AMD Ryzen 5 1400 vs Intel Core i3-9100TE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 and Intel Core i3-9100TE are both 4-core desktop processors, but they target different priorities. The Ryzen 5 1400 brings simultaneous multithreading, a higher clock envelope, and a larger cache, while the Core i3-9100TE offers a lower thermal envelope and integrated graphics. Benchmark data from the database shows a consistent performance advantage for the AMD part across all recorded Cinebench tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9100TE has 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 5 1400 boosts to 3.40 GHz, compared to 3.20 GHz for the i3-9100TE.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-9100TE has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630). The Ryzen 5 1400 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Ryzen 5 1400 supports 42.7 GB/s, while the i3-9100TE supports 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Ryzen 5 1400 has 8 MB shared L3 cache, versus 6 MB shared on the i3-9100TE.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The Ryzen 5 1400 has an unlocked multiplier; the i3-9100TE is locked.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 1400 as the stronger performer in every recorded head-to-head benchmark. It wins all four Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 2.2% in R23 multi-core to 143.2% in R15 single-core. For users who prioritize raw compute throughput, the Ryzen 5 1400 is the clear choice. The Intel Core i3-9100TE, however, offers a 35 W TDP compared to 65 W, and includes integrated graphics, making it suitable for low-power or embedded-style builds where the iGPU is required. Its launch MSRP was lower, but the performance gap is substantial.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records four direct comparisons, all won by the AMD Ryzen 5 1400.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 1400 scores 688 against 393 for the i3-9100TE, a 75.1% advantage. This large margin reflects the thread count difference: 8 threads versus 4, allowing the Ryzen to handle parallel workloads more effectively.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 5 1400 scores 133.75 versus 55, a 143.2% lead. This is the largest delta in the set, indicating a significant per-core performance gap that goes beyond thread count.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a much closer result: 3985 for the Ryzen 5 1400 and 3900 for the i3-9100TE, a 2.2% advantage. The narrow margin suggests that the newer R23 workload is less sensitive to thread count, or that the Coffee Lake architecture holds up better in this specific test.

Cinebench R23 single-core again favors the Ryzen 5 1400, with 832 versus 550, a 51.3% lead. This confirms that the AMD part maintains a clear single-thread advantage even in the more recent benchmark.

The i3-9100TE also records additional scores in Cinebench R20 and Geekbench, but no direct head-to-head comparison is available for those tests. The recorded data shows a 4-0 win count for the Ryzen 5 1400.

Specification Differences

Both processors share 4 cores, DDR4 dual-channel memory support, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The differences are substantial:

• Threads: 8 (Ryzen) versus 4 (i3)
• Base clock: 3.20 GHz versus 2.20 GHz
• Boost clock: 3.40 GHz versus 3.20 GHz
• TDP: 65 W versus 35 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel Socket 1151
• Architecture: Zen versus Coffee Lake
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries versus Intel
• Transistors: 4,800 million versus not recorded
• Die size: 213 mm² versus 126 mm²
• L1 cache: 96 KB per core versus 64 KB per core
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core
• L3 cache: 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared
• Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s
• Integrated graphics: none versus UHD Graphics 630
• Production status: Active versus End-of-life
• Release date: 2017-04-10 versus 2019-03-31
• Launch MSRP: $169 versus $122
• Multiplier unlocked: yes versus no

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 14 nm process node, but they come from different foundries and use distinct microarchitectures. The Ryzen 5 1400 uses AMD's Zen architecture, fabricated by GlobalFoundries, while the i3-9100TE uses Intel's Coffee Lake architecture, fabricated by Intel.

The most significant architectural difference is simultaneous multithreading (SMT). The Zen design allows each core to execute two threads, giving the Ryzen 5 1400 8 threads from 4 physical cores. Coffee Lake does not include SMT on this i3 model, so the i3-9100TE is limited to 4 threads. This directly explains the large multi-threaded performance gap in Cinebench R15.

Cache hierarchy also differs. The Ryzen 5 1400 has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (96 KB and 512 KB per core) compared to the i3-9100TE (64 KB and 256 KB per core). The shared L3 cache is also larger on the AMD part: 8 MB versus 6 MB. These differences contribute to the single-core performance advantage seen in the benchmarks.

The i3-9100TE includes an integrated GPU (UHD Graphics 630), which is absent on the Ryzen 5 1400. This makes the Intel part a self-contained solution for systems without a discrete graphics card. The Ryzen 5 1400 compensates with an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i3 is locked.

The Ryzen 5 1400 is an active product, while the i3-9100TE is marked as end-of-life. The release dates differ by about two years, with the Ryzen launching in April 2017 and the i3 in March 2019. Despite the newer release, the i3 does not overcome the architectural advantages of the Zen design in the recorded tests.