AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and the Intel Core 5 221E occupy different positions in the desktop processor landscape, as demonstrated by their recorded benchmark scores. The AMD part, built on the Zen 3 architecture, focuses on delivering a large shared L3 cache, while the Intel part, based on the Bartlett Lake architecture, offers a higher core count and significantly higher boost clock. The data shows a clear performance split, with the Intel processor dominating most compute-heavy workloads but the AMD processor securing a niche victory in one specific physics test.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins the overwhelming majority of the head-to-head benchmark comparisons, taking 10 out of 11 recorded tests. Its largest victory comes in floating-point math, where it scores 79028 against the Ryzen 5 5500X3D’s 34511, a delta of 56.3 percent. This substantial lead indicates that the Intel processor is far more capable in workloads that rely heavily on floating-point calculations, such as scientific simulations and certain rendering tasks. Similarly, in integer math, the Intel part scores 117813 versus 60033, a 49 percent advantage, suggesting a significant edge in general-purpose arithmetic and logic operations.

The Intel Core 5 221E also delivers a strong performance in data compression, scoring 324285 compared to the AMD’s 230392, a 29 percent difference. This pattern continues across several other workloads. In random string sorting, the Intel part scores 37686 against 23675, a 37.2 percent lead. Data encryption also favors Intel, with a score of 19205 versus 13967, a 27.3 percent advantage. The extended instructions test shows a narrower but still decisive 12.6 percent lead for Intel, with scores of 18216 and 15925 respectively.

Multi-threaded performance heavily favors the Intel Core 5 221E, which scores 30510 in the PassMark multithread test compared to the AMD’s 20363, a 33.3 percent difference. Single-thread performance also goes to Intel, with a score of 4147 versus 2941, a 29.1 percent lead. The prime number finding test is nearly a tie, with Intel edging out AMD 173 to 170, a 1.7 percent difference. The only benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D comes out ahead is the physics test, where it scores 2282 versus Intel’s 2230, a 2.3 percent advantage. This single win suggests that the AMD processor’s architecture may handle that specific physics workload slightly better, despite its lower overall core count and clock speeds.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark scores, the Intel Core 5 221E is the superior processor for the vast majority of applications. Its higher scores in single-threaded, multi-threaded, integer, floating-point, compression, encryption, and sorting tests indicate that it will deliver better performance in general productivity, content creation, and compute-intensive tasks. The data shows that the Intel processor achieves an average benchmark score of 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average score of 37018 and sits in the 85th percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is the better choice only in the narrow scenario where the physics benchmark is representative of the user’s workload. Its 2.3 percent lead in that test, however, is small and unlikely to translate into a meaningful real-world advantage. The AMD processor’s overall profile, with fewer cores and a lower boost clock, results in scores that are consistently lower than the Intel part across the board. For users who prioritize the specific physics workload, the AMD part has a slight edge, but for any other measured task, the Intel Core 5 221E is the clear winner. The Intel processor also includes integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks, adding a functional advantage for systems without a discrete GPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result in the database is the floating-point math test, where the Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D by 56.3 percent. This is the largest delta between the two processors across all recorded benchmarks. The integer math test shows a similarly large gap, with Intel leading by 49 percent. These two results alone establish the Intel processor as the dominant choice for mathematical and logical computation.

In the random string sorting test, Intel leads with a score of 37686 against 23675, a 37.2 percent advantage. This test measures the efficiency of memory access and sorting algorithms, and the Intel part’s larger L2 cache per core and higher clock speed likely contribute to this outcome. The multithread test shows a 33.3 percent lead for Intel, reflecting its higher core and thread counts. Data compression shows a 29 percent lead for Intel, and single-thread performance shows a 29.1 percent lead, demonstrating that the Intel processor is faster even when only one core is active.

The data encryption test shows a 27.3 percent lead for Intel, while the extended instructions test shows a 12.6 percent lead. The prime number finding test is the closest result, with Intel leading by only 1.7 percent, a margin that falls within the range of measurement noise. The sole AMD victory is in the physics test, where it scores 2282 against 2230, a 2.3 percent lead. This result is notable because it is the only test where the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D’s architecture, specifically its large 96 MB shared L3 cache, appears to provide a benefit over the Intel part’s design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a single-thread score of 4147, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 2941. This gives Intel a 29.1 percent lead.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 30510 in the PassMark multithread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 20363. The Intel part leads by 33.3 percent.

Q: In which test does the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D outperform the Intel Core 5 221E?

A: The AMD processor wins only the physics test, scoring 2282 compared to Intel’s 2230, a 2.3 percent advantage.

Q: What is the difference in floating-point math performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 79028 in floating-point math, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 34511. This is a 56.3 percent difference in favor of Intel.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D has no integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename. It has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a TDP of 105 watts. The processor uses AMD Socket AM4 and is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC, with a die size of 74 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a large 96 MB shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The processor provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core 5 221E is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Bartlett Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, with a TDP of 65 watts. The processor uses Intel Socket 1700 and is manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 257 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 24 MB shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The processor provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU and includes UHD Graphics 730.

The most significant architectural differences are the core and thread counts, the clock speeds, and the cache configurations. The Intel part has more than double the cores and threads of the AMD part, which explains its large lead in multi-threaded tests. Its boost clock of 5.20 GHz is also substantially higher than the AMD’s 4.00 GHz, contributing to its single-thread and general performance advantage. The AMD part’s 96 MB L3 cache is four times larger than the Intel’s 24 MB, but this advantage does not translate into benchmark wins outside the physics test. The memory bandwidth is also notably different, with Intel supporting 89.6 GB/s compared to AMD’s 51.2 GB/s. The Intel part’s support for DDR5, in addition to DDR4, and its higher PCIe generation (Gen 5 versus Gen 4) further differentiate the two platforms.