AMD Ryzen 7 250 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 40144, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 scores 38221. The Intel part sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, slightly above the AMD part's 86th percentile.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 43.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 250's 14676. This is the largest multi-core margin recorded between the two.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins one recorded test: PassMark extended instructions, scoring 21613 versus 18216 for the Intel Core 5 221E, a lead of 18.6%.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 does not.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, 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, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a 257 mm² die size. Foundry and process node differ completely: TSMC for AMD, Intel for the Core 5 221E.

Core topology differs substantially. The AMD part provides 8 cores and 16 threads, all presumably uniform Zen 4 cores. The Intel part provides 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores. Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The AMD part allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 on the Intel side may benefit workloads with large working sets.

Memory support differs. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel memory with an identical peak bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Intel part, which may matter for reliability-sensitive deployments.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The AMD processor provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes; the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The newer PCIe standard on the Intel side offers higher per-lane bandwidth, though the AMD part offers more lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the AMD Ryzen 7 250 uses the Radeon 780M, while the Intel Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part is a mobile segment processor on AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel part is a desktop segment processor on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor has a 28 W TDP, while the Intel processor has a 65 W TDP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel part released on 2025-01-12.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear overall winner: the Intel Core 5 221E wins 14 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks. The average benchmark score confirms the direction, with the Intel part at 40144 versus 38221 for the AMD part, a difference of roughly 5%. The Intel processor also holds a slightly higher percentile rank, 87 versus 86.

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 is the appropriate choice only for workloads that depend on extended instruction set performance, where it leads by 18.6%. For every other measured category, from single-thread to multi-thread, integer math, floating point math, physics, data compression, data encryption, prime number finding, random string sorting, and multithread throughput, the Intel Core 5 221E delivers higher scores. The Intel part also brings ECC memory support and DDR4 compatibility, which are not available on the AMD part.

The AMD part's advantage is its lower 28 W TDP, making it the more power-efficient option in the database, and its Radeon 780M integrated graphics, which may be more capable than Intel's UHD Graphics 730. For users prioritizing raw compute across a broad set of tasks, the Intel Core 5 221E is the stronger processor. For users prioritizing power draw or extended instruction throughput, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 has a specific role.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 250 | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 178 mm² | 257 mm² |

| 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, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 780M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |

| Part number | 100-000001722 | SRQDVQ659 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 221E dominates the benchmark matrix, taking 14 of 15 tests. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel part scores 3661 against 1715 for the AMD part, a 53.2% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core also heavily favors Intel, with 25933 versus 14676, a 43.4% lead. Cinebench R15 shows a similar pattern: the Intel part wins multi-core 2613 to 2302 (11.9% ahead) and single-core 368 to 269 (26.9% ahead).

PassMark scores reinforce the trend. In integer math, the Intel part scores 117813 versus 91565, a 22.3% lead. Floating point math shows 79028 versus 53285, a 32.6% advantage. Prime number finding is a particularly large gap: 173 versus 73, meaning the Intel part is 57.8% ahead. Physics scores favor Intel by 48.6%, with 2230 versus 1147. Multithread throughput gives the Intel part 30510 versus 25089, a 17.8% lead. Data compression favors Intel by 7.3% (324285 versus 300708), and data encryption favors Intel by 8% (19205 versus 17661). Random string sorting favors Intel by 4.8% (37686 versus 35861). Single-thread PassMark gives Intel 4147 versus 3678, an 11.3% lead.

The single AMD win is PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 7 250 scores 21613 versus 18216 for the Intel part, an 18.6% margin. This is the only benchmark in which the AMD processor records the higher score, and it indicates a specific strength in workloads using extended instruction sets. The Intel part's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.2% behind) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.2% behind). The AMD Ryzen 7 250's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38194 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 38261 (0.1% ahead), placing the two processors in adjacent performance tiers despite the Intel part's broader benchmark wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E wins across nearly every workload category in the database. Multi-threaded rendering, represented by Cinebench R23 multi-core, shows a 43.4% advantage, making the Intel part the stronger choice for heavily parallel compute. Single-thread performance also favors Intel, with a 53.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and an 11.3% lead in PassMark single-thread. Integer math, floating point math, physics simulation, and prime number finding all favor Intel by margins ranging from 22.3% to 57.8%. Data compression and data encryption favor Intel by 7.3% and 8% respectively, so even memory-oriented tasks lean toward the Intel processor. Random string sorting, a proxy for pointer-chasing and sorting workloads, favors Intel by 4.8%. The Intel part also offers ECC memory support and DDR4 compatibility, which may be relevant for certain desktop deployments.

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins only in PassMark extended instructions, with an 18.6% advantage. This makes it the better option for workloads that rely on specialized instruction extensions. The AMD part also has a much lower TDP at 28 W versus 65 W, so for power-constrained mobile systems, the AMD processor draws less power. The AMD part includes the Radeon 780M integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics 730; the database does not provide direct graphics benchmarks for either, so any graphics comparison remains qualitative. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, offering more lanes than the Intel part's 16, though the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5. For users who need ECC memory, DDR4 support, or maximum throughput across the majority of the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core 5 221E is the clear selection. For users who need extended instruction throughput, lower power draw, or a mobile platform, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 holds a narrower but real niche.