AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data splits nearly evenly, with Intel Core 5 221E taking 6 wins and AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G taking 5. The margins, however, tell a more complex story than the win count suggests.

AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G dominates in extended instruction workloads. Its passmark_extended_instructions score of 28223 versus 18216 for the Intel part represents a 54.9% advantage, the largest delta in the entire comparison. Data compression also favors AMD decisively: 402831 versus 324285, a 24.2% gap. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 42663 against 37686, a 13.2% lead. Single-thread performance tilts AMD's way as well, with 4309 versus 4147, a 3.9% edge repeated across both single-thread test entries.

Intel's wins are concentrated in arithmetic and physics workloads. The passmark_find_prime_numbers result is striking: Intel scores 173 against AMD's 87, meaning the Intel part processes prime numbers 49.7% faster. Physics simulation shows Intel ahead by 35.4%, with 2230 versus 1440. Floating-point math favors Intel at 79028 versus 63683, a 19.4% margin. Integer math follows the same direction: 117813 versus 99732, a 15.3% lead. Data encryption is nearly tied, with Intel at 19205 and AMD at 18937, a 1.4% edge for Intel. The multithread score is the closest of all: Intel's 30510 narrowly edges AMD's 30422, a 0.3% difference that falls within run-to-run variance.

The average benchmark scores place these processors in different competitive tiers. AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 63331, while Intel Core 5 221E lands at the 87th percentile with 40144. That gap is substantial, yet the head-to-head results show Intel winning more individual tests. The explanation lies in the benchmark mix: AMD's average score is buoyed by its enormous data compression result, while Intel's wins cluster in tests where its core count and per-core throughput overlap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G uses the Gorgon Point codename, part of the Ryzen AI 400 generation built on Zen 5 / Zen 5c cores. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 195 mm². Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 5 generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a die size of 257 mm². The process node difference is significant: 4 nm versus 10 nm gives AMD a transistor density advantage that shows up in its energy-sensitive workloads.

Core counts diverge sharply. AMD packs 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel offers 14 cores and 20 threads. Intel's higher core count explains its wins in floating-point math, integer math, and physics, all of which scale with parallel execution resources. AMD's core count is lower, but its per-core efficiency and architecture-specific strengths drive its wins in data compression and extended instructions.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 per core. AMD assigns 1 MB of L2 per core and 8 MB of total L3. Intel assigns 2 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L3 pool, 24 MB versus 8 MB, likely contributes to its physics and prime-number performance, where working sets can exceed smaller cache capacities.

Clock speeds are close but not identical. AMD runs a 2.00 GHz base clock with a 5.10 GHz boost. Intel runs a 2.70 GHz base clock with a 5.20 GHz boost. Intel starts from a higher base frequency, which helps in sustained workloads, while AMD's boost clock trails by only 0.10 GHz.

Memory support differs in breadth. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth figures. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is a clear split: AMD provides Gen 4 with 12 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses the Radeon 860M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The production status for both is Active. AMD's release date is 2026-02-28, while Intel's is 2025-01-12, meaning Intel arrived on the market earlier. AMD's multiplier is unlocked, Intel's is not. AMD's socket is AMD Socket AM5, Intel's is Intel Socket 1700.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G leads in single-thread tests with a score of 4309 versus Intel's 4147, a 3.9% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G has 8 MB of total L3 cache.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G is built on TSMC's 4 nm process with a 195 mm² die size. Intel Core 5 221E is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 257 mm² die size.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: Only Intel Core 5 221E supports PCIe Gen 5, with 16 CPU lanes. AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 12 CPU lanes.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G has an average benchmark score of 63331 and sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Intel Core 5 221E has an average score of 40144 and sits at the 87th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| Codename | Gorgon Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) |

| 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, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 860M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Release Date | 2026-02-28 | 2025-01-12 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001917 | SRQDVQ659 |

Both processors share identical TDP figures of 65, dual-channel memory buses, 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, ECC memory support, and 80 KB of L1 cache per core. Intel Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates two different performance personalities. AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G dominates in data compression, extended instructions, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. Intel Core 5 221E takes the lead in prime-number finding, physics, floating-point math, integer math, data encryption, and multithread performance.

The processor that wins the most tests, Intel Core 5 221E, does so by leveraging its 14 cores and 20 threads against AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads. The 0.3% multithread margin is negligible, but the 49.7% prime-number gap and 35.4% physics gap are not. Intel's larger 24 MB L3 cache and higher base clock of 2.70 GHz support its sustained compute workloads.

AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G counters with a 54.9% extended instructions win and a 24.2% data compression win, both reflecting its Zen 5 architecture's efficiency on the 4 nm process. Its 93rd percentile ranking versus Intel's 87th percentile reflects its higher average benchmark score of 63331 versus 40144.

For users whose workloads involve data compression, sorting, and instruction-heavy processing, AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G delivers the stronger results. For physics simulation, prime-number calculations, and floating-point or integer math, Intel Core 5 221E is the better match. The choice depends entirely on the workload mix, not on an overall winner.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G wins in data compression with a 24.2% advantage, making it the stronger option for compression-heavy tasks. Its 54.9% lead in extended instructions positions it well for workloads that use advanced instruction sets. Random string sorting shows a 13.2% edge, relevant for text processing and data organization tasks. Single-thread performance at 3.9% ahead covers lightly threaded applications and responsiveness.

Intel Core 5 221E wins in prime-number finding by 49.7%, a result tied to integer throughput and cache behavior. Physics simulation benefits from its 35.4% lead, which matters for physics-based computations. Floating-point math at 19.4% ahead serves scientific and engineering calculations. Integer math at 15.3% ahead covers general arithmetic workloads. Data encryption edges ahead by 1.4%, a small but consistent advantage. The multithread score leads by 0.3%, essentially a tie but still a win.

The record shows 6 benchmark wins for Intel and 5 for AMD, yet the two processors target different strengths. AMD's wins are concentrated in memory-pattern and instruction-heavy workloads, while Intel's wins cluster in compute-heavy parallel tasks. Users running compression and sorting pipelines should favor AMD. Users running physics, prime-number, or math-heavy simulations should favor Intel. The 14-core Intel part provides more parallel execution resources, while the 8-core AMD part delivers superior per-thread performance in specific algorithmic patterns.