AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a sweeping victory for the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 across every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The database records 15 wins for the AMD part and zero for the Intel Core 5 220H. The largest margin appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD processor scores 29,269 against Intel's 14,642, a delta of 99.9%. This near-doubling suggests a major advantage in workloads that use advanced CPU instruction sets, likely reflecting architectural differences rather than simple clock speed.

Multi-core rendering shows the second-largest gap. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 21,812 versus 11,198 for Intel, a 94.8% delta. Cinebench R15 multi-core tells a similar story: 3,334 against 1,835, a 81.7% advantage. These results indicate that heavily threaded productivity tasks, such as video rendering or 3D scene compilation, will finish in roughly half the time on the AMD processor.

Integer math also favors AMD decisively. The PassMark integer math score for the AMD chip is 121,754 compared to 73,555 for Intel, a 65.5% delta. Data compression follows with 404,918 versus 247,921, a 63.3% delta. Random string sorting shows a 56.7% delta (44,552 against 28,438). These are all throughput-oriented tests that scale with core count, thread count, and memory bandwidth, so the AMD part's 24 threads versus 16 threads likely explains much of the difference.

Floating-point math delivers a 45.4% delta, with scores of 75,153 and 51,671. Prime number finding shows a 48.8% delta (122 versus 82). Encryption performance is closer but still firmly AMD: 20,802 versus 15,216, a 36.7% delta. Physics simulation in PassMark records 1,819 versus 1,478, a 23.1% delta.

Single-thread performance narrows the gap considerably. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 1,988 against Intel's 1,853, only a 7.3% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 301 versus 262, a 14.9% delta. PassMark single-thread scores are 3,867 and 3,405, a 13.6% delta. The AMD chip still wins every single-thread test, but the margins are much smaller than in multi-threaded workloads. This pattern implies that the two processors are far closer in per-core efficiency, and the overall average benchmark gap of 46,030 versus 28,574 (about 61% higher for AMD) is driven primarily by thread scaling.

The nearest rivals in the database put these scores in context. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46,030, nearly matching the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (46,062, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46,098, delta -0.1%). It also edges out the AMD EPYC 4364P by 0.1% and the AMD EPYC 7303 by 0.2%. The Intel Core 5 220H, by contrast, sits at the 80th percentile with an average score of 28,574, placing it alongside the AMD EPYC 7203P (28,583, delta 0%), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS (28,549, delta 0.1%), and Intel Xeon E-2436 (28,530, delta 0.2%). The delta between the two reviewed parts is therefore not just a head-to-head quirk; it reflects a full performance tier separating them in the database's overall rankings.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins all 15 recorded head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 7.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core to 99.9% in PassMark extended instructions. A buyer selecting purely on measured performance would choose the AMD part for every workload category represented in the database: rendering, encryption, compression, physics, integer math, floating-point math, and single-thread responsiveness.

The Intel Core 5 220H does not win a single recorded test. Its closest margin is the 7.3% deficit in Cinebench R23 single-core, which suggests that in lightly threaded, short-duration tasks, the two chips are broadly comparable. But even there, the AMD processor holds the advantage. The Intel part's average benchmark score of 28,574 places it in the 80th percentile, while the AMD chip's 46,030 places it in the 89th percentile. That 9-percentile gap, combined with the 15-0 head-to-head record, makes the performance hierarchy clear.

The one caveat in the database concerns power. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 carries a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel Core 5 220H is rated at 45 watts. The AMD chip delivers substantially higher performance at a lower thermal design envelope. That is a notable efficiency result, though the database does not record real-world power draw or thermal behavior under sustained load. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $342; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP, so no direct price comparison is possible from the available data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Point codename, belonging to the Ryzen AI 300 generation that combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 233 mm². The Intel Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake architecture on the Raptor Lake-H codename, part of the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. It is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with no die size recorded in the database.

Cache organization differs sharply. The AMD chip allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip also uses 80 KB of L1 per core but doubles the L2 to 2 MB per core, and provides 18 MB of shared L3. On paper, the Intel part has more total cache per core and more L3, yet it loses decisively in the recorded benchmarks. This suggests that the AMD part's advantage comes from other factors, likely the newer microarchitecture and process node.

Memory support also differs. The AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5. AMD records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; Intel's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is not supported on either part.

PCIe capabilities diverge as well. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 5 220H provides PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has a newer PCIe generation but fewer lanes. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 890M, while Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The database records no graphics benchmarks, so the relative GPU performance cannot be quantified here.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is thread count. Both chips have 12 cores, but the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 supports 24 threads while the Intel Core 5 220H supports 16 threads. That 8-thread difference directly explains much of the multi-threaded benchmark deltas. Base clocks differ: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz, Intel at 2.70 GHz. Boost clocks are closer: 5.10 GHz for AMD versus 4.90 GHz for Intel. The AMD chip has the higher boost, while the Intel chip has the higher base clock.

TDP is a major differentiator. AMD is rated at 28 watts, Intel at 45 watts. The AMD part achieves higher performance at a 17-watt lower TDP rating. Socket types differ: AMD uses AMD Socket FP8, Intel uses Intel BGA 1744. Process nodes differ: 4 nm TSMC versus 10 nm Intel. The AMD chip's die size is 233 mm²; Intel's is not recorded.

The AMD part was released on 2024-06-30, while the Intel part was released on 2024-12-17. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $342; the AMD part has none. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part number is 100-000001682; the Intel part number is SRQ6SQ5MM. Both are classified as mobile market segment parts and both remain in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has 24 threads from 12 cores, while the Intel Core 5 220H has 16 threads from 12 cores.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD chip scores 29,269 versus 14,642 for Intel, a 99.9% advantage.

Q: How close are they in single-thread performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip scores 1,988 against Intel's 1,853, a 7.3% delta, the smallest margin in the head-to-head set.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 220H boosts to 4.90 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD chip is rated at 28 watts TDP, while the Intel chip is rated at 45 watts TDP.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 46,030, while the Intel Core 5 220H sits at the 80th percentile with an average score of 28,574.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins in every recorded benchmark category. The largest advantages appear in multi-threaded and instruction-heavy workloads: extended instructions (99.9% delta), Cinebench R23 multi-core (94.8%), Cinebench R15 multi-core (81.7%), integer math (65.5%), data compression (63.3%), random string sorting (56.7%), and PassMark multithread (50.4%). These results point toward rendering, compiling, data processing, and compression tasks as the AMD chip's strongest territory. The 24-thread configuration and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth support this pattern.

The Intel Core 5 220H's best relative showing is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it trails by only 7.3%. It also stays relatively close in Cinebench R15 single-core (14.9% delta) and PassMark single-thread (13.6% delta). This indicates that in light, short-burst tasks like application launches or simple office workloads, the Intel part is not far behind. The higher 2.70 GHz base clock may help in these scenarios, even though the AMD chip's 5.10 GHz boost clock gives it the edge at peak.

The database also shows that the Intel part, despite losing every head-to-head test, is not a weak processor in absolute terms. Its average benchmark score of 28,574 places it in the 80th percentile, above the majority of recorded CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS and Intel Xeon E-2436, both within 0.2% of its average score. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, however, competes in a different tier, matching the Intel Core i9-13900HX and Intel Core Ultra 5 235 within 0.1%.

For power-sensitive mobile designs, the AMD chip offers a compelling profile: 28 watts TDP, higher performance, and a more recent release date. The Intel chip's 45 watts TDP and lower scores suggest it would require a larger thermal solution for less throughput. The database does not record battery life or sustained clock behavior, so the practical impact of the TDP difference remains a matter of system design rather than measured data. What the data does show is a complete performance sweep, with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 ahead in every single recorded metric.