AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U. No test in the database goes the other way. The margins, however, vary considerably by workload type.

The largest gaps appear in integer-heavy and floating-point tasks. In PassMark integer math, the Intel part scores 117,813 versus 56,738 for the AMD chip, a 51.8% advantage. Floating-point math shows a 55.9% gap: 79,028 versus 34,865. The find-prime-numbers test is even more lopsided: 173 for Intel versus 66 for AMD, a 61.8% deficit for the Ryzen part. Physics simulation follows a similar pattern, with Intel at 2,230 versus AMD at 983, again a 55.9% difference.

Cinebench results are consistent across all three versions. In R15 multicore, Intel scores 2,613 versus 1,557 for AMD, a 40.4% lead. R15 single-core shows 368 versus 219, also a 40.5% gap. R20 multicore: 10,891 versus 6,491, a 40.4% difference. R20 single-core: 1,537 versus 916, a 40.4% gap. R23 multicore: 25,933 versus 15,456, again 40.4% ahead. R23 single-core: 3,661 versus 2,182, a 40.4% margin. The consistency of these deltas across the Cinebench suite suggests the per-core advantage is uniform regardless of the rendering engine version.

PassMark multithread shows Intel at 30,510 versus AMD at 18,218, a 40.3% lead. Data compression: 324,285 versus 205,703, a 36.6% edge for Intel. Data encryption: 19,205 versus 12,319, a 35.9% difference. Random string sorting: 37,686 versus 24,797, a 34.2% margin. Extended instructions: 18,216 versus 15,410, a smaller 15.4% gap. The narrowest margin appears in single-threaded PassMark: 4,147 versus 3,563, a 14.1% lead for Intel.

The pattern is clear: the Intel Core 5 221E dominates in every category, with the smallest relative advantage in single-thread tasks and the largest in prime-number finding and floating-point math. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has no benchmark where it records a higher score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U uses Zen 4 architecture on the Hawk Point codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm process. It packs 20,900 million transistors into a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221E uses Bartlett Lake, fabricated by Intel on a 10 nm process, with a much larger 257 mm² die. No transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 20 threads. That is more than double the core count and roughly 67% more threads. Cache layouts also diverge: AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel uses 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The larger per-core caches and bigger shared pool give the Intel part more on-die data capacity.

Clock speeds favor Intel on boost but AMD on base. The Intel chip has a 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. AMD has 3.20 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The Intel part runs at a higher peak frequency, while AMD starts from a higher idle-to-load floor.

Power and platform characteristics separate them further. AMD lists a 28 W TDP and uses AMD Socket FP7, meaning it targets mobile systems. Intel lists 65 W TDP and uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform. Both support DDR5 memory and dual-channel buses, with identical 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The AMD chip also supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe generations differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 740M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Both parts are unlocked multipliers set to false, so neither allows overclocking. Release dates differ by roughly nine months: AMD launched on 2024-04-15, Intel on 2025-01-12. Both are listed as Active production status.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data gives no wins to the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U. Every benchmark in the comparison favors the Intel Core 5 221E. That does not mean the AMD part is without utility; it means its strengths lie outside the measured tests.

The AMD chip operates at 28 W TDP, making it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems where power draw is a constraint. Its higher base clock of 3.20 GHz may help with bursty workloads that do not sustain heavy multi-core loads. The smaller 4 nm process from TSMC suggests better thermal efficiency per watt, though no efficiency metrics are recorded. The Radeon 740M integrated graphics may offer different driver and media capabilities than Intel's UHD Graphics 730, though no graphics benchmarks are in the database.

The Intel Core 5 221E wins decisively in all compute tasks. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide substantial multi-threaded throughput, as shown by the 40.3% multithread advantage and the 40.4% Cinebench R23 multicore lead. The 5.20 GHz boost clock drives single-thread performance 14.1% higher in PassMark single-thread and 40.5% higher in Cinebench R15 single-core. Data compression, encryption, sorting, and integer math all favor Intel by 34% to 52%. The 65 W TDP and desktop socket indicate a system designed for sustained performance rather than portability.

FAQ

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U win any benchmark against the Intel Core 5 221E?

A: No. The database records 17 head-to-head tests, and the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17. The AMD part has zero wins.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark find-prime-numbers test, where Intel scores 173 versus AMD's 66, a 61.8% difference. Floating-point math and physics show a 55.9% gap as well.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel has more than double the cores and roughly 67% more threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U boosts to 4.90 GHz. Intel's boost clock is 0.30 GHz higher.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory. Both use dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the process nodes and foundries?

A: AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process. Intel uses its own 10 nm process. AMD's die measures 137 mm² with 20,900 million transistors; Intel's die measures 257 mm² with no transistor count recorded.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U | 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 FP7 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 137 mm² | 257 mm² |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not recorded |

| 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 |

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

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

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2024-04-15 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize raw compute performance. The Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U in every recorded benchmark, with margins ranging from 14.1% in single-thread PassMark to 61.8% in prime-number finding. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, larger caches, and higher boost clock give it a decisive edge in multi-threaded rendering, encryption, compression, and math-heavy tasks. The 87th percentile standing versus all CPUs, compared to AMD's 76th, confirms the overall hierarchy.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U serves a different purpose. Its 28 W TDP, mobile socket, and earlier release date position it for battery-powered systems where the Intel part's 65 W TDP and desktop socket would not apply. The higher base clock may help with latency-sensitive single-thread tasks, but the measured single-thread scores still favor Intel by 14.1% to 40.5% depending on the test. The AMD chip's smaller die and 4 nm process suggest efficiency advantages, but no power-efficiency benchmarks are recorded.

For a desktop build where performance is the sole criterion, the Intel Core 5 221E is the superior choice according to the database. For a mobile system where power draw and platform compatibility matter more than peak throughput, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U remains a viable option, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms the Intel part in compute workloads.