AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data separates these two processors into clearly distinct performance profiles. The Intel Core 5 221E dominates the Cinebench suite, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 counters with decisive wins in several Passmark workloads. Out of 17 total comparisons, the Intel part claims 12 victories, but the AMD processor's 5 wins are often by wider margins.

Cinebench results are lopsided. The Intel Core 5 221E leads by 39.6% in Cinebench R15 multicore, scoring 2613 against 1579. Single-core R15 shows a 39.7% gap, with 368 versus 222. The pattern holds across R20 and R23: Intel leads by 39.6% in R20 multicore (10891 vs 6583), 39.6% in R20 single-core (1537 vs 929), 39.6% in R23 multicore (25933 vs 15674), and 39.6% in R23 single-core (3661 vs 2212). The consistency of that 39.6% delta across every Cinebench generation suggests a fixed architectural advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

Passmark results tell a different story. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins data compression by 25.4%, scoring 406505 against 324285. Extended instructions deliver the largest margin of any test: AMD leads by 86%, with 33873 versus 18216. Multithread performance favors AMD by 10.5% (33705 vs 30510), and random string sorting goes AMD's way by 16% (43725 vs 37686). Data encryption is close, with AMD ahead by just 3.8% (19926 vs 19205).

The Intel part wins the remaining Passmark tests. Prime number finding is nearly even, with Intel ahead by 4.6% (173 vs 165). Floating point math goes Intel's way by 10% (79028 vs 71105), and integer math by 9.1% (117813 vs 107046). Physics simulation favors Intel by 15.3% (2230 vs 1889). Single-thread performance is close, with Intel ahead by 2.1% (4147 vs 4060). The duplicate single-thread entry in the database confirms the same 2.1% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E is the clear choice for rendering and CPU-bound content creation. Its Cinebench dominance, a uniform 39.6% margin across every version of the test, points to a substantial raw throughput advantage in heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads alike. The physics score reinforces this, with Intel ahead by 15.3%. Integer and floating point math also favor Intel, which suggests strong general compute for scientific and engineering tasks.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins where memory bandwidth and specialized instruction throughput matter. Data compression at 25.4% ahead and extended instructions at 86% ahead are the standout results. Random string sorting, a workload that depends on memory access patterns and cache behavior, goes AMD's way by 16%. Multithread performance at 10.5% ahead indicates that the AMD part's thread scheduler or memory subsystem handles concurrent workloads effectively. Data encryption shows near parity, with AMD ahead by only 3.8%.

Single-thread performance is essentially a tie for interactive use. The 2.1% Intel lead in Passmark single-thread (4147 vs 4060) is minor compared with the 39.6% gaps in Cinebench single-core tests. The difference likely stems from the Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz against AMD's 5.00 GHz, though the Passmark test shows the gap is smaller than the clock difference would suggest.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has an average benchmark score of 44309, which places it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 221E has an average score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile.

Q: How does the AMD processor compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen AI Max 385 sits within 0.6% of its nearest rivals. It trails the Intel Core i9-13950HX by 0.1% (44342 vs 44309), leads the Intel Core i5-13600 by 0.2% (44240 vs 44309), trails the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H by 0.4% (44466 vs 44309), and trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D by 0.6% (44573 vs 44309).

Q: Where does the Intel Core 5 221E rank among its competition?

A: The Core 5 221E leads the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 by 0.2% (40144 vs 40081) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 by 0.2% (40144 vs 40048). It trails the AMD Ryzen 9 270 by 0.3% (40246 vs 40144) and the Intel Core i9-13905H by 0.4% (40313 vs 40144).

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz, but the AMD part's base clock of 3.60 GHz is higher in that metric.

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

A: The largest margin is in Passmark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 leads by 86%, scoring 33873 against 18216.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds also diverge: AMD runs at 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. The Intel part has the higher boost clock by 0.20 GHz, but the AMD part has the higher base clock by 0.90 GHz.

Thermal design power differs by 10 watts, with the AMD part rated at 55 W and the Intel part at 65 W. Sockets are incompatible: the AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700. Cache configuration varies as well. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core, but AMD uses 1 MB of L2 per core while Intel uses 2 MB per core. Shared L3 cache favors AMD at 32 MB, against Intel's 24 MB.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD part supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel memory bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. PCIe generation differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are the Radeon 8050S on the AMD side and UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel side. The AMD part targets the mobile market segment, while the Intel part targets desktop. The Intel launch MSRP is $232; the AMD launch MSRP is not recorded.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel with a die size of 257 mm². The manufacturing process difference is significant: the AMD part uses TSMC's 4 nm node, while the Intel part uses Intel's 10 nm node.

The AMD processor belongs to the Ryzen AI Max generation, which is built around the Zen 5 core design. The Intel processor belongs to the Core 5 generation under the Bartlett Lake codename. Both are active production parts, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The cache hierarchy reflects the different core counts. Both processors allocate 80 KB of L1 per core, but the Intel part doubles the L2 allocation to 2 MB per core against AMD's 1 MB. AMD compensates with 32 MB of shared L3, compared with Intel's 24 MB. The AMD part's quad-channel LPDDR5X memory interface provides 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, a substantial advantage over the Intel part's dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 interface at 89.6 GB/s, which is why memory-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting favor the AMD processor despite its lower core count.

Both processors support ECC memory and use 16 PCIe lanes, though the AMD part runs Gen 4 while the Intel part runs Gen 5. The AMD processor's die is composed of two 70.6 mm² chiplets, while the Intel processor uses a single 257 mm² die. Release dates are close, with the AMD part launching on January 5, 2025, and the Intel part launching on January 12, 2025.