AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a fascinating split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core 5 221E trade blows across the benchmark suite, with Intel narrowly winning more individual tests (8 wins versus 7 for AMD), yet the overall average benchmark score tells a different story. The AMD part posts an average score of 46030 compared to Intel's 40144, a meaningful gap of roughly 14.7 percent in favor of AMD.

The most dramatic single-test victory belongs to AMD in PassMark extended instructions. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 29269 against Intel's 18216, a 60.7 percent advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison. Similarly, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD delivers 3334 points versus Intel's 2613, a 27.6 percent lead. PassMark data compression also favors AMD heavily: 404918 versus 324285, a 24.9 percent margin. Random string sorting shows another clear AMD win at 44552 against 37686, an 18.2 percent edge.

Intel, however, counters with equally decisive victories in other tests. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is stark: Intel scores 3661, while AMD manages only 1988, giving Intel a 45.7 percent advantage. That is an enormous single-thread performance gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core also goes to Intel, with 25933 versus 21812, a 15.9 percent lead. The single-core R15 test shows Intel ahead by 18.2 percent (368 versus 301), and PassMark physics follows the same pattern: Intel wins 2230 against 1819, an 18.4 percent margin.

The remaining tests are closer. PassMark single-thread favors Intel by 6.8 percent (4147 versus 3867). PassMark floating point math goes to Intel by 4.9 percent (79028 versus 75153). PassMark find prime numbers shows Intel ahead by 29.5 percent (173 versus 122). On the AMD side, data encryption delivers an 8.3 percent win (20802 versus 19205), integer math is a narrow 3.3 percent AMD advantage (121754 versus 117813), and PassMark multi-thread gives AMD a 7.9 percent edge (32916 versus 30510).

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data suggests a clear workload separation. AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 dominates in instruction-heavy and data-shuffling tasks. Extended instructions, data compression, random string sorting, and integer math all favor AMD substantially. The multi-thread PassMark score also lands with AMD, indicating that its 24 threads provide a real advantage in parallel throughput scenarios. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result reinforces this: AMD is 27.6 percent ahead, suggesting that older multi-threaded rendering workloads respond better to AMD's architecture.

Intel's Core 5 221E wins in nearly every single-threaded and latency-sensitive category. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is decisive, and the R15 single-core test confirms the pattern. PassMark single-thread, physics simulation, and prime number finding all favor Intel. The physics test, which often reflects branch prediction and cache behavior, goes to Intel by 18.4 percent. Interestingly, Intel also takes Cinebench R23 multi-core despite having fewer threads (20 versus 24), which indicates that its higher per-core performance can overcome AMD's thread count advantage in certain modern rendering workloads. Floating point math is another Intel win, though by a modest 4.9 percent.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap between these two chips is substantial. AMD uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, codenamed Strix Point, and belongs to the Ryzen AI 300 generation that mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Intel counters with Bartlett Lake, built on a 10 nm Intel process, and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The process node difference is stark: 4 nm versus 10 nm. AMD's die measures 233 mm², while Intel's is slightly larger at 257 mm².

Cache organization differs meaningfully. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core, but AMD uses 1 MB of L2 per core while Intel doubles that to 2 MB per core. L3 cache favors Intel in total capacity: 24 MB shared versus AMD's 16 MB. This larger shared L3 could explain Intel's strong showing in physics and single-thread tests, where larger caches help with data locality.

The core counts tell a nuanced story. AMD offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 14 cores but only 20 threads. This suggests Intel uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores, with fewer threads per core on some of its silicon. AMD's thread advantage is clear in multi-threaded tests, yet Intel's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus AMD's 5.10 GHz likely contributes to its single-thread dominance. Base clocks also differ: Intel runs at 2.70 GHz, AMD at 2.00 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specifications. AMD uses socket FP8, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The TDP figures are very different: AMD is rated at 28 watts, Intel at 65 watts, which explains why AMD targets mobile while Intel is classified as a desktop part. Memory support differs: AMD accepts DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel accepts DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory with identical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory support is exclusive to Intel; AMD does not offer it. PCIe generations differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 890M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Intel's launch MSRP is $232; AMD has no recorded launch MSRP. Both parts are active in production and have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 46030 on average, while the Intel Core 5 221E scores 40144, a difference of roughly 14.7 percent in AMD's favor.

Q: Why does Intel win the Cinebench R23 multi-core test despite having fewer threads?

A: Intel scores 25933 versus AMD's 21812 in that test, a 15.9 percent lead. Intel's 14 cores boost to 5.20 GHz and carry 2 MB of L2 per core, which appears to offset AMD's 24-thread advantage in this particular workload.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: PassMark extended instructions shows AMD ahead by 60.7 percent, scoring 29269 against Intel's 18216. The second-largest margin is Intel's 45.7 percent win in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 does not.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: Both processors provide dual-channel memory with exactly 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, though AMD supports LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5, while Intel supports DDR4 in addition to DDR5.

Q: What is the production status and release timeline for each?

A: Both are listed as Active in production. AMD's release date is 2024-06-30, while Intel's is 2025-01-12. Intel's launch MSRP is $232; AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinctly different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is a 28-watt mobile processor using a 4 nm process with 12 cores and 24 threads. It wins in instruction-heavy, data-compression, and general multi-threaded tasks. Its 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average score of 46030, places it slightly ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900HX (-0.1 percent delta) and the AMD EPYC 4364P (+0.1 percent delta). This is a chip that punches well above its power class in throughput-heavy work.

The Intel Core 5 221E is a 65-watt desktop processor with 14 cores and 20 threads. It wins in single-thread, physics, prime number, and floating point tests, and it holds a significant edge in Cinebench R23 both single and multi-core. Its 87th percentile ranking, with an average score of 40144, places it nearly level with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (+0.2 percent delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (+0.2 percent delta). Intel's higher clock speeds, larger L2 and L3 caches, and ECC support make it suitable for latency-sensitive desktop workloads.

For users prioritizing extended instruction throughput, data compression, encryption, and broad multi-threaded performance, the AMD part is clearly superior based on the recorded deltas. For users needing maximum single-thread performance, physics simulation, or ECC memory support, the Intel part is the stronger choice. The average benchmark score favors AMD by a wide margin, but the individual test victories are split almost evenly. The choice depends entirely on whether the workload favors AMD's thread density and instruction efficiency or Intel's per-core speed and cache capacity.