AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs Intel Core i5-8400T Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a split picture that depends heavily on the workload and the benchmark generation. Across the six head-to-head comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X claims five wins, while the Intel Core i5-8400T takes one decisive victory. The magnitude of these wins, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Starting with the most lopsided result, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X dominates in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 805 against the Intel chip's 633. This translates to a 21.4% deficit for the i5-8400T, a substantial gap that reflects the AMD part's higher thread count and clock speeds in that particular workload. The single-core Cinebench R15 result is even more stark: the Ryzen 5 1500X posts 154 versus 89 for the Intel part, a 42.2% delta. That is a remarkable margin and the largest single advantage found anywhere in the head-to-head data.

However, the script flips dramatically when examining the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i5-8400T surges ahead with a score of 6282, while the Ryzen 5 1500X manages 4597. The Intel part wins by 36.7%, nearly matching the magnitude of its single-core deficit in R15. This is the only benchmark where Intel comes out ahead, but it is a commanding victory that cannot be dismissed as noise.

The remaining comparisons are closer. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 5 1500X wins 947 to 886, a 6.4% margin. Geekbench multi-core shows the AMD part ahead at 4326 versus 4011, a 7.3% gap. Geekbench single-core is the tightest race of all, with the Ryzen 5 1500X edging out the Intel chip 1122 to 1100, just a 2% difference.

The average benchmark scores place the two processors nearly on top of each other: the i5-8400T averages 2001, while the Ryzen 5 1500X averages 1992. The Intel part sits at the 45th percentile of all CPUs, and the AMD part at the 44th percentile. These near-identical aggregate figures explain why the head-to-head results swing so widely — they are two very different designs that happen to land at the same overall performance level.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural contrast between these two chips is fundamental. The Intel Core i5-8400T uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, fabricated by Intel. It packs 6 physical cores but only 6 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, by contrast, uses the original Zen architecture, also on a 14 nm node, but built by GlobalFoundries. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling two threads per core.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The Intel part allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD design gives each core 96 KB of L1, 512 KB of L2, and a substantially larger 16 MB of shared L3. That larger L3 pool on the Ryzen part likely contributes to its strong showing in the older Cinebench R15 tests, where cache-sensitive single-threaded performance was still a dominant factor.

Processor complexity also differs. The Ryzen 5 1500X contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while the i5-8400T's transistor count is not specified, though its die size is listed at 154 mm². The smaller Intel die reflects its simpler core layout and lack of SMT, while the larger AMD die houses the additional thread management logic and bigger cache arrays.

Platform features mark another clear split. The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the Ryzen 5 1500X has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU. The AMD part supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel product. Both use dual-channel DDR4 memory with identical 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and both provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the Intel part does not. Sockets differ as expected: Intel Socket 1151 for the i5-8400T, AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen 5 1500X. The Intel part carries a 35 W TDP compared to 65 W for the AMD chip, a notable efficiency difference given the performance parity in average scores.

# The Verdict

The data points to a workload-dependent recommendation rather than a clear overall winner. The Intel Core i5-8400T wins the modern multi-threaded test, Cinebench R23 multi-core, by a commanding 36.7%. If that benchmark represents the type of contemporary workload a buyer expects, the Intel part is the stronger choice. Its 6-core, 6-thread configuration also delivers this performance at a 35 W TDP, which is half the thermal envelope of the AMD chip.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, however, wins five of the six head-to-head comparisons, including both Geekbench tests and both Cinebench R15 tests. Its single-core advantage in R15 is enormous at 42.2%, and it maintains a lead in R23 single-core as well. For users running legacy applications or single-threaded workloads that resemble the R15 test pattern, the Ryzen part is clearly superior. The 8 threads also provide better responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks that can still use two threads per core.

The near-identical average benchmark scores — 2001 versus 1992 — and the adjacent percentile rankings (45th versus 44th) suggest that for a mixed workload, neither chip holds a decisive edge. The choice hinges on whether the user's software is closer to the R23 multi-core pattern or the R15 single-core pattern. The Intel chip also offers integrated graphics, which matters for systems without a discrete GPU, while the AMD chip offers ECC memory support and an unlocked multiplier for enthusiasts.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8400T | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 6 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1700.00 MHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not specified | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 154 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2018-04-01 | 2017-04-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $182 | $189 |

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-8400T has 6 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 4 cores. However, the Ryzen chip has 8 threads versus 6 for the Intel part.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-8400T does not.

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-8400T wins decisively with a score of 6282, beating the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X's 4597 by 36.7%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8400T have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 9 MB for the Intel Core i5-8400T.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Both use a 14 nm process, but the Intel chip is fabricated by Intel, while the AMD chip is built by GlobalFoundries.

# Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-8400T wins in modern multi-threaded rendering. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result, 6282 versus 4597, is its flagship victory, and it achieves this with a 35 W TDP. This makes the Intel part the better fit for users running contemporary multi-core applications that scale with physical core count, especially in power-constrained systems. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 also gives it an edge for basic display output without a separate GPU.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins across the broader set of benchmarks. It takes Cinebench R15 multi-core by 21.4%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 42.2%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 6.4%, Geekbench multi-core by 7.3%, and Geekbench single-core by 2%. This pattern indicates strength in both legacy single-threaded workloads and in mixed usage that resembles the older Cinebench R15 test. The ECC memory support and unlocked multiplier also give it advantages for system builders who need data integrity features or plan to overclock. Its active production status, compared to the Intel part's end-of-life status, may also matter for long-term availability.

For users deciding between the two, the Intel chip suits modern multi-core rendering at low power, while the AMD chip offers better overall benchmark coverage, particularly in single-threaded and legacy applications, plus platform features like ECC and overclocking. The average scores are nearly tied, so the specific workload profile should drive the decision.