AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 5 221E, which wins 10 of the 11 recorded comparisons. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G manages a single win, but the margin and scope of Intel's dominance across compute-heavy workloads is the dominant story.

The largest single gap appears in the find prime numbers test. Intel scores 173 against AMD's 90, a delta of -48% in Intel's favor. This is the most lopsided result in the entire comparison, indicating a substantial advantage in this specific integer workload. Floating point math follows a similar pattern: Intel's 79028 dwarfs AMD's 45711, a 42.2% difference. Integer math is also heavily in Intel's favor at 117813 versus 71251, a 39.5% gap. The physics test shows Intel ahead by 40.4% (2230 versus 1329), and data encryption sees Intel win by 29.3% (19205 versus 13585).

The multithread score, often a useful overall indicator of throughput, favors Intel by 23% with 30510 against AMD's 23487. Data compression shows a narrower but still clear Intel advantage: 324285 versus 292735, a 9.7% gap. Random string sorting goes Intel's way by 17.5% (37686 versus 31106). Even single-thread performance, where AMD's Zen 5 architecture might be expected to compete closely, belongs to Intel: 4147 versus 4060, a 2.1% edge.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G's only victory comes in extended instructions, where it scores 20648 against Intel's 18216, a 13.4% advantage. That result indicates a specific instruction set or extension workload where AMD's implementation is more efficient, but it stands alone as a counterpoint to Intel's otherwise comprehensive lead.

Contextualizing these results, the AMD processor's average benchmark score of 46187 places it at the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, 0.2% delta), Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (46062, 0.3% delta), AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, 0.3% delta), and AMD EPYC 4364P (45970, 0.5% delta), all sit within a fraction of a percent. The Intel Core 5 221E, by contrast, averages 40144 at the 87th percentile, with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40081, 0.2% delta) and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048, 0.2% delta) also extremely close.

This creates an interesting paradox: the AMD chip has a higher average score across its full benchmark suite, yet loses nearly every head-to-head comparison to Intel. The explanation lies in the differing benchmark sets recorded for each processor. The AMD chip's average includes the extended instructions result where it excels, and its benchmark list appears weighted toward different tests than the Intel sample. Regardless, in the direct comparisons where both processors ran identical tests, Intel wins 10 out of 11.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins 10 of the 11 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G wins only one, the extended instructions test.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147 in the passmark single-thread test against 4060 for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G, a 2.1% advantage. This is the closest head-to-head result in the entire comparison.

Q: Where does the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G outperform the Intel Core 5 221E?

A: The AMD chip wins the extended instructions test with a score of 20648 versus 18216, a 13.4% margin. This is the only benchmark in the dataset where AMD takes the lead.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 173 against AMD's 90, a 48% difference in Intel's favor.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 46187. The Intel Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile with an average score of 40144.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation built on a hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c architecture. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 195 mm². The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation, built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a larger die of 257 mm².

Core counts differ sharply: AMD packs 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel offers 14 cores and 20 threads. This 8-core, 8-thread advantage partly explains Intel's dominance in multithreaded workloads. Cache configurations also diverge. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 per core, but AMD allocates 1 MB of L2 per core while Intel doubles that to 2 MB per core. The L3 cache shows an even larger difference: AMD has 8 MB total, while Intel provides 24 MB shared.

Clock speeds favor Intel in both base and boost. AMD runs at a 2.00 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost; Intel runs at 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. Both are 65 W TDP parts, so the performance difference comes without a higher power envelope. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel chip does not.

Memory support separates the two as well. AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth figures. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ generationally. AMD provides Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), offering both a newer standard and more lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 840M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

Sockets are platform-specific, as expected: AMD uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The AMD part carries the part number 100-000001918, and the Intel part is SRQDVQ659. The Intel release date is recorded as 2025-01-12, while AMD's is 2026-02-28, meaning AMD's part is the newer introduction.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear performance hierarchy in direct comparisons. The Intel Core 5 221E wins 10 of 11 head-to-head benchmarks, with wins across data compression, encryption, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G wins only extended instructions.

The scale of Intel's victories matters as much as their frequency. In four tests, Intel leads by more than 39%: floating point math at 42.2%, physics at 40.4%, integer math at 39.5%, and prime numbers at 48%. These are not marginal wins; they represent substantial throughput advantages in compute-heavy workloads. The multithread lead of 23% reinforces the pattern, as does the 29.3% encryption advantage.

That said, the AMD chip holds a higher average benchmark score (46187 versus 40144) and a higher percentile ranking (89th versus 87th). This is a quirk of the different benchmark suites recorded for each processor rather than a contradiction of the head-to-head results. The AMD chip's average is buoyed by its strong extended instructions score and by the particular set of tests in its record.

For workloads that resemble the head-to-head test set, the Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger choice. For workloads that resemble the extended instructions profile, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G has a measurable edge. The single-thread gap is small at 2.1%, so day-to-day responsiveness should be similar, but the multithread and math-heavy gaps are too large to ignore.

The Intel chip also offers more L3 cache (24 MB versus 8 MB), a higher boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 4.80 GHz), and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 12 lanes. The AMD chip counters with a newer 4 nm process, a smaller die, an unlocked multiplier, and a 13.4% extended instructions win.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 195 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L3 cache | 8 MB | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 12 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 840M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |

Both processors share the same 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, ECC support, and 80 KB L1 per core. The Intel part has a 14-core, 20-thread configuration with higher clocks and more cache at every level beyond L1. The AMD part has the smaller die, the newer process node, and an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins in every category of raw compute throughput recorded in the head-to-head data. For integer-heavy workloads, it leads integer math by 39.5% and prime number finding by 48%. For floating point work, it leads by 42.2%. For physics simulation, it leads by 40.4%. For data encryption, it leads by 29.3%. For multithreaded general processing, it leads by 23%. For data compression, it leads by 9.7%. Even in single-thread performance, it holds a 2.1% edge.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G wins specifically in extended instructions, with a 13.4% advantage. This suggests that workloads using advanced or specialized instruction extensions will see better performance on the AMD part. Additionally, the AMD chip's higher average benchmark score across its full recorded suite (46187 versus 40144) and its superior 89th percentile ranking indicate that its overall performance profile, as measured in the database, is competitive despite losing the direct head-to-head tests.

The Intel part's advantages extend beyond raw benchmarks. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus AMD's 8 MB, its 2 MB per-core L2 versus AMD's 1 MB, and its PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus AMD's Gen 4 with 12 lanes all point to a part designed for heavier sustained workloads and more capable expansion. The higher base and boost clocks reinforce this.

The AMD part's advantages lie in its platform modernity: a 4 nm TSMC process, a smaller 195 mm² die, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Its support for only DDR5 is a limitation relative to Intel's DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility, but the newer process and unlocked multiplier give it an edge in efficiency and tuning flexibility.

For users prioritizing maximum compute throughput across a broad range of tasks, the Intel Core 5 221E is the data-backed pick. For users with workloads specifically dependent on extended instructions, or those who value the AMD platform's newer process and unlocked multiplier, the Ryzen AI 5 440G has a legitimate case.