AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data splits decisively between the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and the Intel Core 5 221E, with Intel taking 10 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. However, the margins in each direction tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The Intel Core 5 221E dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multicore, Intel scores 25933 against AMD's 17211.5, a 33.6% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: Intel posts 3661 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1770.5 for the Ryzen 7 260, a 51.6% deficit for AMD. Cinebench R15 single-core follows the same pattern, with Intel at 368 and AMD at 276.5, a 24.9% gap. The only Cinebench test AMD wins is R15 multicore, where it scores 2747.5 against Intel's 2613, a narrow 5.1% edge.

The PassMark suite produces a more mixed picture. Intel wins the heavy compute workloads: floating point math (79028 versus 59462, a 24.8% lead), integer math (117813 versus 96737, a 17.9% lead), and prime number finding (173 versus 77, a 55.5% lead). Intel also takes the PassMark multithread test at 30510 versus 28078, an 8% margin, and PassMark physics at 2230 versus 1218, a 45.4% lead. Single-thread performance favors Intel as well, with 4147 versus 3736, a 9.9% gap.

AMD's wins are concentrated in data-oriented and encryption workloads. The Ryzen 7 260 scores 351517 in data compression versus Intel's 324285, an 8.4% win. Data encryption goes AMD's way at 20267 versus 19205, a 5.5% margin. The largest AMD victory comes in extended instructions, where it scores 26544 against Intel's 18216, a 45.7% advantage. Random string sorting also favors AMD at 42383 versus 37686, a 12.5% lead.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. The Ryzen 7 260 posts an average benchmark score of 43717, while the Core 5 221E records 40144. AMD sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, with Intel one point behind at the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43704 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 170 at 43689 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 at 43431 (0.7% behind), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 at 43326 (0.9% behind). Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246 (0.3% ahead of Intel), the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 (0.4% ahead).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E establishes its advantage in scenarios that reward raw computational throughput and single-thread responsiveness. Cinebench R23 multicore and single-core results, along with the PassMark floating point, integer math, physics, and prime number tests, all point to a processor that handles mathematically intensive and latency-sensitive workloads with clear superiority. The 14-core, 20-thread configuration with a 5.20 GHz boost clock provides the foundation for these results. Desktop users running applications that scale across many threads, such as rendering, scientific simulations, or physics calculations, would see the data favor Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins where data manipulation and specialized instructions matter. Its 45.7% lead in extended instructions indicates strong SIMD or specialized instruction set handling. Data compression and encryption workloads also favor AMD, which suggests advantages in database operations, file archiving, and security-related tasks. The random string sorting win reinforces this pattern, pointing to strong memory access patterns for sorting and organizational algorithms. The Ryzen 7 260 uses a 4 nm TSMC process with Zen 4 architecture and a 45 watt TDP, which positions it for mobile platforms where power efficiency matters. Its wins in data-centric tasks come despite having fewer cores and threads than Intel.

The split in benchmark wins aligns with the architectural positioning. Intel's 10 wins cover the broad compute spectrum, while AMD's 5 wins cluster around data processing and instruction-level efficiency. The PassMark multithread result (Intel at 30510 versus AMD at 28078) shows Intel's thread count advantage translates into real-world parallel performance, but AMD's data compression win (8.4%) demonstrates that core count alone does not determine every workload outcome.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 uses Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process with a 257 mm² die size. The process node difference explains much of the power and efficiency gap: AMD's 4 nm process allows a 45 watt TDP, while Intel's 10 nm process requires 65 watts.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 7 260 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger caches across all levels support its higher single-thread scores, while AMD's smaller cache configuration still manages to win data compression and encryption tests.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Ryzen 7 260 supports only DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 5 221E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel adds ECC memory support, which AMD lacks. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ significantly. The Ryzen 7 260 includes Radeon 780M graphics, while the Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Radeon 780M represents a more capable integrated GPU, which matters for mobile platforms without discrete graphics. The Intel chip targets desktop use, where users more commonly pair the processor with a separate graphics card.

Socket and market positioning also diverge. AMD uses Socket FP8 and targets the mobile segment. Intel uses Socket 1700 and targets the desktop segment. The Ryzen 7 260 belongs to the Ryzen 7 generation (Zen 4, Hawk Point), released on 2025-01-05. The Core 5 221E belongs to the Core 5 generation (Bartlett Lake), released on 2025-01-12.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts present the clearest specification gap. The Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds differ as well: AMD runs at 3.80 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. Intel's lower base clock but higher boost clock reflects its different core design and power envelope.

TDP separates the two by 20 watts. AMD operates at 45 watts, Intel at 65 watts. This difference stems from the process node and core configuration. The Ryzen 7 260 uses a 4 nm TSMC process with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Core 5 221E uses a 10 nm Intel process with no transistor count recorded, on a 257 mm² die.

Memory support differs, with AMD limited to DDR5 and Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on Intel. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics represent another difference. AMD includes Radeon 780M, Intel includes UHD Graphics 730. The market segments differ, with AMD classified as mobile and Intel as desktop. Sockets differ (FP8 versus 1700), and part numbers differ (100-000001724 for AMD, SRQDVQ659 for Intel). Intel has a launch MSRP of $232. No launch MSRP is recorded for AMD. Both processors have unlocked multipliers disabled and active production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E wins in single-thread tests. It scores 4147 in PassMark single-thread versus 3736 for AMD, and 3661 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1770.5.

Q: Which processor has better data compression and encryption performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins both. It scores 351517 in data compression against Intel's 324285, and 20267 in data encryption against Intel's 19205.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has a 45 watt TDP, while the Intel Core 5 221E has a 65 watt TDP.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 does not.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.