AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 and the Intel Core 5 221E, with the AMD part winning 6 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons and the Intel part taking the remaining 5. The most decisive victory belongs to the AMD processor in the extended instructions test, where it scores 26544 against Intel's 18216, a 45.7% advantage. This is the single largest margin in either direction across all tested workloads.

Data compression is another strong point for the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185, delivering a score of 374429 compared to 324285 for the Intel Core 5 221E, a 15.5% lead. Random string sorting also favors AMD, with 40557 versus 37686, a 7.6% difference. The AMD chip wins multithread performance by a narrower margin, scoring 31817 against 30510, a 4.3% edge. Data encryption is nearly a tie, with AMD at 19612 and Intel at 19205, a 2.1% advantage for AMD. Integer math is effectively a dead heat, with AMD scoring 117832 and Intel scoring 117813, a delta of 0%.

The Intel Core 5 221E takes its largest win in the find prime numbers test, scoring 173 against AMD's 129, a 25.4% margin. Physics performance also favors Intel substantially, with 2230 versus 1772, a 20.5% lead. Floating point math goes to Intel as well, with 79028 against 70587, a 10.7% difference. In single-thread performance, Intel holds a 4.1% advantage, scoring 4147 compared to AMD's 3977, a result that appears twice in the recorded data under both the single_thread and singlethread test labels.

Overall average benchmark scores place the AMD part at 62839, which corresponds to the 93rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Intel part averages 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD processor include the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX at 62738 (0.2% behind AMD), the Intel Core i7-13790F at 63080 (0.4% ahead), the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX at 63173 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 465 at 62498 (0.5% behind). For the Intel Core 5 221E, the closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246 (0.3% ahead), and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 (0.4% ahead).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 demonstrates its strengths in workloads that rely on instruction-level parallelism and data manipulation. The 45.7% lead in extended instructions indicates that software leveraging SIMD or other advanced instruction sets will run noticeably faster on the AMD part. Data compression, which benefits from both memory bandwidth and efficient instruction execution, shows a 15.5% advantage for AMD. Random string sorting, a memory-intensive operation, also favors AMD by 7.6%. The multithread score of 31817 versus 30510 suggests that AMD's 24 threads provide a modest edge in heavily threaded workloads, despite the Intel part having more physical cores.

The Intel Core 5 221E excels in single-threaded and latency-sensitive tasks. The 4.1% lead in single-thread performance, with a score of 4147 versus 3977, indicates that lightly threaded applications will run slightly faster on the Intel processor. Prime number finding, which is largely a test of integer throughput and core efficiency, shows a 25.4% win for Intel. Physics simulations, which often depend on high clock speeds and efficient core design, deliver a 20.5% advantage for Intel. Floating point math also goes to Intel by 10.7%, suggesting that scientific or engineering workloads with heavy FP arithmetic may perform better on the Intel part.

The win distribution is nearly balanced, but the magnitude of AMD's victories is larger on average. AMD's biggest win is 45.7%, while its smallest win is 0% in integer math. Intel's biggest win is 25.4%, and its smallest is 4.1% in single-thread. This means that for workloads where AMD wins, the performance gap can be substantial, while Intel's advantages tend to be more moderate in scale.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 221E uses a 10 nm process at Intel. The die size for AMD is 233 mm², compared to 257 mm² for Intel. AMD's processor is based on the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI Embedded generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Intel's part uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation.

The core and thread configuration differs significantly. AMD provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 14 cores and 20 threads. This means Intel has more physical cores but fewer threads, reflecting a design that likely uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores without hyperthreading on all of them. AMD's approach relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 24 threads from 12 cores.

Clock speeds favor Intel in both base and boost operation. The Intel Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the AMD part runs at 2.00 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost. The thermal design power also differs considerably, with AMD rated at 28 watts and Intel at 65 watts, indicating that AMD targets lower power envelopes while Intel uses more headroom.

Cache hierarchies show structural differences. Both processors use an 80 KB L1 cache per core. For L2, AMD provides 1 MB per core, while Intel provides 2 MB per core. L3 cache is 16 MB on the AMD part and 24 MB shared on the Intel part. Memory support includes DDR5 and LPDDR5X for AMD, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation. AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with AMD featuring the Radeon 890M and Intel featuring UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP8 and is classified as mobile, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700 and is classified as desktop. The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $232 and a known part number of SRQDVQ659, while the AMD part has no recorded MSRP or part number.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 has 12 cores.

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 4147 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 4.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185's 3977.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 boosts to 5.10 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 is rated at 28 watts TDP, while the Intel Core 5 221E is rated at 65 watts TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 has an average benchmark score of 62839, compared to 40144 for the Intel Core 5 221E.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following specification fields:

• Cores: AMD 12, Intel 14
• Threads: AMD 24, Intel 20
• Base Clock: AMD 2.00 GHz, Intel 2.70 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD 5.10 GHz, Intel 5.20 GHz
• TDP: AMD 28 W, Intel 65 W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP8, Intel Socket 1700
• Codename: Gorgon Point, Bartlett Lake
• Generation: Ryzen AI Embedded (Zen 5 / Zen 5c), Core 5 (Bartlett Lake)
• Process Node: 4 nm, 10 nm
• Foundry: TSMC, Intel
• Die Size: 233 mm², 257 mm²
• L2 Cache: 1 MB per core, 2 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 16 MB, 24 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR5, LPDDR5X versus DDR4, DDR5
• PCIe: Gen 4, 16 lanes versus Gen 5, 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon 890M, UHD Graphics 730
• Market Segment: Mobile, Desktop
• Release Date: 2026-02-28, 2025-01-12
• Launch MSRP: None recorded, $232
• Part Number: Unknown, SRQDVQ659

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 is the stronger overall performer in the database's average benchmark scoring, with 62839 versus 40144 for the Intel Core 5 221E. The AMD part also holds a higher percentile ranking at 93 compared to 87. For workloads that involve extended instructions, data compression, or random string sorting, the AMD processor delivers substantial advantages, with margins ranging from 7.6% to 45.7%. Multithread performance also favors AMD by 4.3%.

The Intel Core 5 221E is the choice for single-threaded and latency-sensitive applications. Its 4.1% single-thread lead, 25.4% advantage in prime number finding, 20.5% lead in physics, and 10.7% edge in floating point math make it suitable for lightly threaded workloads where clock speed and core efficiency matter more than thread count. The Intel part also offers a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, which contributes to its responsiveness in these tests.

The AMD part operates at a much lower TDP of 28 watts compared to 65 watts for Intel, making it a fit for power-constrained mobile deployments. The Intel part is a desktop processor with a 65 watt envelope and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. PCIe Gen 5 on the Intel side offers newer connectivity, while AMD uses Gen 4.

Users who prioritize raw throughput in parallel, data-heavy, or instruction-intensive workloads should select the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185. Users who prioritize single-thread speed, floating point computation, or physics simulations should select the Intel Core 5 221E. The specifications confirm that these are different design targets, with AMD emphasizing efficiency and thread density and Intel emphasizing core count and clock speed.