AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 and Intel Core i5-14490F occupy different corners of the processor market, and the benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between them. The Intel Core i5-14490F wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 5 230 trailing by margins ranging from 8.1% to 54.2% depending on the workload. The Intel part also sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD chip lands at the 78th percentile. Their average benchmark scores, 38,149 for Intel and 25,782 for AMD, reinforce a clear hierarchy, yet these processors target different platforms, power envelopes, and use cases that go beyond raw score comparisons.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F records an average benchmark score of 38,149, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 scores 25,782. The Intel chip also holds an 86th percentile ranking versus the AMD chip’s 78th percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core rendering tests?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-14490F scores 23,000 against the AMD Ryzen 5 230’s 17,857, a 22.4% advantage for Intel. The gap is consistent across older Cinebench versions, with Intel leading by 22.4% in both R20 and R15 multi-core tests.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F wins every single-thread test. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 3,247 versus 2,521, a 22.4% lead. In PassMark single-thread, the margin narrows to 3,873 versus 3,558, an 8.1% advantage for Intel.

Q: What is the difference in physical core counts?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives Intel a 4-core and 4-thread advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 includes a Radeon 760M integrated GPU. The Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, listing N/A for that feature.

The Verdict

The data directs different buyers to each chip. The Intel Core i5-14490F is the choice for anyone needing maximum throughput in CPU-heavy desktop tasks. It wins all 17 benchmark comparisons, and its 10-core, 16-thread configuration delivers substantially higher multi-thread scores across every rendering and PassMark test. Its 65-watt TDP and desktop Socket 1700 platform position it for conventional desktop builds where power draw is less constrained.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 serves a different purpose. Its 28-watt TDP and AMD Socket FP8 socket mark it as a mobile processor. The database shows it at a 78th percentile, which is respectable, but its performance profile is fundamentally lower. For a thin-and-light laptop where battery life and thermal limits matter more than raw compute, the Ryzen 5 230’s 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 design provides usable performance in a low-power envelope. Its integrated Radeon 760M graphics also removes the need for a separate GPU in basic display tasks, something the Intel chip cannot offer.

Users building a desktop workstation or gaming rig with a discrete graphics card should select the Intel Core i5-14490F based on the recorded data. Users prioritizing portability and integrated graphics should consider the AMD Ryzen 5 230, accepting its lower benchmark scores as the trade-off for lower power consumption.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14490F dominates every recorded comparison, but the margin varies meaningfully by workload type. In Cinebench multi-core tests, the Intel chip holds a consistent 22.4% lead across R15, R20, and R23 versions. Single-core Cinebench tests show the same 22.4% gap, with Intel scoring 327 versus 253 in R15 and 3,247 versus 2,521 in R23.

PassMark tests reveal wider disparities. The largest gap appears in physics simulation, where Intel scores 2,093 against AMD’s 958, a 54.2% deficit for the Ryzen 5 230. Floating-point math shows a 41.4% gap, with Intel at 66,558 and AMD at 38,993. Prime number finding favors Intel by 45.9%, scoring 122 versus 66.

Data compression and encryption also favor Intel heavily. Intel’s 340,026 in data compression beats AMD’s 218,588 by 35.7%. Data encryption shows a 27.1% gap, with Intel at 18,225 and AMD at 13,280. Extended instructions tests give Intel a 28.1% lead, scoring 21,731 versus 15,618.

The closest margin in the entire comparison is PassMark single-thread, where Intel leads by only 8.1%, scoring 3,873 versus 3,558. This suggests the AMD Zen 4 architecture is competitive in lightly threaded workloads, but the Intel chip still wins. Integer math shows a 23.4% gap, random string sorting a 26.9% gap, and multi-thread a 32.3% gap, all favoring Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge sharply across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ substantially, with AMD at 3.50 GHz and Intel at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks flip the order, with Intel reaching 5.00 GHz against AMD’s 4.90 GHz.

Thermal design power shows the biggest operational difference. AMD lists a 28-watt TDP, while Intel lists 65 watts, more than double. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP8, an mobile platform, whereas Intel uses the Intel Socket 1700 for desktop builds. Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning neither supports manual overclocking.

Memory support differs in scope. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, AMD supports DDR5 only. Both run dual-channel memory. The AMD chip records 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the Intel chip lists no bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe connectivity also differs, with AMD providing Gen 4 with 20 lanes and Intel providing Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 includes Radeon 760M integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has none. The AMD chip carries part number 100-000001726, and the Intel chip uses SRN35. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-R codename, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD chip integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the Intel chip’s transistor count is not recorded, though its die size is larger at 215 mm².

Cache layouts differ per core and in shared capacity. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 24 MB shared L3. Intel’s larger L3 cache aligns with its higher core count and desktop positioning.

The AMD chip belongs to the Ryzen 5 generation under Zen 4, while Intel belongs to the Core 14th Gen series under Raptor Lake Refresh. The AMD chip is designated as a mobile market segment product, while Intel is designated as desktop. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has 3D V-Cache. Production status is active for both, with the AMD release date recorded as January 5, 2025, and the Intel release date as December 31, 2023.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14490F wins every single benchmark in the database, so the use-case split rests on platform and workload context rather than any benchmark victory for AMD. For multi-threaded desktop workloads such as video rendering, 3D modeling, and software compilation, the Intel chip’s 10 cores and 16 threads deliver the higher scores. Its 24 MB L3 cache and 5.00 GHz boost clock support sustained heavy workloads, and its 65-watt TDP indicates a design that prioritizes performance over efficiency.

For single-threaded tasks like legacy application responsiveness or lightly threaded games, Intel still leads, but the margin shrinks to 8.1% in PassMark single-thread. That small gap makes the AMD Ryzen 5 230 competitive in such scenarios, especially given its 4.90 GHz boost clock.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins in power efficiency and platform integration. Its 28-watt TDP is less than half of Intel’s 65 watts, which suits laptops and compact mobile systems where thermal headroom is limited. The integrated Radeon 760M graphics provide display output without a discrete GPU, a feature the Intel chip entirely lacks. Its 4 nm TSMC process and 25,000 million transistor count indicate a dense, modern design, though the benchmark data shows it cannot match Intel’s raw output.

The database also places each chip among different rivals. The Intel Core i5-14490F sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-13600KF, Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, AMD Ryzen 7 250, and Intel Core i5-13600HX in average score. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 sits within 0.8% of the Intel Core i7-11700K, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE, AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, and AMD Ryzen AI 5 340. This confirms that the Intel chip competes in a higher performance tier, while the AMD chip aligns with older and lower-power parts. Users should choose based on whether their priority is maximum compute performance from a desktop socket or minimal power draw with integrated graphics from a mobile socket.