AMD Ryzen 5 2400G vs Intel Core i5-7300HQ Comparison

The data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks, securing victory in three out of four tests, while the Intel Core i5-7300HQ manages a single, narrow win. However, the magnitude of those victories varies dramatically, and the overall average benchmark scores are remarkably close. This analysis will break down the benchmark results, interpret the architectural causes, and determine which processor is the appropriate choice based strictly on the provided data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive results come from the Cinebench R15 suite. In the multicore test, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G scores 846.5, while the Intel Core i5-7300HQ scores 434. This represents a 48.7% advantage for the AMD processor, a massive gap that clearly demonstrates the benefit of the Ryzen's simultaneous multithreading. The single-core Cinebench R15 test shows an even larger relative difference, with the Ryzen 5 2400G scoring 155.65 against the Intel's 61, a 60.8% margin in favor of AMD. These are not marginal wins; they are substantial leads that point to a fundamental performance disparity in this specific workload.

The Geekbench results offer a contrasting perspective. In the multicore test, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G again wins, scoring 3750 compared to the Intel's 3044. This is a significant 18.8% lead, though it is notably smaller than the Cinebench R15 multicore gap. The single-core Geekbench test is the only benchmark where the Intel Core i5-7300HQ emerges victorious, scoring 1052 against the AMD's 1003. This win is narrow, with a delta of just 4.9%, suggesting a marginal advantage in lightly-threaded, short-duration tasks that favor higher clock speeds.

Interpreting these numbers requires looking at the broader context. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has an average benchmark score of 1448, which places it at the 38th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE with an average score of 1444 and the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 with a score of 1446, both of which it barely edges out. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G, on the other hand, has an average benchmark score of 1439, placing it at the 37th percentile. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2600K, with an average score of 1433, which the Ryzen outperforms by a small margin. The data shows that while the Ryzen 5 2400G has decisive wins in specific tests, its overall average score is actually slightly lower than the Intel i5-7300HQ's, illustrating that the benchmark suite is heavily weighted by the divergent results.

The pattern is clear: the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G excels in multi-threaded workloads, leveraging its eight threads to nearly double the performance of the four-thread Intel processor in Cinebench R15. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-7300HQ shows a slight edge in a single-core Geekbench test, but its defeat in the Cinebench R15 single-core test is so large that it suggests the Intel's advantage is specific to the Geekbench workload rather than a general trait.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear verdict for most users. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the superior processor for multi-threaded applications. Its wins in all three multi-core benchmark tests, with deltas ranging from 18.8% to 48.7%, are substantial and indicate a decisive advantage in rendering, video encoding, and other heavily parallelized tasks. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ's single win in Geekbench single-core is too narrow to be considered a general-purpose advantage.

Therefore, the data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G should be the choice for users whose primary workloads are multi-threaded, such as content creators, video editors, or those running complex simulations. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ could be considered for users who have a specific application that behaves like the Geekbench single-core test and prioritizes that over all other performance metrics. However, given the overwhelming evidence of the AMD's multi-core dominance and the fact that its average benchmark score is within a fraction of a percent of the Intel's, the Ryzen 5 2400G is the more versatile and powerful option based on the data provided.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures that explain their performance profiles. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-H codename, and is manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The die size is 126 mm². It is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket.

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is built on the Zen architecture with the codename Raven Ridge and is manufactured on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its cache layout is different, with 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but a smaller 4 MB shared L3 cache. It has a significantly larger die size of 210 mm² and contains 4,950 million transistors. It is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP and uses the AMD Socket AM4.

The most critical architectural difference is the thread count. The AMD's 8 threads allow it to process twice as many instruction streams as the Intel's 4 threads, which is the primary driver behind its massive multi-core benchmark leads. The AMD also has higher base and boost clocks. However, the Intel processor has a larger L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB) and a much smaller die, which can be an advantage in power efficiency and manufacturing cost. The AMD's larger transistor count and die size reflect its more complex design, including the more powerful Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated graphics, compared to the Intel HD Graphics 630.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is significantly faster. It wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 846.5 versus 434 for the Intel Core i5-7300HQ, a 48.7% lead, and the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 3750 versus 3044, an 18.8% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7300HQ win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins the Geekbench single-core test. It scores 1052 against the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G's 1003, a 4.9% margin.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has an average benchmark score of 1448, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has an average score of 1439. This makes the Intel processor slightly higher on average, despite losing more head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G also has 4 cores, but it has 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has the Intel HD Graphics 630, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has the Radeon RX Vega 11.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-7300HQ's boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the use cases for each processor are distinct. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the clear winner in any scenario that can utilize multiple threads. Its 48.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore suggests it is vastly superior for tasks like 3D rendering, video encoding, and compiling code. The 18.8% lead in Geekbench multicore reinforces this, making it the better choice for professional or prosumer workflows that are heavily parallelized.

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ's only area of dominance is the Geekbench single-core test. Its 4.9% win there indicates it might have a slight edge in applications that are poorly optimized for multi-threading and depend on a single high-performing core. This could include some older games or legacy software. However, its massive loss in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where it scored 61 against 155.65, suggests this advantage is not consistent across all single-threaded workloads. The data shows that the Intel is not universally faster in single-threaded tasks, making its use case more niche.

Specification Differences

The following table outlines the key specifications where the two processors differ, based directly on the data provided.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-7300HQ | AMD Ryzen 5 2400G |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Zen |

| Codename | Kaby Lake-H | Raven Ridge |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not specified | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 210 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 630 | Radeon RX Vega 11 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2018-02-11 |

| Launch MSRP | $250 | $169 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR32S | YD2400C5M4MFB |