AMD Ryzen 7 250 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 250, which wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 221TE. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 38221, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part averages 17860 and sits in the 71st percentile. The largest margin appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 7 250 scores 21613 against 9655 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a delta of 123.9%. Integer math follows closely, with the AMD part at 91565 versus 42303, a 116.5% advantage. Random string sorting shows a 111.8% delta (35861 vs 16929), and single-thread PassMark results indicate a 112.1% lead, with scores of 3678 and 1734 respectively.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 posts 2302 points, more than double the Intel Core 5 221TE's 1139, a 102.1% difference. The single-core R15 result shows a 68.1% gap, with 269 versus 160. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test narrows the gap somewhat, with the AMD part scoring 14676 against 11305, a 29.8% delta. The R23 single-core margin is much smaller at 7.5%, with scores of 1715 and 1596. PassMark data compression shows a 91.9% delta (300708 vs 156682), and data encryption shows a 97% delta (17661 vs 8963). Floating point math results indicate a 68.3% advantage (53285 vs 31661), while find prime numbers, the closest test, shows only a 23.7% delta (73 vs 59). PassMark physics shows a 17.4% delta (1147 vs 977), and PassMark multi-thread shows an 88.6% delta (25089 vs 13301).

The nearest rivals in the database for the AMD Ryzen 7 250 are all Intel parts: the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T with an average score of 38194 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 38261 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-14490F at 38149 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H at 38312 (0.2% ahead). This places the AMD Ryzen 7 250 in a cluster of high-performing desktop and mobile processors. The Intel Core 5 221TE, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Core 7 350 (17779, 0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (17994, 0.7% ahead). The data indicates that the AMD part competes at a much higher performance tier, while the Intel part aligns with older mid-range processors.

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. It integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 221TE is based on the Bartlett Lake codename with a 10 nm process at Intel, and its die size is 215 mm²; no transistor count is recorded in the database. The core configurations differ significantly: the AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part delivers higher multi-threaded scores, which the data attributes to its architecture and higher clock speeds.

Clock speeds also separate the two. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221TE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The AMD part's base clock is substantially higher, which contributes to its lead in single-threaded workloads. The thermal design power differs as well: the AMD part is rated at 28 W, while the Intel part is rated at 45 W. The AMD part achieves higher performance with a lower TDP, indicating better energy efficiency per unit of work in the recorded benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies differ in both size and organization. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has a larger cache pool overall, yet the AMD part still wins every benchmark, suggesting that cache size alone does not determine performance in these tests. The AMD part's smaller L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB) does not appear to hinder it in the recorded workloads.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth aligns with its higher throughput in memory-sensitive benchmarks. The AMD part does not support ECC memory, while the Intel part does. The PCIe configuration differs: the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD Ryzen 7 250 uses the Radeon 780M, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP8, which is a mobile socket, and its market segment is Mobile. The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket, and its market segment is Desktop. The AMD part was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel part on 2025-01-12. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part number is 100-000001722, and the Intel part number is SRVQS.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins in every recorded benchmark category, so the use-case split is not about which processor wins a given test, but about the magnitude of its advantage. In heavily parallel workloads, the AMD part shows its largest leads. Integer math, extended instructions, random string sorting, and data compression all show deltas above 90%. These tests reward the combination of high core clocks, efficient instruction execution, and memory bandwidth. The AMD part's 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 76.8 GB/s for the Intel part likely contributes to its strong showing in data compression and sorting.

In single-threaded tests, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 also leads, but the margins vary. The PassMark single-thread test shows a 112.1% delta, while the Cinebench R23 single-core test shows only a 7.5% delta. This suggests that the AMD part's advantage in single-threaded performance is workload-dependent. The higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 5.00 GHz helps, but the Zen 4 architecture appears to deliver more instructions per clock in some tests than others.

The Intel Core 5 221TE's closest relative performance comes in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the delta is just 7.5%, and in PassMark find prime numbers, where the delta is 23.7%. These are the only two tests where the Intel part stays within 25% of the AMD part. In all other tests, the AMD part leads by at least 29.8% (Cinebench R23 multi-core) and often by much more. For workloads that rely on integer math, encryption, or extended instruction sets, the Intel part is at a severe disadvantage, with deltas of 116.5%, 97%, and 123.9% respectively.

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 7 250 is the stronger processor for almost any compute-heavy task, from rendering to encryption to general productivity. The Intel Core 5 221TE, with its higher TDP of 45 W and lower average score, would be better suited to tasks that benefit from its larger cache or its ECC memory support, though no benchmark in the database isolates those factors. The Intel part's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 could be relevant for platforms with existing DDR4 memory, but the recorded performance data shows no workload where the Intel part comes out ahead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for the AMD part and 1.80 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 5.10 GHz and 5.00 GHz respectively. TDP is 28 W for the AMD part and 45 W for the Intel part. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP8; the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename; the Intel part uses no recorded architecture name, with the Bartlett Lake codename. The AMD part is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC; the Intel part uses a 10 nm process at Intel. Die size is 178 mm² for the AMD part and 215 mm² for the Intel part. Transistor count is 25,000 million for the AMD part; no transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ: L1 cache is 64 KB per core for the AMD part and 80 KB per core for the Intel part. L2 cache is 1 MB per core for the AMD part and 1.25 MB per core for the Intel part. L3 cache is 16 MB shared for the AMD part and 24 MB shared for the Intel part. Memory support: the AMD part supports DDR5 only, while the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for the AMD part and 76.8 GB/s for the Intel part. ECC memory is not supported by the AMD part but is supported by the Intel part. PCIe: the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only); the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics: Radeon 780M for the AMD part, UHD Graphics 730 for the Intel part. Market segment: Mobile for the AMD part, Desktop for the Intel part. Release dates are 2025-01-05 for the AMD part and 2025-01-12 for the Intel part. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $232; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has an average benchmark score of 38221, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has an average score of 17860.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two in the recorded benchmarks?

A: The largest difference is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 7 250 scores 21613 compared to 9655 for the Intel Core 5 221TE, a 123.9% delta.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has a TDP of 28 W, while the Intel Core 5 221TE has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.