AMD Ryzen 3 5425U vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-9700E, which wins all four shared tests in the head-to-head comparison. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel part scores 10,613 against the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U's 5,954.5. That is a 78.2% advantage, a gap that reflects the difference in core count and sustained power delivery between a desktop-class chip and a 15W mobile part.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i7-9700E scores 1,498 versus 1,332 for the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U, a 12.5% lead. The Geekbench results follow the same pattern: the Intel processor posts 5,661 in multi-core against 3,880 for the AMD, a 45.9% difference, and 1,497 in single-core versus 1,328, a 12.7% lead. The Intel part wins all four head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U records zero wins in this comparison.

Looking at the broader database context, the Intel Core i7-9700E sits at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 3,197. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-13100T at 3,198 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E-2136 at 3,193 (0.1% faster), and the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3,202 (0.2% slower than the i7-9700E). The AMD Ryzen 3 5425U, by contrast, ranks at the 52nd percentile with an average score of 3,124. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS at 3,122 (0.1% faster), the Intel Core i3-13100TE at 3,111 (0.4% faster), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U at 3,096 (0.9% faster). The two processors are therefore close in overall average score, with the Intel part ahead by only 73 points, but the per-workload deltas in the head-to-head are far larger, particularly in multi-core.

The single-core margins, while smaller, are consistent: roughly 12.5% to 12.7% in favor of the Intel chip across both Cinebench R23 and Geekbench. This suggests that the i7-9700E's higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, compared to 4.10 GHz for the Ryzen, provides a meaningful per-thread advantage despite the older microarchitecture.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and market segments. The Intel Core i7-9700E is a desktop part built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 180.3 mm². It uses the Coffee Lake architecture (specifically Coffee Lake Refresh) and fits the Intel Socket 1151. The AMD Ryzen 3 5425U is a mobile processor fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors. It uses the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Barcelo, based on Cezanne) and fits the AMD Socket FP6.

The core configuration differs sharply. The Intel chip has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on SMT to reach the same thread count. This means each Intel core is a full physical core, while each AMD core handles two threads. In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part can draw on twice the physical core count, which explains its large multi-core lead.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core. The Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 per core, while the AMD part has 512 KB of L2 per core, double the per-core L2. For L3, the Intel i7-9700E offers 12 MB shared, whereas the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U has 8 MB shared. The larger L3 on the Intel side helps with shared data across its eight cores.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, and both use dual-channel buses. However, the AMD part has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for Intel. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD integrates Radeon Vega 6.

Power envelopes are dramatically different. The Intel Core i7-9700E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U is rated at 15 watts. This is a 4.3x difference in thermal design power, which explains why the Intel part can sustain higher clocks and deliver far higher multi-core throughput, but it also means the AMD chip is intended for thin-and-light systems where power draw and heat are critical constraints.

The production status also differs: the Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U is still active. The Intel chip was released in April 2019, while the AMD part launched in January 2022. The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $323; the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9700E wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the data does not show any test where the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U comes out ahead. The largest win for the Intel part is in Cinebench R23 multi-core (78.2% ahead), followed by Geekbench multi-core (45.9% ahead). These multi-core results reflect the Intel chip's 8 physical cores versus the AMD part's 4 cores with SMT.

The single-core tests are closer, with Intel ahead by 12.5% in Cinebench R23 and 12.7% in Geekbench. This indicates that while the AMD Zen 3 architecture is efficient, the Intel part's higher boost clock (4.40 GHz vs. 4.10 GHz) still gives it the edge in lightly threaded work. However, the AMD chip's lower TDP of 15 watts means it can fit into systems where a 65-watt desktop processor is simply not viable, such as ultraportable laptops. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not, and it has higher theoretical memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s vs. 42.7 GB/s), though this does not translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data.

For workloads that are heavily multi-threaded and power-unconstrained, the Intel Core i7-9700E is clearly superior. For workloads that require very low power consumption, passive cooling, or ECC memory support, the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U holds advantages that are not captured in the raw benchmark scores. The AMD part also benefits from being a newer design (2022 vs. 2019) and remains in active production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-9700E is the faster processor in every measured test. It leads by 78.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 45.9% in Geekbench multi-core, 12.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 12.7% in Geekbench single-core. For any user who prioritizes raw compute performance, especially in multi-threaded applications such as video rendering, compilation, or scientific computing, the Intel part is the clear choice from the data.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5425U, however, offers a different value proposition that is not visible in these scores. Its 15-watt TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs, and its ECC memory support targets reliability-sensitive workloads. The Intel chip's 65-watt TDP and desktop socket (Intel Socket 1151) mean it requires a larger cooling solution and a desktop platform.

The overall average benchmark scores are close, 3,197 for Intel versus 3,124 for AMD, a difference of about 2.3%. But the head-to-head deltas show that this average obscures the Intel part's dominance in multi-core. The database percentile ranks are also nearly identical, 53rd versus 52nd, indicating that both sit in the middle of the CPU performance distribution.

Who should pick which? A system builder needing maximum multi-threaded throughput on a desktop platform, and who can accommodate a 65-watt processor, should choose the Intel Core i7-9700E. A mobile system designer who needs a low-power, ECC-capable processor with decent single-core performance should choose the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U. The data does not support choosing the AMD part for raw performance, but it does support choosing it for power efficiency and platform flexibility.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part uses only physical cores, while the AMD part relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 8 threads.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E scores 1,498, and the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U scores 1,332. That is a 12.5% lead for the Intel part.

Q: Does the AMD processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-9700E does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has a TDP of 65 watts, and the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5425U has a theoretical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, compared to 42.7 GB/s for the Intel Core i7-9700E. Both use dual-channel DDR4.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has an average benchmark score of 3,197, ranking at the 53rd percentile. The AMD Ryzen 3 5425U has an average score of 3,124, ranking at the 52nd percentile. The Intel part is about 2.3% higher in overall average.