AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a decisive verdict: the Intel Core 5 211E wins 15 of the 17 recorded comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 takes only 2. The Intel part's dominance is not marginal; in several workloads it leads by double-digit percentages, and in one test it nearly doubles the AMD chip's output.

Starting with the largest margin, the Intel Core 5 211E scores 346757 in PassMark data compression against the Ryzen 5 230's 218588, a 37% advantage. This is the single biggest gap in the entire comparison. Floating point math shows a similar story: Intel scores 66402 versus 38993, a 41.3% lead. These two results alone establish the Intel chip as the stronger choice for compute-heavy tasks that rely on sustained throughput.

The Cinebench suite paints a consistent picture. Across R15, R20, and R23, the Intel part leads by roughly 12.4% to 12.5% in both single-core and multi-core runs. Specific scores: Cinebench R15 multi-core is 2055 versus 1799, R20 multi-core is 8563 versus 7499, and R23 multi-core is 20389 versus 17857. Single-core results follow the same pattern, with R23 single-core at 2878 versus 2521. These margins are uniform, suggesting a structural advantage in the Intel design rather than workload-specific quirks.

PassMark integer math also favors Intel, though by a smaller margin: 88117 versus 67257, a 23.7% lead. Extended instructions show a 27.7% gap (21592 versus 15618), and random string sorting is 24.2% in Intel's favor (34308 versus 26019). Data encryption is 26% ahead for Intel (17938 versus 13280), and PassMark multithread shows an 18.6% advantage (23833 versus 19411). The single-thread PassMark score is 4006 versus 3558, an 11.2% edge for Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 claims two wins, and both are worth examining. In PassMark find prime numbers, AMD scores 66 versus Intel's 43, a 53.5% advantage. This is the largest percentage win for either side in the entire dataset. In PassMark physics, AMD scores 958 versus 702, a 36.5% lead. These results indicate that the AMD architecture handles specific algorithmic patterns, particularly prime number generation and physics simulation, with notably higher efficiency.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect the same hierarchy. The Intel Core 5 211E averages 37829 across all recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 averages 25782. That is a 46.7% difference in aggregate performance. The Intel part also sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD part sits at the 78th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design directions, and the benchmark results align with those architectural choices.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, with the Hawk Point codename. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, a modest count aimed at efficiency. The base clock is 3.50 GHz and the boost clock reaches 4.90 GHz. The chip carries 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. Cache is organized as 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics come from the Radeon 760M. This is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP8, with a 28 W TDP.

The Intel Core 5 211E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, a higher count that explains much of its multi-threaded advantage. The base clock is 2.70 GHz, lower than AMD's, but the boost clock matches at 4.90 GHz. The die size is 257 mm². Cache structure differs: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but bandwidth is lower at 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, a feature AMD lacks. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), a newer standard despite fewer lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730. This is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, with a 65 W TDP.

The core count difference is the most telling architectural split. Intel's 10 cores and 16 threads versus AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads gives Intel a 40% core advantage and a 33% thread advantage. That directly explains the consistent 12.4% to 12.5% Cinebench multi-core margins, though the single-core margins are also around 12.4%, which points to IPC differences beyond mere core count.

The process node difference also matters. AMD's 4 nm process from TSMC is more advanced than Intel's 10 nm, yet Intel still achieves higher performance in most tests. This suggests the Bartlett Lake design compensates for the older node through higher core count, larger caches, and a more aggressive desktop-oriented power envelope (65 W versus 28 W).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E leads in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. R15 multi-core is 2055 versus 1799, R20 multi-core is 8563 versus 7499, and R23 multi-core is 20389 versus 17857. The margins are consistent at approximately 12.4% in Intel's favor.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 230 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the AMD part wins two tests. PassMark find prime numbers shows 66 versus 43, a 53.5% advantage. PassMark physics shows 958 versus 702, a 36.5% advantage. These are the only two wins for AMD in the recorded dataset.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel has 4 more cores and 4 more threads.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E leads in every single-core test. Cinebench R15 single-core is 289 versus 253, R20 single-core is 1208 versus 1058, R23 single-core is 2878 versus 2521, and PassMark single-thread is 4006 versus 3558. The margins range from 11.2% to 12.5%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 does not.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s with DDR5 support. The Intel Core 5 211E has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s and supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear separation of roles. The Intel Core 5 211E is the stronger processor for general computing, multi-threaded workloads, and single-thread performance. It wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, including every Cinebench test, every PassMark test except two, and the aggregate average score. The 46.7% gap in average benchmark score (37829 versus 25782) is substantial. The Intel part also sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 78th percentile for AMD.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 is not without merit, but its strengths are narrow. It wins in prime number finding and physics simulation by large margins (53.5% and 36.5%, respectively). These are specialized workloads, not general-purpose indicators. The AMD chip also operates at a much lower TDP (28 W versus 65 W), which makes it suitable for mobile or power-constrained environments, but the benchmark data does not show a performance advantage outside those two specific tests.

For users who prioritize raw performance across a broad range of tasks, the Intel Core 5 211E is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements. For users with workloads that specifically involve prime number generation or physics simulation, the AMD Ryzen 5 230 delivers superior results in those areas, though it trails in everything else.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category.

• Cores: 6 (AMD) versus 10 (Intel)
• Threads: 12 (AMD) versus 16 (Intel)
• Base clock: 3.50 GHz (AMD) versus 2.70 GHz (Intel)
• Boost clock: 4.90 GHz for both
• TDP: 28 W (AMD) versus 65 W (Intel)
• Socket: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel Socket 1700
• Codename: Hawk Point versus Bartlett Lake
• Process node: 4 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel)
• Die size: 178 mm² versus 257 mm²
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core
• L2 cache: 1 MB per core versus 2 MB per core
• L3 cache: 16 MB shared versus 20 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR5 versus DDR4, DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s
• ECC memory: Not supported versus supported
• PCIe: Gen 4, 20 lanes versus Gen 5, 16 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Radeon 760M versus UHD Graphics 730
• Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop
• Release date: 2025-01-05 versus 2025-01-12

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 211E wins in the overwhelming majority of scenarios. It leads in all Cinebench tests, which measure rendering and general CPU throughput. It leads in PassMark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithread, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. The 37% lead in data compression and the 41.3% lead in floating point math are particularly notable for workloads like file archiving, scientific computing, and numeric simulation. The Intel part also has ECC memory support, which matters for reliability-sensitive applications, and a higher TDP that allows sustained performance.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins in two specific areas. PassMark find prime numbers (66 versus 43) is a strong indicator for cryptographic key generation or mathematical algorithms that rely on prime number detection. PassMark physics (958 versus 702) points to better performance in physics simulation workloads. The AMD part also offers higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s), a smaller die, and a significantly lower TDP, which makes it the more power-efficient option for mobile deployments. The 4 nm process from TSMC gives it a transistor density advantage, and the Radeon 760M integrated graphics are paired with a mobile socket, confirming its intended use in laptops and compact systems.

The choice comes down to workload profile. For multi-core rendering, data processing, encryption, and general productivity, the Intel Core 5 211E is the superior processor according to the recorded data. For prime number generation, physics simulation, and power-constrained mobile use, the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has specific advantages that the Intel part cannot match.