AMD Ryzen 5 5600 vs Intel Core i3-1220P Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1220P and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 occupy similar positions in the overall performance percentile (both at the 74th percentile), yet their benchmark profiles diverge sharply due to their different design targets. The recorded data shows a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 dominates nearly every multi-threaded and single-threaded compute task, while the Intel Core i3-1220P secures a narrow victory only in the PassMark single-thread test. The database records 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the AMD part winning 15 and the Intel part winning 2 (the latter two being identical tests listed under slightly different names).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniformity of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600's margin across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, for both single-core and multi-core variants, the delta is consistently 27.3% in favor of the AMD processor. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 18309 against the i3-1220P's 13314, while in single-core the gap is similar: 2584 versus 1879. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark results reveal where the Ryzen 5 5600's strengths are most pronounced. The largest delta appears in the find prime numbers test, where the AMD part scores 137 versus the Intel part's 33, a 75.9% advantage. This test is often sensitive to integer arithmetic and cache hierarchy, and the data indicates a massive gap. The extended instructions test shows a 40.9% delta (16993 versus 10051), while the multithread test shows a 32.8% difference (21541 versus 14481). Data compression also favors AMD by 28.3% (251687 versus 180528), and data encryption by 29.7% (15531 versus 10923).

The margins shrink considerably in floating-point math, where the Ryzen 5 5600 leads by only 3.8% (38778 versus 37294). This is the closest multi-threaded result in the entire comparison, indicating that the Intel part's floating-point unit is relatively competitive. Similarly, random string sorting shows a 19.6% delta (25943 versus 20846), and integer math a 21.8% delta (68396 versus 53507). The physics test shows a 50.4% advantage for AMD (1285 versus 637), which is a substantial gap but not as large as the prime number test.

The only victories for the Intel Core i3-1220P come in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 3362 versus the Ryzen 5 5600's 3256, a 3.3% margin. This is notable because in Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part leads by 27.3%. The discrepancy suggests that the PassMark single-thread test weights different aspects of single-core performance than Cinebench, and the Intel hybrid architecture (with its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz) appears to handle that specific workload better. However, the overall single-thread picture from the Cinebench data clearly favors AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is fairly straightforward based on the benchmark wins. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads that scale with cores and threads. Its wins in Cinebench multi-core (all three versions) and PassMark multithread indicate strong performance in rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing. The 75.9% lead in prime number finding and the 40.9% lead in extended instructions point to advantages in cryptography, mathematical computation, and software that utilizes SIMD extensions. The 28.3% lead in data compression and 29.7% lead in encryption further solidify its position for file archiving, database workloads, and secure communications tasks.

The Intel Core i3-1220P's single win, the PassMark single-thread test, is a narrow one. It suggests that for legacy applications that are strictly single-threaded and rely on the specific instruction mix measured by PassMark, the Intel part can edge ahead. However, the Cinebench single-core results contradict this, showing a 27.3% lead for AMD. The practical implication is that the Intel part's single-thread advantage is limited to a narrow set of workloads; in most single-threaded applications that resemble Cinebench's rendering workload, the AMD part wins decisively. The Intel part also has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 64EU), which the AMD part lacks entirely, making the i3-1220P viable for systems without a discrete GPU. The Ryzen 5 5600 requires a separate graphics card.

For mobile or low-power scenarios, the Intel part's 28 W TDP versus the AMD part's 65 W TDP suggests the i3-1220P is better suited for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is limited. The AMD part's desktop socket (AM4) and higher power envelope indicate it is meant for performance-oriented desktop builds. The data shows that if the workload is purely about raw compute throughput, the Ryzen 5 5600 wins across the board; if the workload is a narrow single-threaded PassMark test or requires integrated graphics, the Intel part has a role.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-1220P has an average benchmark score of 21066, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has an average score of 20468. Despite this, the head-to-head data shows the AMD part winning 15 of 17 tests, because the average includes different benchmark suites.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 scores 18309 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i3-1220P scores 13314. This represents a 27.3% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-1220P win any benchmark against the Ryzen 5 5600?

A: Yes, the Intel part wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3362 versus the AMD part's 3256, a 3.3% margin. This result appears twice in the database under slightly different test names (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread).

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest delta is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 scores 137 and the Intel Core i3-1220P scores 33, giving AMD a 75.9% advantage.

Q: Which processor supports error-correcting code (ECC) memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-1220P does not. This makes the AMD part suitable for workstation or server-like configurations that require data integrity.

Q: What are the release dates and market segments for these two parts?

A: The Intel Core i3-1220P was released on February 22, 2022, and is a mobile processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 was released on April 19, 2022, and is a desktop processor. Both are currently listed as active in production.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The clock speeds differ significantly: the Intel part has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the AMD part has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and the same 4.40 GHz boost clock. The thermal design power is another major difference: the Intel part is rated at 28 W, while the AMD part is rated at 65 W.

The sockets are incompatible: the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1744, which is a soldered mobile socket, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4, a standard desktop socket. The memory support differs: the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure listed. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. The Intel part includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 64EU), while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $199, which is the only pricing information in the database for either part.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is a core part of the performance story. The Intel Core i3-1220P is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-P) using a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is built on the Zen 3 architecture (codename Vermeer) using a 7 nm process node from TSMC. The Intel part belongs to the Core i3 generation (Alder Lake-P), while the AMD part belongs to the Ryzen 5 generation (Zen 3 (Vermeer)).

The cache hierarchies are notably different. The Intel part has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 12 MB. The AMD part has a smaller L1 cache of 64 KB per core and an L2 cache of 512 KB per core, but a much larger shared L3 cache of 32 MB. The AMD part also has published transistor and die size figures: 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, while the Intel part has no such figures listed.

The PCIe support is identical (Gen 4, 20 lanes CPU only), but the market positioning is opposite: the Intel part is a mobile chip (BGA socket, 28 W TDP), while the AMD part is a desktop chip (AM4 socket, 65 W TDP). The AMD part's larger L3 cache and higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz) likely contribute to its dominant multi-threaded performance, while the Intel part's hybrid Alder Lake design and lower TDP make it suitable for portable systems. The AMD part's unlocked multiplier and ECC support further differentiate it as a desktop enthusiast part, while the Intel part's integrated graphics and dual memory support (DDR4/DDR5) give it flexibility in mobile designs.