designation. The AMD part was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel part on 2026-03-08. The AMD part's part number is 100-000001030, and the Intel part's is SA4QF. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Clock speeds show a mixed picture. The AMD base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 5.40 GHz. The Intel base clock is higher at 2.90 GHz, but its boost is lower at 5.20 GHz. The Intel part's higher base clock and lower boost partially explain its single-core Cinebench wins, while the AMD part's higher boost and far larger core count drive its multi-core dominance. TDP figures differ: AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 65 W. The AMD part is a mobile segment product; Intel is desktop segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 223PE wins 2, both in single-core Cinebench.

Q: How large is the AMD multi-core advantage?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, AMD leads 38161.5 to 26455, a 44.3% difference. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD leads 6042.5 to 2666, a 126.7% difference. PassMark multithread shows AMD ahead 62674 to 31124, a 101.4% delta.

Q: Where does the Intel processor win?

A: Intel wins Cinebench R15 single-core (376 versus 332, an 11.7% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (3734 versus 2159.5, a 42.2% lead). However, AMD wins PassMark single-thread (4511 versus 4219, a 6.9% margin).

Q: What is the cache difference?

A: The AMD part has 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part has 24 MB shared L3. Both have 80 KB L1 per core; AMD has 1 MB L2 per core, Intel has 2 MB L2 per core.

Q: How do the two compare in the database percentile rankings?

A: AMD sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 97453. Intel sits in the 87th percentile with an average score of 40585.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and the Intel Core 5 223PE support ECC memory. Both also support dual-channel memory at 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D | Intel Core 5 223PE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| 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 | Not recorded |

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

| L3 cache | 128 MB | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe lanes | 28 (CPU only) | 16 (CPU only) |

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

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-03-08 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001030 | SA4QF |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the stronger processor in nearly every measurable workload category. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, with several wins exceeding 100% margins. Its average benchmark score of 97453 is more than double Intel's 40585. In the database percentile ranking, AMD sits at 96 versus Intel's 87, a meaningful gap that places the AMD part among the top tier of all recorded CPUs.

The AMD part's 16 cores and 32 threads versus Intel's 8 cores and 16 threads create a structural multi-threaded advantage that shows up across every multi-core test. The 128 MB L3 cache versus Intel's 24 MB further strengthens AMD's position in cache-sensitive workloads. The Intel part does hold a genuine single-core advantage in Cinebench R23, where it leads by 42.2%, and in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 11.7%. But that advantage does not extend to PassMark single-thread, where AMD leads by 6.9%. The Intel wins are therefore narrow and workload-specific, while the AMD wins are broad and often overwhelming.

The Intel part is a desktop segment product with a launch MSRP of $232, while the AMD part is a mobile segment product with no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD part uses a 4 nm TSMC process, the Intel part a 10 nm Intel process. The AMD part's unlocked multiplier and 28 PCIe lanes add flexibility, while the Intel part is locked and provides 16 PCIe lanes. For any workload that scales with core count, cache capacity, or memory bandwidth, the recorded data favors AMD. For pure single-core Cinebench performance, the Intel part is ahead, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins decisively in multi-threaded and throughput-oriented tasks. Cinebench R15 multicore, Cinebench R23 multicore, and PassMark multithread all go to AMD by wide margins. Data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, physics, and random string sorting all favor AMD in the recorded benchmarks. The largest margins are in prime number finding (230.2%), extended instructions (154.6%), random string sorting (133.2%), data compression (126.7%), and integer math (122.9%). Any workload that is compute-heavy, parallel, or cache-intensive will favor the AMD part.

The Intel Core 5 223PE wins in Cinebench R15 single-core and Cinebench R23 single-core. Those are the only two tests it takes, and both are single-threaded synthetic Cinebench workloads. The 42.2% margin in R23 single-core is substantial, so for applications with a heavy reliance on single-threaded Cinebench-like performance, the Intel part has a measurable edge. PassMark single-thread, however, goes to AMD, which indicates that the Intel single-core advantage does not generalize across all single-thread benchmarks.

The overall split is clear: AMD dominates across the board except for two specific single-core Cinebench tests, where Intel is faster. The AMD part's 96th percentile standing and 97453 average score place it in a different performance class than the Intel part's 87th percentile and 40585 average score. The Intel part's nearest rivals are all within 0.3% of its score, while the AMD part's nearest rivals are all within 1.9%, showing that AMD competes at a higher absolute level with more separation from its immediate competitors. Users needing maximum multi-core throughput, large cache, and broad workload coverage should favor the AMD part. Users specifically optimizing for single-core Cinebench performance would find the Intel part ahead in that narrow area.