AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a significantly higher average benchmark score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 22289 on average, which lands in the 75th percentile.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E dominates in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 25933 versus 15502 for the AMD Ryzen 5 220, a 40.2% advantage. The PassMark multithread test shows a 30510 to 18582 result, a 39.1% edge for Intel.

Q: Which processor offers better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins every single-core test in the database. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3661 against 2188 for the AMD part, a 40.2% gap. PassMark single-thread shows 4147 versus 3646, a 12.1% difference.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, giving it a substantial advantage in raw parallel capacity.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel memory with identical peak bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 reaches 4.90 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus 3.20 GHz for the AMD, so the AMD has the higher base frequency but the Intel has the higher boost frequency.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 and Intel Core 5 221E come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD chip uses Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel part uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The process node difference is substantial: 4 nm versus 10 nm, which directly impacts power efficiency and thermal density.

Core counts diverge sharply. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 provides 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E provides 14 cores and 20 threads. This is not a minor gap; the Intel processor has more than twice the core count and 8 additional threads. The cache hierarchy reflects this difference. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Larger per-core caches and a bigger L3 pool give the Intel chip more on-die data capacity.

Socket requirements are entirely different. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 uses AMD Socket FP8, a mobile platform. The Intel Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform. This alone determines the systems each can be installed into. The AMD processor is classified as a mobile part, while the Intel processor is classified as a desktop part.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 carries Radeon 740M graphics. The Intel Core 5 221E carries UHD Graphics 730. The database does not record performance numbers for these iGPUs, so no direct comparison is available.

PCIe support shows another divergence. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. That gives the Intel part both newer PCIe generation and more CPU-attached lanes.

Memory controller support differs in flexibility. The Intel Core 5 221E accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 is DDR5 only. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, while the AMD part does not. Both run dual-channel memory with equal peak bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

The physical package differences are notable. The AMD die measures 137 mm² with 20,900 million transistors. The Intel die measures 257 mm², and the database does not list a transistor count for it. The Intel die is nearly twice the size of the AMD die, consistent with its larger core count and cache pool.

Power envelopes differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts. That 37-watt gap reflects the Intel part's much larger core configuration and higher boost clocks.

Release timing is close but not identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 launched on 2025-01-05, and the Intel Core 5 221E launched on 2025-01-12, one week later. Both are listed as active production parts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. There are no exceptions in the recorded data. The win margins vary considerably by workload type, which reveals where the Intel architecture is strongest.

The largest Intel advantages come in prime number finding, floating-point math, and physics simulation. In PassMark find prime numbers, the Intel chip scores 173 against 65 for the AMD part, a 62.4% lead. Floating-point math shows 79028 versus 35500, a 55.1% gap. Physics shows 2230 versus 983, a 55.9% difference. These workloads rely heavily on raw compute throughput and core count, both of which favor the Intel processor.

Integer math also shows a wide gap. The Intel Core 5 221E scores 117813 in PassMark integer math, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 scores 57987, a 50.8% difference. Data encryption favors Intel by 34.9%, and data compression favors Intel by 34.4%. Random string sorting goes to Intel by 32.5%. Extended instructions show a narrower 14.8% lead for Intel.

The Cinebench suite is uniformly one-sided. Across R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and single-core tests show a 40.2% to 40.3% advantage for the Intel Core 5 221E. This consistency suggests the Intel part has a structural performance advantage that scales across rendering generations.

The narrowest Intel win is in single-threaded performance. PassMark single-thread shows 4147 versus 3646, a 12.1% gap. This is the only test where the AMD Ryzen 5 220 comes within a reasonable distance, indicating that the AMD Zen 4 core has competitive per-thread strength but cannot overcome the Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has no benchmark wins in the database. Its lower TDP of 28 watts and smaller core configuration position it as a mobile-oriented part, but the recorded performance data shows it trailing in every measured workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 220 | Intel Core 5 221E |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not listed |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 137 mm² | 257 mm² |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not listed |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 740M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $232 |

The Intel Core 5 221E has the higher boost clock, more cores, more threads, larger caches, wider PCIe support, ECC capability, and dual memory standard support. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has the higher base clock, a smaller process node, a smaller die, and a much lower TDP. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $232; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The most decisive victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel leads by 62.4% with a score of 173 versus 65. This workload is highly parallel and core-count sensitive, so the 14-core Intel part overwhelms the 6-core AMD chip.

Floating-point math shows a 55.1% Intel advantage, 79028 versus 35500. Physics simulation shows a 55.9% gap, 2230 versus 983. Integer math shows a 50.8% lead, 117813 versus 57987. These results align with the core count disparity: the Intel processor has more than double the cores and 8 additional threads.

The Cinebench results are remarkably uniform. Every test, from R15 to R23, in both multicore and single-core variants, shows exactly a 40.2% or 40.3% Intel advantage. The R23 multicore scores are 25933 for Intel and 15502 for AMD. The R23 single-core scores are 3661 and 2188. The consistency of the 40% margin across all Cinebench tests suggests a stable architectural advantage that is not workload-specific within that suite.

Data compression and encryption show mid-range gaps. Compression scores are 324285 for Intel and 212739 for AMD, a 34.4% difference. Encryption scores are 19205 and 12493, a 34.9% gap. Random string sorting shows 37686 versus 25433, a 32.5% lead. Extended instructions show the second-narrowest gap at 14.8%, with scores of 18216 and 15512.

The closest contest is in PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, which are duplicates in the database. Both show 4147 for Intel and 3646 for AMD, a 12.1% margin. This is the only area where the AMD Ryzen 5 220 demonstrates competitive per-core performance. The AMD base clock of 3.20 GHz is higher than the Intel base clock of 2.70 GHz, but the Intel boost clock of 5.20 GHz exceeds the AMD boost clock of 4.90 GHz, and the single-thread results follow the boost clock ranking.

The average benchmark scores place the two parts in different competitive tiers. The Intel Core 5 221E averages 40144, sitting between the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 and the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 averages 22289, sitting near the Intel Core i5-13500H at 22468 and the Intel Core i7-1270P at 22502. The Intel Core 5 221E is closest to the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, with a 0.2% delta, while the AMD Ryzen 5 220 is closest to the Intel Core i7-10700K, with a 0.3% delta.

The Verdict

The data supports one clear conclusion: the Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 220 in every measured workload. With 14 cores, 20 threads, a 5.20 GHz boost clock, and 24 MB of L3 cache, the Intel part has structural advantages in both parallel throughput and single-thread speed. The AMD Ryzen 5 220, with 6 cores, 12 threads, a 4.90 GHz boost clock, and 16 MB of L3 cache, cannot close the gap in any recorded test.

The Intel Core 5 221E is the choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads. Its 65 watt TDP and desktop socket allow sustained multi-core operation, and the benchmark results confirm that it delivers on that potential. The 40.2% lead across all Cinebench tests and the 50% plus leads in integer math, floating-point math, and physics make it the stronger option for rendering, simulation, and numeric computation.

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is a mobile segment part with a 28 watt TDP. Its narrower performance margin in single-thread tests, just 12.1% behind Intel, shows the Zen 4 core is efficient and capable per thread. For systems constrained by power limits or mobile form factors, the AMD part offers a lower-power path, but the performance data does not favor it in any direct comparison.

The Intel Core 5 221E also provides ECC memory support, DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility, and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. These are platform-level advantages that extend beyond raw compute. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 is DDR5 only, does not support ECC, and uses PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes.

The launch MSRP of the Intel Core 5 221E is $232. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has no listed launch MSRP.

For any workload where performance is the primary criterion, the Intel Core 5 221E is the unequivocal choice. The AMD Ryzen 5 220 has no recorded benchmark win, and its only relative strengths are a higher base clock and a lower TDP. Those characteristics matter in power-sensitive mobile designs, but they do not translate into any performance victory in the database.