AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core 5 221TE. Across 15 recorded tests, the Ryzen 7 260 takes all 15 wins, while the Intel part records zero victories. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the AMD chip posts 43,717 points against Intel's 17,860, a gap of roughly 145%. The Ryzen 7 260 sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 221TE lands at the 71st percentile. For workloads where raw compute throughput matters, the AMD processor is the clear choice. The Intel Core 5 221TE does offer ECC memory support, DDR4 compatibility, and a desktop socket, which may matter for specific system requirements, but in pure performance terms the Ryzen 7 260 dominates.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 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 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry and a 215 mm² die size; the database does not list a transistor count for the Intel part.

Core configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Both parts therefore present 16 threads to the operating system, but the Intel chip spreads those threads across more physical cores. Clock speeds favor AMD heavily: the Ryzen 7 260 runs at a 3.80 GHz base clock with a 5.10 GHz boost, while the Core 5 221TE runs at 1.80 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The Intel base clock is less than half of AMD's, which explains much of the performance deficit in sustained workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 7 260 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches and bigger L3 pool do not translate into a performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks.

Memory support separates the two further. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel access and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 260 offers the higher peak memory bandwidth. ECC memory is supported by the Intel part but not by the AMD part. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Ryzen 7 260 provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 221TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is a mobile-market chip on AMD Socket FP8 with integrated Radeon 780M graphics. The Intel Core 5 221TE is a desktop-market chip on Intel Socket 1700 with integrated UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part was released on 2025-01-05, the Intel part one week later on 2025-01-12. Both are currently marked as active production parts, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head results show no test where the Intel Core 5 221TE beats the AMD Ryzen 7 260. Every recorded benchmark, from Cinebench renders to PassMark math workloads, favors AMD. The narrowest AMD margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen 7 260 leads by 10.9%. The widest margin is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD leads by 174.9%.

The core question is not which processor wins, but where the Intel part remains viable. The Core 5 221TE offers ECC memory support, which the Ryzen 7 260 lacks. It also accepts DDR4 memory, which may matter for systems reusing existing memory kits. The Intel part uses a desktop Socket 1700 platform, while the AMD part uses mobile Socket FP8. For users building a desktop system that requires ECC or DDR4, the Intel part has a platform advantage that the benchmark scores do not capture.

For every compute workload in the database, the Ryzen 7 260 is the stronger processor. The data shows AMD wins in single-threaded and multi-threaded tests alike, with margins ranging from 10.9% to 174.9%. The Intel part's higher core count and larger cache do not offset the clock speed and architecture advantages of the AMD chip.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has an average benchmark score of 43,717, compared to 17,860 for the Intel Core 5 221TE.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins 15 of the 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core 5 221TE wins none.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 7 260 leads by 174.9%. The AMD part scores 26,544 against Intel's 9,655.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The smallest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 7 260 leads by 10.9%. The AMD part scores 1,770.5 against Intel's 1,596.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 221TE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 does not support ECC.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results establish the overall pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 260 scores 2,747.5 against 1,139 for the Core 5 221TE, a 141.2% lead for AMD. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD leads 276.5 to 160, a 72.8% margin. The R23 versions show a tighter spread in single-core: AMD scores 1,770.5 against 1,596, a 10.9% lead, while multi-core R23 shows AMD at 17,211.5 against 11,305, a 52.2% margin. These results indicate that the AMD chip's advantage grows with thread count, though even in single-core workloads the Ryzen 7 260 remains ahead.

PassMark data compression shows AMD at 351,517 against Intel's 156,682, a 124.4% lead. Data encryption results are similar: AMD scores 20,267 against 8,963, a 126.1% margin. The extended instructions test delivers AMD's largest win at 174.9%, with scores of 26,544 versus 9,655. Integer math shows AMD at 96,737 against 42,303, a 128.7% lead, while floating-point math shows AMD at 59,462 against 31,661, an 87.8% margin.

The PassMark multithread test gives AMD 28,078 against 13,301, a 111.1% lead. Single-thread performance shows AMD at 3,736 against 1,734, a 115.5% margin. Random string sorting favors AMD 42,383 to 16,929, a 150.4% lead. Physics simulation shows AMD at 1,218 against 977, a 24.7% margin, the second-narrowest result after R23 single-core. Prime number finding gives AMD 77 against 59, a 30.5% lead.

The Intel Core 5 221TE posts its closest results in Cinebench R23 single-core and PassMark physics, but even those remain double-digit or near-double-digit deficits. The pattern is consistent: the Ryzen 7 260 leads in every category, with larger margins in multi-threaded and math-intensive workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Core counts: the Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores, the Core 5 221TE has 10. Thread counts are equal at 16. Base clocks: 3.80 GHz for AMD versus 1.80 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks: 5.10 GHz for AMD versus 5.00 GHz for Intel. Both parts have a 45 W TDP.

Process node: 4 nm for AMD at TSMC versus 10 nm for Intel at its own foundry. Die size: 178 mm² for AMD versus 215 mm² for Intel. Transistor count: 25,000 million for AMD, not listed for Intel.

Cache: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3.

Memory: AMD supports DDR5 only, Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both are dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s for AMD versus 76.8 GB/s for Intel. ECC: Intel supports it, AMD does not.

PCIe: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon 780M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Socket: AMD Socket FP8 for the Ryzen 7 260, Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 5 221TE. Market segment: mobile for AMD, desktop for Intel. Release dates: 2025-01-05 for AMD, 2025-01-12 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.