AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor holds the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX posts an average benchmark score of 60,104, while the Intel Core 5 221TE records 17,860. The AMD part sits at the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, whereas the Intel part reaches the 71st percentile.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses 10 cores and 16 threads. Despite fewer physical cores, the AMD chip outperforms the Intel chip in every recorded head-to-head benchmark.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core 5 221TE runs at 1.80 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The AMD part also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX does not. Both use dual-channel memory, but the AMD chip supports DDR5 only, whereas the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the process node and foundry for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 71 mm² and 6,570 million transistors. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 215 mm² and no transistor count listed in the database.

Q: What market segments do these processors target?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is a mobile processor using AMD Socket FL1, and the Intel Core 5 221TE is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1700. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core 5 221TE, taking 11 wins out of 11 recorded tests. The AMD chip’s average score of 60,104 places it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip’s 17,860 average sits at the 71st percentile. That gap is massive: the AMD part delivers roughly 3.4 times the average benchmark score of the Intel part.

For workloads that rely on raw processing throughput, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is the clear choice. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX (average score 60,099, delta 0%), the Intel Core i9-14900F (60,008, delta 0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D (59,641, delta 0.8%). That puts the 8745HX in the same performance class as flagship desktop and mobile HX parts from the 2024-2025 generation.

The Intel Core 5 221TE, conversely, sits near older mid-range desktop parts. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17,891, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core 5 120U (17,898, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core 7 350 (17,779, delta 0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (17,994, delta -0.7%). The 221TE is competitive with those chips, but it is not in the same league as the 8745HX.

For a mobile workstation or high-end laptop, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX offers the kind of multi-threaded performance that rivals desktop-class CPUs. For a desktop build where ECC memory support is required, the Intel Core 5 221TE provides that capability, but at a large performance cost. The data shows no scenario where the Intel chip wins a benchmark, so the choice depends entirely on whether ECC memory and a desktop socket matter more than raw speed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX comes in the extended instructions test, where it scores 27,638 against the Intel Core 5 221TE’s 9,655. That is a 186.3% advantage, meaning the AMD chip processes roughly 2.9 times the workload in this specific test.

The second biggest margin is in prime number finding. The AMD part scores 159, the Intel part scores 59, a 169.5% difference. This test often reflects integer-heavy single-thread performance, and the AMD chip dominates there as well.

Random string sorting shows a 162.8% delta: AMD at 44,494 versus Intel at 16,929. Data encryption follows at 143.7% (21,840 versus 8,963). Integer math shows a 137.2% delta (100,328 versus 42,303), and multi-thread performance shows a 137% delta (31,517 versus 13,301). The AMD chip also leads in data compression by 132.2% (363,759 versus 156,682).

Single-thread performance, often a key metric for everyday responsiveness, shows a 123.7% delta. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX scores 3,879 in the single-thread PassMark test, while the Intel Core 5 221TE scores 1,734. That means the AMD chip is more than twice as fast in single-threaded work, which is unusual for a mobile part versus a desktop part.

Floating-point math shows the smallest margin of the set, but still a decisive 95.7% delta: 61,972 versus 31,661. Physics simulation follows at 72.1% (1,681 versus 977). Even the smallest win is substantial, and the AMD chip never trails.

In terms of the average benchmark score, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX at 60,104 is 236.5% higher than the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17,860. That is not a marginal difference; it is a generational and architectural gap that no single workload reverses.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221TE uses 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has more physical cores, but the AMD part matches thread count and wins every test.

Base clocks differ significantly: 3.60 GHz for AMD versus 1.80 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are close: 5.10 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel chip does not.

Thermal design power (TDP) is 55 watts for the AMD part and 45 watts for the Intel part. The AMD chip uses more power but delivers far higher performance.

Memory support: the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 5 221TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 76.8 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported only on the Intel chip.

PCIe lanes differ: the AMD part provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). That is a notable difference for expansion-heavy desktop builds.

Integrated graphics: the AMD chip uses Radeon 610M, the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700.

The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $232. The AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is built on Zen 4 architecture with the codename Dragon Range, part of the 8000 series. The Intel Core 5 221TE uses the codename Bartlett Lake, part of the Core 5 generation. The AMD chip is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel chip uses a 10 nm process at Intel.

The AMD chip’s die size is 71 mm² with 6,570 million transistors. The Intel chip’s die size is 215 mm², with no transistor count listed. The smaller die on a more advanced process node helps explain the AMD chip’s higher efficiency and performance density.

Cache layouts differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 221TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has a larger L3 pool, which may contribute to its advantage in multi-threaded and memory-sensitive workloads.

The Intel chip supports ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not. That is an architectural choice aimed at workstation or server-like desktop builds, but it does not compensate for the massive benchmark gap.

The AMD part is unlocked, meaning overclocking is possible if the platform allows it. The Intel part is locked. The AMD part is also a mobile chip with a 55 W TDP, while the Intel part is a desktop chip with a 45 W TDP, which is unusual for a desktop part to have lower power draw than a mobile part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins in every recorded benchmark category. That includes data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, multi-thread performance, physics simulation, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. For any workload that involves computational throughput, scientific calculations, encryption, compression, or general multi-threaded tasks, the AMD chip is the stronger option.

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in no benchmark categories. Its only advantages are in features: ECC memory support, DDR4 compatibility, a desktop socket (Socket 1700), a lower 45 W TDP, and a larger L1 and L2 cache per core. The Intel part also has more physical cores (10 versus 8), but that does not translate into any performance win in the recorded data.

For a mobile workstation, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is the clear pick. It delivers desktop-class multi-thread scores, places in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, and matches or exceeds the performance of recent high-end desktop processors like the Intel Core i9-14900F and AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, based on the average benchmark scores and delta percentages.

For a desktop build that requires ECC memory, the Intel Core 5 221TE is the only option of the two. It also supports older DDR4 memory, which may be relevant for existing platforms. However, the performance gap is so large that the Intel chip should only be chosen when its specific feature set (ECC, DDR4, desktop socket) is mandatory.

The data does not show any use case where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip in a benchmark. The choice is not about performance trade-offs; it is about platform and feature requirements. If raw speed is the priority, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is the only defensible pick. If ECC memory is non-negotiable, the Intel Core 5 221TE is the only one that provides it, but the user must accept a score that is roughly 3.4 times lower on average.