AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and Intel Core 5 221E occupy very different positions in the desktop and mobile processor landscape. The Intel part is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, while the AMD part is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP. Benchmark data shows the Intel Core 5 221E winning 14 of 15 head-to-head tests, with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 taking a single victory in extended instruction workloads. The average benchmark score for the Intel processor is 40144 against 34222 for the AMD, a difference that places the Intel part in the 87th percentile of all CPUs versus the 84th percentile for the AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221E dominates nearly every measured workload category. Its largest margins come in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 25933 against 16014.5 for the AMD, a 38.2% advantage. The single-core Cinebench R23 result shows an even larger gap: 3661 versus 1958, representing a 46.5% lead for Intel. This pattern repeats across PassMark tests. In floating point math, the Intel part scores 79028 against 53230, a 32.6% edge. Integer math shows 117813 versus 85651, a 27.3% advantage. Physics simulation results favor Intel by 39.5%, with scores of 2230 and 1349. Prime number finding favors Intel by 53.8%, with 173 versus 80.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 wins only in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 21678 against 18216 for Intel, a 19% advantage. This single win indicates the AMD architecture handles certain specialized instruction sets more efficiently. In data compression, Intel leads by a narrower 6.2% margin, scoring 324285 versus 304089. Data encryption shows Intel ahead by 20.6%, with 19205 versus 15244. Random string sorting favors Intel by 11.7%, with 37686 versus 33266. The PassMark multi-thread score gives Intel an 18.3% lead, 30510 versus 24935. Single-thread performance favors Intel by 7.5%, with 4147 versus 3834.

The use-case split is clear. For general productivity, rendering, physics simulation, and arithmetic-heavy workloads, the Intel Core 5 221E is consistently faster. The AMD part shows a specific strength in extended instruction processing, which may benefit certain encryption or specialized compute tasks. The overall average benchmark score confirms this split: the Intel processor delivers 17.3% higher average performance, which aligns with its higher 87th percentile ranking against all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 uses the Zen 5 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process node, with a die size of 195 mm². It belongs to the Krackan Point codename family and the Ryzen AI 300 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The processor has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its TDP is 28 W, and it uses the AMD Socket FP8.

The Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process node, with a die size of 257 mm². It has 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The TDP is 65 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. The Intel part supports ECC memory, while the AMD part does not.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD processor has 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 8 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor has 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The larger L3 cache on the Intel part likely contributes to its performance advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support also differs. The AMD processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. PCIe support differs: the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon 860M on the AMD versus UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the largest absolute difference. Intel scores 25933 against 16014.5 for AMD, a 38.2% advantage. This result reflects the Intel processor's higher core count (14 versus 8) and larger L3 cache. The single-core Cinebench R23 test shows an even larger relative gap: Intel leads by 46.5% with 3661 versus 1958. This suggests the Intel core architecture has a significant single-thread advantage despite the AMD part's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 5.20 GHz.

In Cinebench R15, the Intel processor leads by 5.2% in multi-core (2613 versus 2477) and by 20.1% in single-core (368 versus 294). The R15 single-core result shows a smaller absolute difference than R23 single-core, but the relative gap remains substantial.

PassMark integer math shows Intel ahead by 27.3%, scoring 117813 versus 85651. Floating point math shows a 32.6% Intel advantage, with 79028 versus 53230. The physics test gives Intel a 39.5% lead, 2230 versus 1349. Prime number finding shows the largest margin: Intel leads by 53.8% with 173 versus 80. This test favors processors with strong integer division and modular arithmetic capabilities.

Data compression shows the closest multi-threaded result: Intel leads by only 6.2%, scoring 324285 versus 304089. Data encryption shows a 20.6% Intel advantage, with 19205 versus 15244. Random string sorting gives Intel an 11.7% lead, 37686 versus 33266. The PassMark multi-thread score shows Intel ahead by 18.3%, 30510 versus 24935. Single-thread performance favors Intel by 7.5%, with 4147 versus 3834.

The AMD processor's only win comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 21678 against 18216, a 19% advantage. This result indicates the Zen 5 architecture handles certain SIMD or specialized instruction sequences more efficiently than the Intel design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, compared to 34222 for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel Core 5 221E scores 173 against 80 for the AMD, a 53.8% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 wins PassMark extended instructions with a score of 21678 versus 18216 for Intel, a 19% advantage.

Q: How do the core counts and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E ranks in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 ranks in the 84th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 | Intel Core 5 221E |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die Size | 195 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 860M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | None | $232 |