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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison is decisively in favor of Intel Core 5 221E, which wins 14 of the 15 recorded benchmark comparisons. The single AMD victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 20,778 against 18,216, a 14.1% advantage. That result indicates the AMD chip's wider SIMD or encryption-related instruction execution, but it stands alone in an otherwise one-sided comparison.

The largest Intel wins come in single-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel delivers 3,661 points versus 2,010 for AMD, a 45.1% gap. Cinebench R15 single-core shows the same pattern at a 40.2% delta, with Intel at 368 and AMD at 220. These are substantial margins, not incremental differences. The Intel chip also leads in PassMark single-thread, though by a much smaller 4.6% (4,147 versus 3,955), suggesting that the older Cinebench tests amplify the per-core frequency and IPC gap.

Multi-core results follow the same direction but with varying magnitude. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel at 25,933 versus 16,054, a 38.1% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core is closer: Intel 2,613 versus AMD 2,457, a 6% delta. The R23 result is the more demanding modern test, and it demonstrates a large throughput advantage for Intel's higher core and thread counts. PassMark multithread gives Intel 30,510 against 24,779, an 18.8% margin, while PassMark physics shows Intel at 2,230 versus 1,337, a 40% gap that mirrors the single-core Cinebench deltas.

Integer and floating-point math workloads also favor Intel heavily. PassMark integer math: Intel 117,813 versus AMD 86,227, a 26.8% lead. PassMark floating-point math: Intel 79,028 versus AMD 52,971, a 33% lead. Prime number finding is the most lopsided test: Intel scores 173 versus 84, a 51.4% gap. Data compression favors Intel by 9.2% (324,285 versus 294,298), while data encryption shows Intel ahead by 22.3% (19,205 versus 14,925). Random string sorting is closer, with Intel at 37,686 versus 32,344, a 14.2% margin.

Average benchmark scores reinforce the overall picture. Intel Core 5 221E records an average of 40,144, while AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 averages 37,093. The Intel chip sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database, versus the 85th percentile for AMD. Intel's nearest rivals by average score include AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40,081, delta 0.2%) and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40,048, delta 0.2%). AMD's nearest rivals include Intel Core i9-12900T (37,112, delta -0.1%) and AMD Ryzen 7 160 (37,117, delta -0.1%). This places the two chips in different performance strata despite the modest percentile gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Gorgon Point codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process, with 14 cores and 20 threads. The core count difference (6 more cores for Intel) and thread difference (4 more threads) explain much of the multi-core benchmark gap.

Cache configurations differ significantly. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of L3. Intel also uses 80 KB of L1 per core but doubles L2 to 2 MB per core and offers 24 MB of shared L3, triple AMD's total L3. The larger shared L3 cache likely contributes to Intel's wins in data compression and random string sorting, workloads that benefit from larger working sets resident on-chip.

Clock speeds favor Intel on paper and in practice. AMD's base clock is 2.00 GHz with a 5.10 GHz boost. Intel's base clock is 2.70 GHz with a 5.20 GHz boost. The higher boost clock aligns with Intel's single-core Cinebench dominance. The die sizes also differ: AMD measures 195 mm², Intel 257 mm². Both are active production parts, but they target different sockets and markets.

Memory support separates them too. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses and deliver identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Intel's newer PCIe generation provides more headroom for expansion devices.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD pairs the CPU with Radeon 860M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The database records no graphics benchmarks for either chip, so the comparison is limited to feature presence rather than performance. AMD's mobile segment designation and Intel's desktop segment designation reflect their intended usage contexts.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear performance leader: Intel Core 5 221E wins 14 of 15 head-to-head comparisons and holds a 7.6% higher average benchmark score (40,144 versus 37,093). The only AMD win is a single instruction-set extension test. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, multi-core rendering, or single-core responsiveness, Intel's advantage is consistent and often large.

AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is a mobile chip with a 28 W TDP, while Intel Core 5 221E is a desktop chip with a 65 W TDP. The power envelope difference is substantial and explains part of Intel's performance lead. The AMD part exists for low-power mobile systems where the 28 W budget matters more than peak throughput. Intel's 65 W desktop design trades power for performance, and the benchmarks reflect that trade.

The percentile placement confirms the gap: Intel at 87th percentile versus AMD at 85th. That two-point percentile difference understates the benchmark deltas, because the percentile ranks against all CPUs while the head-to-head tests isolate these two chips. In direct comparison, the Intel chip is faster in nearly every measured workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 | 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 |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not specified |

| Codename | Gorgon Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (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, 16 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

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

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2026-01-04 | 2025-01-12 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

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

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3,661 versus AMD's 2,010, a 45.1% advantage. The PassMark single-thread test shows a smaller 4.6% gap (4,147 versus 3,955).

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 wins PassMark extended instructions with a score of 20,778 versus 18,216 for Intel, a 14.1% margin.

Q: What are the power consumption figures?

A: The AMD chip has a 28 W TDP, while the Intel chip has a 65 W TDP.

Q: Which chip supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: Intel Core 5 221E averages 40,144 and sits at the 87th percentile. AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 averages 37,093 and sits at the 85th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core 5 221E wins in every major compute category recorded: single-core, multi-core, integer math, floating-point math, physics, data compression, data encryption, prime number finding, and random string sorting. The largest margins appear in single-core Cinebench tests (40.2% and 45.1% leads) and prime number finding (51.4% lead). Users running rendering workloads, compilation tasks, or physics simulations would see Intel's advantage in the Cinebench R23 multi-core (38.1% delta) and PassMark physics (40% delta) results.

AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 wins only in extended instructions, with a 14.1% edge in PassMark extended instructions. That test measures SIMD and specialized instruction throughput, which could benefit specific scientific or media workloads. Beyond that single win, AMD's lower TDP (28 W versus 65 W) makes it the appropriate choice for mobile platforms where power budget and thermal limits take priority over raw performance. The AMD chip also uses the smaller 4 nm process node and a smaller die (195 mm² versus 257 mm²), which supports its mobile positioning.

For desktop users with adequate cooling and power delivery, the data consistently favors Intel. For mobile users who need a capable processor within a 28 W envelope, the AMD part provides the only viable option among these two, since Intel's 65 W desktop design targets a different form factor. The socket difference reinforces this split: AMD uses Socket FP8 for mobile, Intel uses Socket 1700 for desktop. Neither chip can substitute for the other in a given platform.