AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The Verdict

The data in this comparison is one-sided due to a critical gap in the record. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U has no recorded benchmark scores, an average benchmark score of 0, and a percentile rank of 50 among all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 221E, conversely, has a full set of 17 benchmark results, an average score of 40,144, and sits at the 87th percentile. Any analysis of performance must therefore be based solely on the Intel part’s measured results, with the AMD part’s capabilities described only through its architectural specifications.

The Intel Core 5 221E is the only option with measurable performance data. Its recorded scores show strong multi-threaded and single-threaded results. It sits 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, and 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen 9 270 in average score. The Intel part is also 0.4% behind the Intel Core i9-13905H. These narrow margins place it in a competitive cluster of high-end processors.

For the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U, the lack of benchmark scores means no verdict on its measured performance can be made. The database shows no wins for it in any head-to-head comparison, and no rival data exists for it. The Intel Core 5 221E, by default, holds all recorded wins. A user needing verified performance numbers should look to the Intel part. A user prioritizing a 4 nm process node, lower thermal design power, or a specific mobile embedded form factor may consider the AMD part, but only on specification grounds, not measured results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their design and manufacturing approach. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, and belongs to the 8000 series. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, belongs to the Core 5 generation, and is fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process with a 257 mm² die size.

Core and thread counts show a clear structural difference. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. This gives Intel a 6-core and 4-thread advantage in raw parallelism. However, the AMD part’s base clock is 3.30 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for Intel, while the Intel part has a higher boost clock at 5.20 GHz versus 5.10 GHz for AMD. The AMD part thus starts at a higher frequency, but the Intel part can reach a slightly higher peak.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel’s larger per-core L1 and L2, plus its larger shared L3, suggest a design favoring larger working sets in cache.

Memory support and I/O differ as well. The AMD part supports DDR5 memory only, on a dual-channel bus, with a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with the same 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. For PCIe, the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Intel’s Gen 5 interface offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but AMD provides more lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: the AMD part uses a Radeon 780M, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part’s market segment is mobile, and it uses an AMD Socket FP8. The Intel part is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part released on 2024-04-01, while the Intel part released on 2025-01-12. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232 and a part number of SRQDVQ659; the AMD part’s MSRP is not recorded.

Where Each One Wins

With no benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U, the only quantifiable wins belong to the Intel Core 5 221E. The Intel part’s recorded scores cover a range of workloads, and its results show strengths in several specific areas.

In multi-core compute, the Intel part delivers strong results. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 25,933, which is a high figure for a desktop part. Its Cinebench R20 multi-core score is 10,891, and its Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 2,613. These indicate a clear capability in heavily threaded workloads such as video rendering or compilation. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30,510 reinforces this.

In single-core performance, the Intel part also shows solid numbers. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3,661, its R20 single-core score is 1,537, and its R15 single-core score is 368. The PassMark single-thread score is 4,147. These results suggest strong per-core efficiency despite the lower base clock.

Specific PassMark subtests reveal workload-specific strengths. The Intel part scores 117,813 in integer math and 79,028 in floating-point math. It scores 19,205 in data encryption and 324,285 in data compression. Its random string sorting score is 37,686, and its extended instructions score is 18,216. Its physics score is 2,230, and its find prime numbers score is 173. These numbers indicate balanced performance across arithmetic, memory-bound, and cryptographic workloads.

The AMD part’s wins cannot be quantified from the database. Its architecture features, such as the 4 nm process and 28 W TDP, suggest advantages in power efficiency and thermal envelope, but no benchmark data supports any performance win. The Intel part, with a 65 W TDP, uses more power but delivers all recorded performance results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the clock speeds of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher benchmark percentile?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U sits at the 50th percentile, but it has no recorded benchmark scores.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U supports DDR5 memory only. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Both use a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and support ECC memory.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core 5 221E?

A: The launch MSRP of the Intel Core 5 221E is $232. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U has no recorded launch MSRP.

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 221E compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average score of 40,144. It is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen 9 270, and 0.4% below the Intel Core i9-13905H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U and the Intel Core 5 221E. The AMD part has zero recorded benchmark scores, and the wins counter shows 0 for both sides. This means no direct comparison of measured performance is possible. The Intel part’s own benchmark results, however, provide a full picture of its capabilities.

The Intel Core 5 221E’s largest single-core win comes from its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,661. This is a strong figure for a desktop processor. Its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 1,537 and R15 single-core score of 368 confirm consistency across versions. In PassMark, the single-thread score of 4,147 aligns with these results.

The Intel part’s multi-core results are even more substantial. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25,933 is the highest recorded for this part. The R20 multi-core score of 10,891 and R15 multi-core score of 2,613 scale appropriately. The PassMark multithread score of 30,510 corroborates the Cinebench data.

In PassMark subtests, the Intel part shows specific strengths. Its data compression score of 324,285 is the highest among its PassMark results, indicating strong memory and integer throughput for compression tasks. Its integer math score of 117,813 and floating-point math score of 79,028 show balanced arithmetic performance. Its data encryption score of 19,205 and extended instructions score of 18,216 indicate capable cryptographic and SIMD processing. Its random string sorting score of 37,686 and physics score of 2,230 round out the profile.

The nearest rival comparisons for the Intel part show a tight competitive field. Against the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, the Intel part is 0.2% ahead in average score. Against the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, it is also 0.2% ahead. Against the AMD Ryzen 9 270, it is 0.3% behind. Against the Intel Core i9-13905H, it is 0.4% behind. These margins are small, placing the Intel part in a cluster of similar-performing processors.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U has no benchmark scores, no average score, and no rival data. Its percentile rank of 50 is based on an average score of 0, which is not a meaningful performance indicator. The only recorded facts about it are architectural: 8 cores, 16 threads, a 4 nm TSMC process, a 28 W TDP, 16 MB of L3 cache, and Radeon 780M graphics. These specifications suggest a low-power embedded part, but the database provides no measured evidence of its performance relative to the Intel part.

The Intel Core 5 221E, by contrast, is fully characterized. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, 24 MB of L3 cache, and 5.20 GHz boost clock are complemented by a complete set of benchmark results. Its average score of 40,144 places it at the 87th percentile. The database shows it as an active production part with a release date of 2025-01-12 and a launch MSRP of $232.

In summary, the head-to-head comparison is incomplete by the data’s own admission. The Intel part holds all measurable performance wins, while the AMD part remains a specification-only entry. Any workload analysis must rely on the Intel part’s scores, which show strong multi-core and single-core results across Cinebench and PassMark tests.