AMD Ryzen 3 7335U vs Intel Core i5-11400 Comparison

Intel Core i5-11400 and AMD Ryzen 3 7335U occupy different corners of the processor market, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The Intel part is a desktop chip built for sustained throughput, while the AMD part is a mobile processor designed for efficiency in compact systems. The database shows the Intel Core i5-11400 winning 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U taking only the two single-thread Passmark tests. This is not a close contest in raw performance, but the reasons behind the results matter for choosing between them.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400 is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads. Its six cores and twelve threads give it a structural advantage over the four cores and eight threads of the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U, and the benchmark results confirm this. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel part scores 14132 against 10703 for the AMD, a 32% advantage. The same pattern holds in Passmark multithread, where Intel leads 16690 to 12592, a 32.5% gap. For video encoding, 3D rendering, compilation, or any workload that scales across cores, the Intel i5-11400 is the stronger choice.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U wins only in Passmark single-thread performance. It scores 3053 to the Intel's 2990, a narrow 2.1% edge. This is a small but real advantage in lightly threaded tasks like basic office work, web browsing, or older applications that rely on one core. The AMD part also has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz compared to 2.60 GHz on the Intel, which helps in these scenarios. However, the Intel part still wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test, scoring 1995 to 1511, a 32% lead, so the AMD's Passmark win does not translate to all single-threaded workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U also wins on power efficiency by design. Its 28 W TDP is less than half of the Intel's 65 W TDP, and it is built on a 6 nm process from TSMC compared to the Intel's 14 nm node. This makes the AMD part the sensible choice for laptops and other mobile devices where battery life and heat output are primary concerns.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11400 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has six cores and twelve threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The die size is 276 mm², and it uses a shared 12 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730, and it uses the Intel Socket 1200.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U uses the Zen 3+ architecture, also known as Rembrandt-R, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It has four cores and eight threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The die size is 208 mm², and it uses a shared 8 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, which is notably higher than the Intel part. The integrated graphics are Radeon 660M, and it uses the AMD Socket FP7. It also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

The process node difference is significant. The 6 nm TSMC process gives the AMD part a density and efficiency advantage, while the 14 nm Intel process limits the Rocket Lake chip to higher power consumption. The memory support also differs: DDR5 on the AMD side provides higher bandwidth, but the Intel part's DDR4 support is more common in existing desktop platforms. The Intel part has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB versus 8 MB, which helps in cache-sensitive workloads. The AMD part has a smaller l1 cache per core at 64 KB versus 80 KB on the Intel, but both have the same 512 KB L2 cache per core.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-11400 dominates the multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1424 against 1078, a 32.1% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the scores are 5935 versus 4495, a 32% lead. The single-core Cinebench tests follow the same pattern: R15 gives 200 versus 152, a 31.6% lead, and R20 gives 837 versus 634, a 32% lead.

The Passmark suite shows even larger gaps in some areas. In random string sorting, the Intel part scores 23974 against 15361, a 56.1% lead. Extended instructions show 14901 versus 10314, a 44.5% lead. Data compression gives 206952 versus 146309, a 41.4% lead. Floating point math scores 34004 versus 24298, a 39.9% lead. Integer math scores 57601 versus 42493, a 35.6% lead. Prime number finding gives 49 versus 36, a 36.1% lead.

The smallest Intel wins are in data encryption, where it scores 10264 versus 9335, a 10% lead, and physics, where it scores 793 versus 647, a 22.6% lead. The only AMD wins are the two Passmark single-thread results, both scoring 3053 versus 2990, a 2.1% margin.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall picture. The Intel Core i5-11400 has an average benchmark score of 17067, placing it in the 71st percentile against all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U has an average score of 16827, placing it in the 70th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with a 0.2% higher average score, and the AMD EPYC 7H12 with a 0.3% lower score. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12100E with a 0.2% lower score and the Intel Core i5-1235U with a 0.3% higher score.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 is significantly faster. It leads by 32% in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 14132 versus 10703, and by 32.5% in Passmark multithread, scoring 16690 versus 12592.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins the Passmark single-thread test with a score of 3053 versus 2990, a 2.1% advantage. It also has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz versus 2.60 GHz.

Q: How do the memory systems compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-11400 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U has a TDP of 28 W. This makes the AMD part more suitable for mobile devices.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 has six cores and twelve threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U has four cores and eight threads.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 has an average benchmark score of 17067, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U has an average score of 16827. Both sit in the 70th percentile range against all CPUs.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-11400 has six cores and twelve threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U has four cores and eight threads. The base clocks are 2.60 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD. The boost clocks are 4.40 GHz for Intel and 4.30 GHz for AMD. The TDP is 65 W for Intel and 28 W for AMD.

The process nodes differ: Intel uses 14 nm, while AMD uses 6 nm. The die sizes are 276 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core for Intel and 64 KB per core for AMD. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared for Intel and 8 MB shared for AMD. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD, with memory bandwidths of 51.2 GB/s and 76.8 GB/s respectively. ECC memory support is absent on Intel and present on AMD. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 on Intel and Radeon 660M on AMD. The sockets are Intel Socket 1200 and AMD Socket FP7. The market segments are desktop for Intel and mobile for AMD. The production status is end-of-life for Intel and active for AMD. The release dates are 2021-03-15 for Intel and 2023-01-03 for AMD. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $182.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the use case. For a desktop system where performance is the priority and power consumption is not a limiting factor, the Intel Core i5-11400 is the correct choice. It wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, often by large margins, and offers a 32% advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore and a 56.1% advantage in random string sorting. Its six cores, twelve threads, and larger 12 MB L3 cache make it the better option for content creation, rendering, and other demanding workloads. The database places it in the 71st percentile against all CPUs.

For a laptop or other mobile device, the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U is the better fit. Its 28 W TDP and 6 nm process make it far more power-efficient, and its DDR5 memory support with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth is a modern advantage. It wins the Passmark single-thread test, which matters for everyday responsiveness. The database places it in the 70th percentile against all CPUs, essentially tied with the Intel part in overall standing, but the benchmark scores are consistently lower in multi-threaded tasks. The AMD part is the practical choice for users who need a capable processor in a slim chassis, while the Intel part is the performance pick for a desktop build. The data is clear: the Intel i5-11400 delivers more compute, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U delivers more efficiency.