AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data delivers a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 dominates the Intel Core 5 221E in nearly every measured workload. The AMD part wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with the Intel chip taking only the two PassMark single-thread tests. The average benchmark score tells the same story, 56273 for the AMD versus 40144 for the Intel, a gap that places the Ryzen AI Max 390 in the 91st percentile of all CPUs while the Core 5 221E sits in the 87th percentile.

The Ryzen AI Max 390 is the pick for anyone whose workload scales across cores, particularly rendering, data compression, and extended instruction sets. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36064 is 39.1% ahead of the Intel's 25933, and the PassMark data compression test shows an even larger 50.2% advantage. The Intel Core 5 221E retains a narrow edge in single-threaded PassMark performance, 4147 versus 4028, a 2.9% lead that matters for lightly threaded desktop tasks but does not offset the broad multicore deficit.

The Intel part does offer a different platform profile, with a desktop market segment, dual-channel memory, and PCIe Gen 5 support. But the benchmark data shows no workload category where the Intel chip wins beyond that single-thread PassMark result. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the superior processor for sustained compute, and the Intel Core 5 221E is only preferable in scenarios where its single-thread PassMark advantage and desktop socket matter more than multicore throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins across every Cinebench generation recorded, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multicore tests. The multicore deltas are uniform at 39.1% in each Cinebench version, while the R15 single-core test shows a 39.4% lead. This consistency indicates the AMD architecture delivers a stable advantage regardless of benchmark generation or workload scaling.

In PassMark workloads, the AMD chip wins data compression by 50.2%, extended instructions by 112.5%, prime number finding by 82.7%, multithread by 36.8%, random string sorting by 40.9%, integer math by 24.4%, physics by 23.8%, floating point math by 14.6%, and data encryption by 30.7%. The extended instructions result is the largest single margin in the entire comparison, doubling the Intel score of 18216 to reach 38716.

The Intel Core 5 221E wins only the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, both recording 4147 against the AMD's 4028. That 2.9% margin is the sole bright spot for the Intel part. It suggests the Intel chip has a slight edge in lightly threaded PassMark operations, but the AMD part still leads in the Cinebench single-core tests, where it scores 5091 in R23 versus 3661 for Intel, a 39.1% advantage. The Intel single-thread win is therefore workload-specific and does not translate to Cinebench single-core performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in architecture, process node, and platform design. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a 12-core, 24-thread configuration. It has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221E uses Bartlett Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with 14 cores but only 20 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration where some cores lack hyperthreading. Its base clock is 2.70 GHz and boost clock is 5.20 GHz.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel part also has 80 KB of L1 per core but doubles L2 to 2 MB per core, while reducing shared L3 to 24 MB. The AMD's larger L3 pool likely contributes to its data compression and extended instruction advantages, though the Intel's larger per-core L2 may help its single-thread PassMark result.

Memory support is another major split. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel memory bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part has more than 2.8 times the memory bandwidth, a critical factor for memory-intensive workloads like data compression and encryption. Both parts support ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD uses Radeon 8050S, while the Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part is a mobile segment processor on AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel is a desktop segment processor on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Intel uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The AMD die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel die is 257 mm². The AMD has a 55 W TDP, the Intel 65 W. The AMD released on 2025-01-05, the Intel on 2025-01-12.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36064, which is 39.1% ahead of the Intel Core 5 221E's 25933.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221E win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, both with a score of 4147 versus the AMD's 4028, a 2.9% margin.

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

A: The PassMark extended instructions test shows the largest gap, with the AMD scoring 38716 versus the Intel's 18216, a 112.5% advantage.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel has more cores at 14, but the AMD has more threads at 24 versus 20, due to the AMD's simultaneous multithreading across all 12 cores.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 bus.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a 55 W TDP, while the Intel Core 5 221E has a 65 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent 39.1% multicore advantage for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 across all three versions. In R15 multicore, the AMD scores 3635 against 2613. In R20 multicore, the scores are 15146 and 10891. In R23 multicore, the scores are 36064 and 25933. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern, with the AMD leading R15 by 39.4%, 513 to 368, and R20 and R23 by 39.1%, 2138 to 1537 and 5091 to 3661 respectively.

The PassMark suite reveals the AMD's strengths in specific instruction types. The data compression test shows the AMD at 487145 versus 324285, a 50.2% lead. Extended instructions show the AMD at 38716 versus 18216, more than double the Intel score. Prime number finding shows 316 versus 173, an 82.7% margin. Multithread shows 41737 versus 30510, a 36.8% lead. Random string sorting shows 53113 versus 37686, a 40.9% margin. Integer math shows 146519 versus 117813, a 24.4% lead. Physics shows 2761 versus 2230, a 23.8% margin. Floating point math shows 90594 versus 79028, a 14.6% lead. Data encryption shows 25097 versus 19205, a 30.7% margin.

The single PassMark win for the Intel is narrow. The Intel scores 4147 in single-thread, versus 4028 for the AMD, a 2.9% advantage. This result appears twice in the benchmark list, under both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread" labels. It is the only test where the Intel part records a higher score, and the margin is small enough that the AMD's 39.1% Cinebench single-core lead outweighs it in rendering workloads.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and Intel Core 5 221E differ across every major specification category. The AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD base clock is 3.20 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the Intel. The AMD boost clock is 5.00 GHz versus 5.20 GHz for the Intel. The AMD TDP is 55 W, the Intel 65 W.

The AMD uses AMD Socket FP11, the Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD architecture is Zen 5 with codename Strix Halo, while the Intel codename is Bartlett Lake. The AMD process node is 4 nm from TSMC, the Intel is 10 nm from Intel. The AMD die size is 2x 70.6 mm², the Intel is 257 mm².

Cache differs in L2 and L3. Both have 80 KB L1 per core. The AMD has 1 MB L2 per core and 64 MB shared L3. The Intel has 2 MB L2 per core and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support sees the AMD on LPDDR5X with quad-channel and 256.0 GB/s, while the Intel uses DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel and 89.6 GB/s.

PCIe capability differs by generation. The AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes, the Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for the AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for the Intel. The AMD is a mobile part, the Intel is a desktop part. Both are active production, neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $232, while the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.