AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. The Intel Core 5 221E wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark matchups, with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 securing only a single victory. The Intel processor delivers a higher average benchmark score of 40144 compared to 35719 for the AMD part, and it sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs versus the 85th percentile for its rival. For workloads that emphasize raw throughput, multi-threaded execution, and single-core responsiveness, the data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 221E. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, however, shows a distinct advantage in extended instruction handling, which may appeal to specific computational niches. The Intel part is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, while the AMD part is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, so the performance gap aligns with the difference in power envelopes and platform targets.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge significantly in their underlying design and platform positioning. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Krackan Point codename, built on a 4 nm process from TSMC with a die size of 195 mm². It belongs to the Ryzen AI PRO 300 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The processor offers 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of L3 cache. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 860M, and the memory support covers DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The socket is AMD Socket FP8, and the PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. ECC memory is supported, and the production status is active with a release date of January 5, 2025.

The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process from Intel with a die size of 257 mm². It provides 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 24 MB shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730, and the memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with the same 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, and the PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. ECC memory is also supported. The production status is active, with a release date of January 12, 2025, and a launch MSRP of $232. This is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, placing it in a different power and thermal class than the mobile-focused AMD processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results show a consistent pattern of Intel dominance across nearly every test category. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core 5 221E scores 2613 against 2336.5 for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, a delta of -10.6% in favor of Intel. The single-core R15 test shows an even larger gap, with Intel at 368 versus AMD at 247, a -32.9% difference. The Cinebench R23 results amplify this trend: the Intel part reaches 25933 in multicore versus 14278.5 for AMD, a -44.9% margin, and in single-core it hits 3661 versus 1954, a -46.6% margin. These are substantial deltas that indicate a major performance advantage for Intel in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reinforces the Intel lead. In data compression, Intel scores 324285 versus 281834 for AMD, a -13.1% difference. Data encryption shows Intel at 19205 versus 14462, a -24.7% margin. Prime number finding is particularly lopsided, with Intel at 173 versus AMD at 81, a -53.2% difference. Floating point math gives Intel 79028 against 51639, a -34.7% gap, and integer math shows Intel at 117813 versus 84868, a -28% difference. The multithread test has Intel at 30510 versus 23994, a -21.4% margin. Physics simulation shows Intel at 2230 versus 1318, a -40.9% difference. Random string sorting yields Intel at 37686 versus 31071, a -17.6% gap. Single-thread performance is closer but still favors Intel, with 4147 versus 3872, a -6.6% margin.

The one AMD victory comes in the extended instructions test, where the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 scores 19955 against 18216 for Intel, a 9.5% advantage. This suggests that the AMD processor handles certain specialized instruction sets more efficiently, potentially benefiting workloads that rely on those extensions. However, this single win does little to offset the breadth of Intel's lead elsewhere. The data shows that the Intel Core 5 221E is ahead in 14 of 15 head-to-head comparisons, with the largest deltas exceeding 50% in prime number finding and nearly 47% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 has an average of 35719. The Intel part also ranks in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 85th percentile for AMD.

Q: How does the core and thread count compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E provides 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 provides 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part also has a larger L3 cache of 24 MB shared, versus 8 MB for the AMD part.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 outperform the Intel Core 5 221E?

A: The AMD processor wins the PassMark extended instructions test, scoring 19955 versus 18216 for Intel, a 9.5% advantage. This is the only head-to-head benchmark where AMD leads.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption between the two parts?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 has a TDP of 28 W. The Intel part is a desktop processor, while the AMD part is a mobile processor.

Q: What are the platform and socket differences?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 uses AMD Socket FP8 and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Both support ECC memory and dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 3661 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 scores 1954, resulting in a -46.6% difference in favor of Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins across the vast majority of recorded benchmarks, making it the clear choice for general-purpose compute, multi-threaded rendering, and single-core responsiveness. Its largest margins appear in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it leads by nearly 45%, and in single-core tests, where the gap approaches 47%. The PassMark suite shows consistent Intel advantages in integer math, floating point math, physics simulation, data compression, data encryption, prime number finding, and random string sorting. For users running heavy rendering workloads, scientific calculations, or data processing tasks, the Intel part delivers substantially higher throughput. The single-thread advantage of 6.6% also means faster response in lightly threaded applications. The Intel processor's higher TDP of 65 W and desktop platform with PCIe Gen 5 support align with a performance-oriented system build.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 wins only the extended instructions test, with a 9.5% margin over Intel. This indicates a specialized strength in workloads that utilize advanced instruction sets, which could matter for specific cryptographic, signal processing, or scientific applications. The AMD part also operates at a much lower TDP of 28 W, making it suitable for mobile or power-constrained environments where the performance difference may be an acceptable trade-off. Its smaller die size of 195 mm² versus 257 mm² for Intel, combined with the 4 nm process node, suggests a more power-efficient design. For mobile platforms that prioritize battery life and thermal management over peak performance, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 may be the more appropriate selection, despite its lower benchmark scores. The data does not, however, indicate any scenario where the AMD part matches the Intel part in raw performance outside of the extended instructions category.