AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core 5 221E wins all 15 head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340. The Intel part holds a decisive lead in every measured workload category, from single-thread performance to multi-thread rendering and specialized instruction tests. The average benchmark score for the Intel Core 5 221E is 40144, compared to 25981 for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, a gap that places the Intel chip in the 87th percentile of all CPUs while the AMD chip sits in the 78th percentile. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, whether in desktop rendering, physics simulation, or data compression, the Intel Core 5 221E is the clear choice from this dataset.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 does have one structural advantage that is not reflected in the benchmark scores: its power envelope and physical footprint. The AMD processor is a mobile-class part with a 28 W TDP and a 195 mm² die size, while the Intel part is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP and a 257 mm² die size. The AMD chip targets efficient, compact systems, and its smaller die and lower thermal budget make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. However, the performance data shows that this efficiency comes at a substantial cost in speed: the AMD chip trails by 51.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 47.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core. The verdict is simple: choose the Intel Core 5 221E if the workload demands maximum throughput and the system can accommodate a desktop socket; choose the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 if power efficiency and mobile form factor are the primary constraints.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their underlying designs. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process node from TSMC, with the codename Krackan Point and a die size of 195 mm². It belongs to the Ryzen AI 300 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry, with a larger die size of 257 mm².

Core configuration is starkly different. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. This core count disparity is the primary driver of the multi-threaded performance gap. The Intel chip also has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.00 GHz on the AMD chip, and a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. The Intel part's clock advantage is significant, and it shows in single-thread tests where the Intel chip leads by 34.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 47.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both use 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core on the AMD side, but the Intel part doubles L2 to 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is the most notable difference: the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 has 8 MB of L3, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3, three times the capacity. This larger cache pool likely contributes to the Intel chip's strength in latency-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, but the Intel part adds ECC memory support, which the AMD part lacks. The PCIe interface also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 includes a Radeon 840M, while the Intel Core 5 221E includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part is explicitly a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP and an AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel part is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and large advantage for the Intel Core 5 221E across every recorded test. The largest single gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel chip scores 25933 against the AMD chip's 12532, a delta of -51.7%. This means the AMD processor delivers less than half the multi-threaded rendering performance of the Intel part. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the Intel chip at 2613 versus 1915 for AMD, a delta of -26.7%. The single-core Cinebench results also favor Intel heavily: R15 single-core is 368 versus 242.6 for a 34.1% deficit, and R23 single-core is 3661 versus 1915.5 for a 47.7% deficit.

The PassMark suite confirms the trend across specialized workloads. In floating-point math, the Intel chip scores 79028 versus 39967 for AMD, a delta of -49.4%. Integer math shows a 46.5% deficit, with Intel at 117813 and AMD at 63078. Physics simulation is another area of pronounced difference: Intel scores 2230 versus 1095 for AMD, a delta of -50.9%. Prime number finding is the most extreme gap: Intel scores 173 versus 72 for AMD, a 58.4% deficit.

Data compression and encryption also favor Intel heavily. The Intel chip achieves 324285 in data compression versus 229796 for AMD, a 29.1% gap. Data encryption shows a 40.3% deficit, with Intel at 19205 and AMD at 11470. Extended instruction performance is closer but still favors Intel: 18216 versus 16440, a 9.7% gap. Random string sorting also goes to Intel with 37686 versus 24970, a 33.7% gap.

The PassMark multi-thread score is 30510 for Intel versus 19506 for AMD, a 36.1% deficit. Single-thread performance is the closest category: Intel scores 4147 versus 3683 for AMD, an 11.2% gap. The Intel part wins this category too, but the relative margin is much smaller than in multi-threaded tests. This suggests that the AMD Zen 5 architecture has competitive single-thread efficiency, but the Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz gives it the edge.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 and Intel Core 5 221E are as follows:

• Cores and Threads: AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads; Intel has 14 cores and 20 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz; Intel runs at 2.70 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD boosts to 4.80 GHz; Intel boosts to 5.20 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is rated at 28 W; Intel is rated at 65 W.
• Process Node: AMD uses 4 nm (TSMC); Intel uses 10 nm (Intel).
• Die Size: AMD measures 195 mm²; Intel measures 257 mm².
• L2 Cache: AMD has 1 MB per core; Intel has 2 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 8 MB; Intel has 24 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X; Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• ECC Memory: AMD does not support ECC; Intel supports ECC.
• PCIe: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes; Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD includes Radeon 840M; Intel includes UHD Graphics 730.
• Socket: AMD uses Socket FP8; Intel uses Socket 1700.
• Market Segment: AMD is mobile; Intel is desktop.
• Release Date: AMD released on 2025-01-05; Intel released on 2025-01-12.
• Launch MSRP: Intel has a launch MSRP of $232; AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.

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 AI 5 340 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, compared to 4.80 GHz on the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Intel part?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, which is three times the 8 MB on the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel Core 5 221E leads by 58.4%.

Q: Does the AMD processor support ECC memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 does not support ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 221E does support ECC.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144 and ranks in the 87th percentile, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 has an average score of 25981 and ranks in the 78th percentile.