AMD Ryzen 5 2500X vs Intel Core i5-10400H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X wins 6 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-10400H wins the remaining 2 tests.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X compare to the Intel Core i5-10400H in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD chip scores 8036, which is 16.1% higher than the Intel chip's 6924 in the same test.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i5-10400H show a clear advantage?

A: The Intel processor wins in Geekbench tests, scoring 5000 in multi-core (23.7% ahead) and 1413 in single-core (20.3% ahead) compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for these two processors?

A: Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, making them equivalent in thread-count configuration.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X has an average benchmark score of 2361, while the Intel Core i5-10400H has an average of 2303.

Q: How do these processors rank among all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X sits at the 48th percentile, and the Intel Core i5-10400H sits at the 47th percentile, placing them nearly level overall.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X uses the Zen architecture with the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) generation, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,800 million transistors across a 213 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-10400H uses the Comet Lake architecture, specifically Comet Lake-H, fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process. The AMD part belongs to the 2000 series and targets the desktop market segment, while the Intel part is part of the Core 10th Gen family and targets mobile devices.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-10400H provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD chip double the L1 and L2 per core and 2 MB more L3 overall.

The AMD processor supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with 46.9 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also in dual-channel, with the same 46.9 GB/s bandwidth figure. Neither processor supports ECC memory according to the database.

Clock behavior differs markedly. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Core i5-10400H has a base clock of 2.60 GHz but a much higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel chip also carries a 45 W TDP versus the AMD chip's 65 W TDP.

Socket and platform requirements are entirely different. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i5-10400H uses Intel BGA 1440. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel chip is locked. The AMD processor supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the Intel processor supports PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count specified in the database. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD part was released in September 2018; the Intel part was released in April 2020.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a lopsided split across render workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X scores 810 against the Intel Core i5-10400H's 697, a 16.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: AMD scores 114 versus Intel's 98, a 16.3% lead. The consistency continues in Cinebench R20, where the AMD chip posts 3375 multi-core and 476 single-core, beating the Intel chip's 2908 and 410 by 16.1% in both tests.

Cinebench R23 repeats the result. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X reaches 8036 multi-core and 1134 single-core, while the Intel Core i5-10400H reaches 6924 and 977, respectively. The delta is 16.1% in both cases. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD processor holds a remarkably uniform advantage, hovering between 16.1% and 16.3%.

Geekbench flips the script. The Intel Core i5-10400H scores 5000 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 23.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X's 3813. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel chip scores 1413 versus 1126 for AMD, a 20.3% margin. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz likely contributes to this result, while the AMD part's lower 4.00 GHz boost holds it back in this workload.

The overall win count is 6 for AMD and 2 for Intel. The average benchmark scores reflect the split: the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X averages 2361, and the Intel Core i5-10400H averages 2303, a difference of 58 points. The percentile rankings are close as well, with the AMD chip at the 48th percentile and the Intel chip at the 47th percentile.

The Verdict

The data points toward a clear verdict for render-heavy workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X leads the Intel Core i5-10400H by roughly 16% in every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, whether single-core or multi-core. The consistency of that margin across three generations of Cinebench suggests a stable architectural advantage in CPU-bound rendering tasks. Users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or other multi-threaded production work should favor the AMD chip based on these recorded results.

The Intel Core i5-10400H, however, demonstrates a decisive lead in Geekbench, with margins exceeding 20% in both single-core and multi-core. This indicates a strength in workloads that follow Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point patterns, including general desktop responsiveness, office applications, and light productivity tasks. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz gives it a raw frequency advantage that appears to surface in this benchmark suite.

The mobile versus desktop distinction matters. The Intel Core i5-10400H is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP and integrated graphics, suited for laptops and compact systems. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, no integrated graphics, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The database shows both are active in production, so availability is not a differentiator.

For a desktop builder prioritizing render performance and overclocking flexibility, the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X is the data-backed choice. For a mobile user needing integrated graphics and stronger Geekbench-class performance, the Intel Core i5-10400H wins on those specific metrics. Neither processor dominates the full spectrum; the decision hinges on workload type and platform requirements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i5-10400H uses a 14 nm node from Intel. The AMD chip has 4,800 million transistors and a 213 mm² die size; the Intel chip has no transistor count or die size listed in the database.

Cache configurations differ as noted: AMD provides 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3; Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

Base and boost clocks differ: AMD runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost; Intel runs at 2.60 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. TDP differs as well, with AMD at 65 W and Intel at 45 W.

The socket is different: AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen 5 2500X, Intel BGA 1440 for the Core i5-10400H. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip is locked. The AMD part lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the Intel part lists PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics; the Intel chip includes UHD Graphics.

Memory support differs: AMD lists only DDR4, while Intel lists DDR3 and DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth. ECC support is false for both.

Market segment and release date differ: AMD is a desktop part released in September 2018; Intel is a mobile part released in April 2020. The AMD part number is YD250XBBM4KAFYD250XBBAFMPK; the Intel part number is SRH8R.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X wins in all six Cinebench tests, covering both multi-core and single-core metrics across R15, R20, and R23. This includes the largest measured deltas in the comparison: 16.2% in R15 multi-core and 16.3% in R15 single-core, with the other four Cinebench tests at 16.1%. The AMD chip also holds a slightly higher average benchmark score of 2361 versus 2303, and a slightly better percentile rank of 48 versus 47. Render-focused software, CPU-encoded video, and any workload that scales with consistent multi-threaded throughput will find the AMD part ahead.

The Intel Core i5-10400H wins in both Geekbench tests. The multi-core victory is the largest margin in the entire head-to-head set: 5000 versus 3813, a 23.7% lead. The single-core Geekbench win is 1413 versus 1126, a 20.3% lead. These are substantial margins, larger than any single AMD win in the Cinebench suite. The Intel chip also benefits from integrated UHD Graphics, which makes it the only one of the two that can output to a display without a discrete GPU. The mobile form factor with a 45 W TDP suits laptops and compact systems where power draw and space are constrained.

The split is clean: AMD for Cinebench-class render performance, Intel for Geekbench-class general performance and built-in graphics. The 4-core, 8-thread configuration is shared, so thread-count is not a deciding factor. The AMD chip's larger caches and 12 nm node help it in rendering; the Intel chip's higher boost clock and integrated graphics help it in Geekbench and mobile applications. Users should match the workload to the data: render-heavy tasks go to AMD, mixed general tasks and mobile use go to Intel.