AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core 5 221E claims a decisive 9 wins out of 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 takes 2 wins. The magnitude of those victories, however, tells a more nuanced story.

The AMD part’s largest win comes in the extended instructions test, where it scores 24193 against Intel’s 18216, a 32.8% advantage. This is a substantial lead, indicating that the AMD architecture handles complex instruction sets with significantly greater efficiency. The other AMD win is in data compression, with a score of 327891 versus 324285, a narrow 1.1% margin that is effectively a tie in real-world terms.

The Intel processor dominates the remaining workload categories, often by large margins. The most dramatic difference appears in the find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 173 against AMD’s 71, a 59% advantage. This workload, which stresses integer-heavy sequential operations, shows a fundamental difference in the two designs’ raw capability. The physics test shows similar disparity, with Intel at 2230 and AMD at 1210, a 45.7% lead for Intel. Floating point math also favors Intel heavily, 79028 versus 55799, a 29.4% gap. Integer math follows the same pattern, with Intel at 117813 versus AMD’s 87940, a 25.4% advantage.

In multithreaded performance, the Intel part scores 30510 against AMD’s 25889, a 15.1% lead. This aligns with the core and thread counts, where Intel offers 14 cores and 20 threads versus AMD’s 8 cores and 16 threads. The random string sorting test shows a smaller Intel edge, 37686 versus 34801, a 7.7% difference. Single-thread performance is close, with Intel at 4147 and AMD at 4029, a 2.8% margin. The data encryption test gives Intel a 16.4% advantage, 19205 versus 16055.

The average benchmark scores place the AMD part higher overall, at 52901 versus Intel’s 40144. This discrepancy stems from the fact that the AMD processor’s average includes its exceptional extended instructions score, while Intel’s average is pulled down by its weaker result in that same category. The percentile rankings confirm this split: the AMD processor sits at the 91st percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel part is at the 87th percentile. Despite losing most head-to-head tests, the AMD processor’s overall standing in the database is higher, driven by its outsized performance in a specific but demanding workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score in the PassMark tests?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records a single-thread score of 4147, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 scores 4029. Intel leads by 2.8% in this metric.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in data compression workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 scores 327891, narrowly ahead of Intel’s 324285. The 1.1% delta places them as near equivalents for this task.

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

A: The largest gap is in the find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core 5 221E scores 173 against AMD’s 71, a 59% difference in Intel’s favor.

Q: Which processor shows a better result in the extended instructions benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 demonstrates a clear advantage, scoring 24193 versus Intel’s 18216, a 32.8% lead for AMD.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two parts?

A: The AMD processor has an average benchmark score of 52901, while the Intel processor averages 40144. AMD’s average is higher, despite losing most direct head-to-head tests.

Q: Which CPU offers more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E provides 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 provides 8 cores and 16 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing approaches. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 uses the Gorgon Point codename, part of the Ryzen AI Embedded generation built on Zen 5 / Zen 5c cores. Intel’s Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 5 generation. The process nodes differ significantly: AMD uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry. The die sizes reflect this difference, with AMD at 233 mm² and Intel at 257 mm².

Cache structures diverge in the L2 and L3 levels. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. AMD allocates 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel doubles that to 2 MB per core. The L3 cache shows a larger gap: AMD has 8 MB, while Intel has 24 MB shared across the processor.

Memory support differs as well. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses and record the same memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors Intel, which offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics also differ. AMD includes a Radeon 880M, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 730. The market segments are distinct: the AMD part is classified as Mobile, while the Intel part is classified as Desktop. The release dates show Intel shipping earlier, with a 2025-01-12 release, while AMD followed later with a 2026-03-08 release.

The Intel part has a known part number, SRQDVQ659, while the AMD part number is listed as unknown. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as Active.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows several divergences between the two parts.

• Cores: AMD has 8 cores; Intel has 14 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 16 threads; Intel has 20 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz; Intel runs at 2.70 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD boosts to 5.00 GHz; Intel boosts to 5.20 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is rated at 28 W; Intel is rated at 65 W.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FP8; Intel uses Intel Socket 1700.
• Process Node: AMD uses 4 nm; Intel uses 10 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses TSMC; Intel uses Intel.
• Die Size: AMD measures 233 mm²; Intel measures 257 mm².
• L2 Cache: AMD provides 1 MB per core; Intel provides 2 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 8 MB; Intel has 24 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD lists DDR5, LPDDR5X; Intel lists DDR4, DDR5.
• PCIe: AMD provides Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only); Intel provides Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: AMD uses Radeon 880M; Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.
• Market Segment: AMD is Mobile; Intel is Desktop.
• Release Date: AMD released on 2026-03-08; Intel released on 2025-01-12.
• Part Number: AMD lists unknown; Intel lists SRQDVQ659.
• Launch MSRP: AMD has none listed; Intel lists $232.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger choice for workloads that depend on raw compute throughput. It wins 9 of 11 direct comparisons, including substantial leads in integer math, floating point math, physics, and prime number finding. Its 14 cores and 20 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.20 GHz and a larger 24 MB L3 cache, deliver a multithread score of 30510, which is 15.1% higher than AMD’s 25889. The Intel part also holds a single-thread advantage, albeit a small one, at 4147 versus 4029. For applications that scale across cores, the Intel processor’s higher core count and larger cache make it the more capable part.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 does not match Intel in most compute-heavy tests, but it holds a distinct advantage in extended instructions, scoring 32.8% higher. This suggests a specialization in vectorized or complex instruction workloads, which may matter for specific embedded or AI-related tasks. Its lower TDP of 28 W, versus Intel’s 65 W, and its 4 nm process node from TSMC indicate a more power-efficient design. The AMD part also carries a higher average benchmark score of 52901, driven by that extended instructions result, and sits at the 91st percentile versus Intel’s 87th.

The choice between these two processors depends on the workload profile. For general-purpose computing, multithreaded applications, and tasks that benefit from high core counts and large caches, the Intel Core 5 221E shows superior results across the majority of measured categories. For workloads that rely on extended instruction sets, where the AMD processor leads by 32.8%, and for environments where power consumption is a primary constraint, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 presents a compelling case. The data does not support a single universal winner; it supports a clear division of strengths. Intel wins the breadth of tests, AMD wins the depth in a specific category, and the overall average score favors AMD.