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

The benchmark data shows a decisive and consistent victory for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 across every single recorded workload. The Intel Core 5 221TE wins zero of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the AMD processor leading by margins that range from roughly 38% in Cinebench tests to over 250% in extended instruction workloads. This is not a close contest by any measurable standard.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the uniformity of the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385's advantage. In the Cinebench suite, the AMD chip posts a multicore score of 1579 in Cinebench R15 against Intel's 1139, a delta of 38.6%. The single-core result in the same test is 222 versus 160, a 38.8% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD processor scores 6583 multicore and 929 single-core, while the Intel chip manages 4748 and 670, respectively, each representing a 38.6% and 38.7% delta. Cinebench R23 follows the identical pattern: 15674 versus 11305 in multicore and 2212 versus 1596 in single-core, both at a 38.6% delta. The consistency of these margins suggests a fundamental per-core performance advantage rather than a scaling artifact.

The PassMark suite reveals where the gap truly widens. In integer math, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 107046 against the Intel Core 5 221TE's 42303, a 153% delta. Floating point math shows 71105 versus 31661, a 124.6% lead. The most extreme divergence appears in extended instructions, where AMD scores 33873 and Intel scores 9655, producing a delta of 250.8%. Data compression follows at 406505 versus 156682, a 159.4% delta, while data encryption shows 19926 versus 8963, a 122.3% lead. Random string sorting delivers 43725 versus 16929, a 158.3% delta, and prime number finding shows 165 versus 59, a 179.7% margin.

The multithreaded PassMark result confirms the overall trend: 33705 for AMD versus 13301 for Intel, a 153.4% delta. Physics testing shows 1889 versus 977, a 93.3% lead, which is the narrowest advantage in the entire PassMark suite but still substantial. Single-thread performance in PassMark shows 4060 versus 1734, a 134.1% delta, reinforcing that the AMD processor's lead is not reliant on thread count alone.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data grants the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 every win across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. There is no workload category in which the Intel Core 5 221TE takes a lead, whether the test is single-core or multi-core, integer or floating point, compression or encryption. The AMD processor's advantage is smallest in the Cinebench tests, where it leads by roughly 38% consistently, and largest in extended instructions, where it more than triples the Intel score.

The Intel Core 5 221TE does offer a different core configuration, with 10 cores and 16 threads versus the AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads. However, the benchmark results indicate that the AMD architecture delivers higher throughput per thread and per core. The Intel chip's higher core count does not translate into any measured performance win. The AMD processor also holds a 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel chip sits at the 71st percentile, a gap that aligns with the average benchmark scores of 44309 for AMD and 17860 for Intel.

The Verdict

The data directs any performance-focused selection toward the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 without qualification. Its average benchmark score of 44309 places it in the same performance class as processors like the Intel Core i9-13950HX, which scores 44342 and trails by only 0.1%, and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, which scores 44466 and leads by 0.4%. The Intel Core 5 221TE, with an average score of 17860, sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891 (a 0.2% delta) and the Intel Core 5 120U at 17898 (also a 0.2% delta). These are entirely different performance tiers.

For users prioritizing raw compute, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is the clear selection. It wins every benchmark, leads by double-digit percentages in most, and posts single-core scores that rival desktop-class parts. The Intel Core 5 221TE remains an active production processor with ECC memory support and a Gen 5 PCIe interface, but the recorded benchmarks show it operates in a lower performance bracket. The AMD chip also carries a higher TDP of 55 watts against Intel's 45 watts, but the performance delta far exceeds the 10 watt power difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has an average benchmark score of 44309, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 17860.

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

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

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 2212, and the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1596, giving the AMD chip a 38.6% lead.

Q: Which processor supports more memory channels?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses a quad-channel memory bus with LPDDR5X support and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses a dual-channel bus with DDR4 and DDR5 support and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process by Intel.

Q: How many wins does each processor have in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins 17 benchmarks, and the Intel Core 5 221TE wins 0.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², and it uses the AMD Socket FP11.

The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with a 10 nm process at Intel. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache configuration shows 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The die size is 215 mm², and it uses Intel Socket 1700.

Both processors share a 5.00 GHz boost clock and 16 threads, but the AMD chip starts from a much higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 1.80 GHz. The AMD processor uses a quad-channel LPDDR5X memory interface with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ substantially: AMD includes Radeon 8050S, and Intel includes UHD Graphics 730.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has 8 cores, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores. Both have 16 threads. The base clock is 3.60 GHz for AMD and 1.80 GHz for Intel, though both boost to 5.00 GHz. The TDP is 55 watts for AMD and 45 watts for Intel.

The process node is 4 nm for AMD (TSMC foundry) and 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The die size is 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel. L2 cache per core is 1 MB for AMD and 1.25 MB for Intel, while L3 cache is 32 MB shared for AMD and 24 MB shared for Intel. Memory support is LPDDR5X for AMD and DDR4, DDR5 for Intel. The memory bus is quad-channel for AMD and dual-channel for Intel, with memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD and Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel. The socket is AMD Socket FP11 for AMD and Intel Socket 1700 for Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. The market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The release dates are 2025-01-05 for AMD and 2025-01-12 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.