AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E records an average benchmark score of 40,144, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U records 30,254. The Intel part also sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 81st percentile for the AMD part.

Q: How do these two chips compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3,661 versus 2,821 for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U, a 22.9% gap. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel chip scores 4,147 versus 3,732, a 10% lead.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip's core count advantage is substantial, though both support simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U and the Intel Core 5 221E support ECC memory. Both also use dual-channel memory buses with identical memory bandwidth ratings of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 221E uses a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD chip has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip has a 257 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Q: Which integrated graphics solution does each processor use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U integrates Radeon 760M graphics. The Intel Core 5 221E integrates UHD Graphics 730. Both chips are in the active production stage, but the AMD chip targets mobile devices while the Intel chip targets desktop systems.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits decisively in favor of the Intel Core 5 221E, which wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U wins only one test: PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 19,130 versus 18,216 for Intel, a 5% advantage. That single win indicates the AMD architecture has a slight edge in workloads that exercise specialized instruction sets, likely AVX-related or similar extended operations.

Every other measured workload favors Intel, often by wide margins. The largest Intel wins come in the math-heavy PassMark tests. In floating point math, Intel scores 79,028 against AMD's 45,265, a 42.7% lead. In integer math, Intel scores 117,813 against 74,875, a 36.4% lead. Prime number finding shows Intel at 173 versus 78, a 54.9% gap that represents the single largest relative difference in the entire dataset.

For rendering workloads, the Cinebench suite shows consistent Intel superiority. Across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests show Intel leading by 22.8% to 23.0%. The multi-core margins are nearly identical to the single-core margins, which suggests the Intel advantage is not purely a core-count effect but also reflects higher per-thread throughput.

In PassMark multi-thread, Intel scores 30,510 versus 22,795, a 25.3% lead. Physics simulation shows Intel at 2,230 versus 1,154, a 48.3% gap. Data compression favors Intel by 19.5%, data encryption by 17.5%, and random string sorting by 14.8%. The smallest Intel win is in PassMark single-thread at 10%, which still represents a clear per-core performance advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, part of 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 in the Core 5 series, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a 257 mm² die and no disclosed transistor count.

Cache organization differs notably. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations on Intel help explain its single-thread performance edge, while the larger L3 pool benefits multi-threaded workloads with shared data.

The core counts diverge sharply. AMD uses 6 cores with 12 threads, while Intel uses 14 cores with 20 threads. This 8-core difference appears in nearly every multi-threaded benchmark result. However, the single-core tests show Intel also leading by over 20% in Cinebench, which points to a per-core architectural advantage rather than just a raw core-count advantage.

Memory support differs in scope. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical bandwidth ratings of 89.6 GB/s, and both support ECC memory.

PCI Express capabilities differ. The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip's newer PCIe generation offers higher per-lane bandwidth, though with fewer lanes.

Socket requirements separate the two entirely. AMD uses Socket FP7, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The AMD chip is classified as a mobile part, while the Intel chip is a desktop part. This fundamental platform difference means they cannot be swapped into the same system.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Intel's boost clock is 0.30 GHz higher, while AMD's base clock is 0.80 GHz higher.

Thermal design power differs substantially. The AMD chip is rated at 28 W, while the Intel chip is rated at 65 W. This 37 W difference reflects the Intel chip's higher core count and desktop orientation, but it also means the AMD chip is better suited to thermally constrained environments.

Process node and foundry differ as noted: TSMC 4 nm for AMD versus Intel 10 nm for Intel. The AMD chip has 25,000 million transistors; the Intel chip has no disclosed transistor count. Die size favors AMD at 178 mm² versus 257 mm² for Intel.

Cache specifications differ across all levels. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB L3 shared. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB L3 shared.

Memory support differs: DDR5 only for AMD, DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Both have dual-channel buses at 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe generation and lane counts differ: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 760M for AMD versus UHD Graphics 730 for Intel.

Release dates differ: the AMD chip released on 2024-04-15, while the Intel chip released on 2025-01-12. The Intel chip has a listed launch MSRP of $232; the AMD chip has no launch MSRP in the database.

Market segments differ: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. Socket types differ: AMD Socket FP7 versus Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 2,613 against AMD's 2,014, a 22.9% lead. In R15 single-core, Intel scores 368 against 284, a 22.8% lead. R20 multi-core shows Intel at 10,891 versus 8,392, a 22.9% gap. R20 single-core shows Intel at 1,537 versus 1,184, a 23.0% gap. R23 multi-core shows Intel at 25,933 versus 19,982, a 22.9% gap. R23 single-core shows Intel at 3,661 versus 2,821, a 22.9% gap. The consistency across all three Cinebench versions indicates the per-thread performance difference is stable regardless of workload length or complexity.

PassMark results reveal the largest divergences. Floating point math shows Intel scoring 79,028 versus 45,265, a 42.7% lead. Integer math shows Intel at 117,813 versus 74,875, a 36.4% lead. Physics simulation shows Intel at 2,230 versus 1,154, a 48.3% gap. Prime number finding shows Intel at 173 versus 78, a 54.9% gap, the largest relative difference in the dataset.

Moderate Intel wins appear in several tests. Data compression shows Intel at 324,285 versus 260,925, a 19.5% lead. Data encryption shows Intel at 19,205 versus 15,843, a 17.5% lead. Random string sorting shows Intel at 37,686 versus 32,114, a 14.8% lead. PassMark multi-thread shows Intel at 30,510 versus 22,795, a 25.3% lead. PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 4,147 versus 3,732, a 10% lead.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U wins exactly one test. PassMark extended instructions shows AMD at 19,130 versus Intel's 18,216, a 5% advantage. This is the only benchmark where the AMD chip outperforms Intel, and the margin is modest compared to Intel's wins elsewhere.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 5 221E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U in 16 of 17 benchmark comparisons, with an average benchmark score of 40,144 versus 30,254. The Intel chip also ranks higher in the overall CPU percentile at 87 versus 81.

Workloads that benefit from the Intel chip include rendering (all Cinebench tests), floating point and integer math, physics simulation, prime number computation, data compression, data encryption, random string sorting, and both single-thread and multi-thread PassMark tests. The Intel chip's 14 cores and 20 threads provide a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, while its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz and larger per-core cache allocations support stronger single-thread performance.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U wins only in extended instructions, where its 5% advantage indicates a specialized capability. The AMD chip also operates at a much lower 28 W TDP versus 65 W for Intel, which makes it the appropriate choice for power-constrained mobile platforms. The AMD chip's mobile market segment and Socket FP7 platform align with thin-and-light systems, while the Intel chip's desktop segment and Socket 1700 platform target full-size systems.

For users selecting between these two processors, the choice hinges on platform requirements rather than performance. The Intel Core 5 221E delivers higher raw performance across nearly every measured workload, with its largest advantages in math-intensive and multi-threaded tasks. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U offers a single specialized instruction-set win, lower power draw, and a mobile form factor. The recorded data shows Intel as the stronger performer in the vast majority of scenarios, with AMD retaining relevance only for extended instruction workloads and low-power mobile designs.