AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a narrow but consistent advantage for the Intel Core i5-14401E across every Cinebench workload in the comparison. The Intel part wins all six head-to-head tests, though the margins are uniformly small, all within a 1.7% to 1.9% range. This is not a dominant performance gap; it is a pattern of slight, repeatable superiority.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 1830 against the AMD Ryzen 5 230's 1799, a delta of 1.7%. The single-core test in the same benchmark shows Intel ahead by 1.9%, 258 versus 253. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel part scores 7627 multicore and 1076 single-core, while the AMD part scores 7499 and 1058 respectively. Both deltas sit at 1.7%. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: Intel leads 18161 to 17857 in multicore and 2564 to 2521 in single-core, again a 1.7% difference.

The consistency of the delta across all three Cinebench versions is notable. Whether the workload scales across cores or runs on a single thread, the Intel Core i5-14401E holds the same approximate margin. This suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific, a product of the chip's underlying design rather than a particular benchmark quirk. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 never closes the gap in any recorded test, but it also never falls far behind. The largest deficit is 1.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core, which is within run-to-run variance for many systems.

The win count reflects this: the Intel Core i5-14401E records 6 wins and the AMD Ryzen 5 230 records 0. However, the average benchmark score in the database tells a different story at the broader level. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has an average benchmark score of 25782, placing it at the 78th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-14401E has an average benchmark score of 5253, placing it at the 60th percentile. This discrepancy arises because the Intel sample in the database includes only the six Cinebench results, while the AMD sample includes a much larger set of PassMark workloads. The Cinebench head-to-head remains the only directly comparable data, and it favors Intel in every test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own fabs. The process node gap is substantial: 4 nm versus 10 nm, which explains differences in die size and transistor density. The AMD die measures 178 mm² and contains 25,000 million transistors. The Intel die measures 215 mm², with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts are identical: both chips have 6 cores and 12 threads. The cache layouts differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core i5-14401E provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. Intel has the larger cache at every level, which may contribute to its slight benchmark edge.

Clock speeds favor AMD on paper. The Ryzen 5 230 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Core i5-14401E has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, Intel still wins every Cinebench test, indicating that its per-clock efficiency and cache configuration compensate for the frequency disadvantage. The power envelope differs sharply: the AMD part is rated at 28 W TDP, while the Intel part is rated at 65 W. This is a mobile versus desktop distinction, as the AMD chip targets the mobile segment on AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure recorded. AMD does not support ECC memory; Intel does. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Radeon 760M, while the Intel Core i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730. No benchmark data for the iGPUs is recorded. The AMD part is locked, as is the Intel part; neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins in every directly comparable benchmark in the database. Its lead is consistent across single-core and multicore Cinebench tests, which covers rendering workloads, 3D scene creation, and other CPU-bound tasks that scale with both frequency and core count. The Intel part also holds a small but uniform advantage in single-threaded performance, which matters for applications that rely on a single primary thread: legacy software, some simulation tools, and lightly threaded productivity tasks. The 1.7% to 1.9% margin is not large, but it is present in every recorded test.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has no head-to-head wins, but its profile in the broader database shows strengths that the Cinebench-only comparison does not capture. The AMD part carries a much larger benchmark suite in the database, including PassMark tests for data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithreaded performance, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. In those tests, the AMD chip records scores such as 218588 in data compression, 13280 in data encryption, 38993 in floating point math, 67257 in integer math, and 19411 in multithreaded performance. These figures place the AMD part at the 78th percentile of all CPUs, well above the Intel part's 60th percentile, though the comparison is not apples-to-apples because the Intel database sample lacks these workloads.

The power envelope is a decisive differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 operates at 28 W TDP, which suits thin-and-light mobile systems where thermal headroom is limited. The Intel Core i5-14401E operates at 65 W TDP, which is appropriate for desktop builds with adequate cooling. The AMD part also uses a smaller process node, 4 nm versus 10 nm, and a smaller die, 178 mm² versus 215 mm², which typically translates to lower power draw per unit of performance. For workloads that are short bursts rather than sustained all-core loads, the AMD chip's efficiency may allow it to maintain boost clocks for longer within a given thermal budget.

The Intel part, by contrast, offers ECC memory support and compatibility with both DDR4 and DDR5, which broadens its platform flexibility. The AMD part is restricted to DDR5. The Intel part also provides PCIe Gen 5, which is a bandwidth advantage for storage and discrete GPUs if the platform supports it, while the AMD part provides more PCIe lanes at Gen 4.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 scores 17857. Intel leads by 1.7%.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E leads in all three recorded single-core tests. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel scores 258 against AMD's 253, a 1.9% difference. The R20 and R23 single-core gaps are both 1.7%.

Q: Do the two processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. The differences lie elsewhere: cache sizes, clock speeds, process node, TDP, memory support, and platform.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 is rated at 28 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-14401E is rated at 65 W TDP. The AMD part targets mobile systems, and the Intel part targets desktops.

Q: How do their database percentile rankings compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 sits at the 78th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 25782. The Intel Core i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile with an average benchmark score of 5253. The Intel sample includes only Cinebench results, while the AMD sample includes additional PassMark workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, with no transistor count recorded and a 215 mm² die.

Clock speeds: AMD has a 3.50 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. Intel has a 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. TDP: AMD is 28 W, Intel is 65 W. Sockets: AMD uses AMD Socket FP8, Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. Process nodes: AMD is 4 nm, Intel is 10 nm. Foundries: AMD uses TSMC, Intel uses its own fabs.

Cache: AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory: AMD supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel, with no bandwidth recorded. ECC: AMD does not support it, Intel does. PCIe: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon 760M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

Market segments differ: AMD is a mobile part, Intel is a desktop part. Release dates also differ: the AMD Ryzen 5 230 launched on January 5, 2025, while the Intel Core i5-14401E launched on June 30, 2024. Both are active in production, both are locked, and neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.