AMD Ryzen 5 2600E vs Intel Core i5-12400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive overall picture: the Intel Core i5-12400 wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, with only a single test ceded to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E. The margins, however, vary dramatically by workload, which is worth examining closely.

The most striking result is in extended instruction throughput. In the PassMark extended instructions test, the Intel part scores 15,399 against 6,509 for AMD, a 136.6% advantage. This is the largest proportional gap in the entire comparison, and it signals a generational leap in SIMD and vectorized workload efficiency. Similarly, floating-point math shows a 116.9% delta (45,494 versus 20,970), and prime number finding shows a 112.5% delta (68 versus 32). These are not marginal improvements; they represent a complete reworking of the execution pipeline.

Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. Across R15, R20, and R23, the Intel Core i5-12400 leads by 52.4% in multicore and 52.3% to 52.4% in single-core. For example, Cinebench R23 multicore shows 15,989 for Intel versus 10,494 for AMD, while single-core shows 2,257 versus 1,481. The uniformity of these deltas suggests the advantage is architectural rather than workload-specific.

Integer math tells a similar story but with a slightly smaller margin. The Intel chip scores 58,366 versus 39,781, a 46.7% lead. PassMark multithread shows 18,747 versus 12,346, a 51.8% delta, and physics simulation shows 1,105 versus 752, a 46.9% delta. Data compression, at 226,908 versus 173,653, yields a 30.7% advantage for Intel.

The single-threaded PassMark results reinforce the trend: 3,456 versus 2,297, a 50.5% delta. Random string sorting is the narrowest Intel win at 6.9% (22,366 versus 20,918), indicating that this particular workload is less sensitive to the architectural differences between the two processors.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E takes exactly one test: PassMark data encryption, scoring 12,146 against 11,418, a 6% advantage. This is a notable outlier, suggesting that the AMD chip's encryption unit or its specific instruction handling retains a niche advantage. Still, one win in seventeen comparisons is insufficient to offset the overall trend.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras of design. The Intel Core i5-12400 is built on the Alder Lake architecture, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E uses the Zen architecture, specifically Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge), produced on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The die sizes reflect this: Intel measures 163 mm², while AMD measures 192 mm². AMD's transistor count is listed at 4,800 million, while Intel's is not recorded in the database.

Both CPUs feature 6 cores and 12 threads, so thread counts are identical. The cache layouts, however, differ meaningfully. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on the Intel side is a significant contributor to its performance advantage in cache-sensitive workloads.

Clock speeds also diverge. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD part starts higher at 3.10 GHz base but boosts to only 4.00 GHz. The lower base clock on the Intel chip is offset by a substantially higher boost ceiling, which matters for bursty single-threaded workloads.

Memory support differs as well. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is not supported on either processor. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has no integrated graphics listed.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The Intel Core i5-12400 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. No PCIe information is listed for the AMD part. Socket compatibility is entirely separate: Intel uses Socket 1700, while AMD uses Socket AM4.

The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $199. The AMD part has no listed launch MSRP in the database. Both CPUs have locked multipliers, and both are marked as Active in production status. The Intel release date is January 2022, while the AMD release date is September 2018.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for most users. The Intel Core i5-12400 is ahead in every major multi-threaded rendering test, every single-threaded test, and the vast majority of PassMark workloads. If the priority is raw performance across Cinebench, integer math, floating-point math, compression, and physics, the Intel processor is the unambiguous choice.

The only scenario where the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E holds an edge is data encryption, where it scores 6% higher. For workloads dominated by encryption throughput, the AMD part has a narrow but real advantage. Beyond that, the AMD chip's higher base clock of 3.10 GHz does not translate into competitive benchmark results, as the Intel part's boost clock of 4.40 GHz and architectural efficiency dominate.

The Intel processor also offers integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely. For a system without a discrete GPU, this is a functional advantage. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing platform flexibility, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4. The AMD part does offer a larger L1 cache per core (96 KB versus 80 KB), but this does not appear to compensate for the Intel chip's larger L2 allocation and higher boost clock.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Intel Core i5-12400 at 18,683, with a 72nd percentile ranking against all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E averages 18,230, also at the 72nd percentile. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (0.1% lower) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (0.3% higher). The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700 (0% delta) and the AMD EPYC 9274F (0.2% higher). These rival comparisons place the two chips in similar overall tiers, but the head-to-head deltas show the Intel part winning by a wide margin on most individual workloads.

For a user selecting purely on benchmark performance, the Intel Core i5-12400 is the stronger processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E remains relevant only for encryption-focused tasks or for users already invested in the AM4 platform who cannot justify a platform change.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based on recorded data:

• Architecture: Intel uses Alder Lake; AMD uses Zen (Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge).
• Process node: Intel is 10 nm; AMD is 12 nm.
• Foundry: Intel fabricates its own chip; AMD uses GlobalFoundries.
• Die size: Intel is 163 mm²; AMD is 192 mm².
• Transistors: AMD lists 4,800 million; Intel does not list a figure.
• Base clock: Intel is 2.50 GHz; AMD is 3.10 GHz.
• Boost clock: Intel is 4.40 GHz; AMD is 4.00 GHz.
• L1 cache per core: Intel is 80 KB; AMD is 96 KB.
• L2 cache per core: Intel is 1.25 MB; AMD is 512 KB.
• L3 cache: Intel is 18 MB shared; AMD is 16 MB shared.
• Memory support: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5; AMD supports DDR4 only.
• PCIe: Intel supports Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only); AMD has no PCIe data listed.
• Integrated graphics: Intel has UHD Graphics 730; AMD has none listed.
• Socket: Intel is Socket 1700; AMD is Socket AM4.
• Release date: Intel is January 2022; AMD is September 2018.
• Launch MSRP: Intel is $199; AMD has no listed value.
• Generation: Intel is Core i5 (Alder Lake-S); AMD is Ryzen 5 (Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge).
• Part number: Intel lists SRL4VSRL5Y; AMD has none listed.

Both chips share 6 cores, 12 threads, a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory buses, no ECC support, locked multipliers, and Desktop market segment classification.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E wins only the PassMark data encryption test.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 scores 15,989 while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E scores 10,494, a 52.4% advantage for Intel.

Q: Is there any workload where the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E outperforms the Intel Core i5-12400?

A: Yes, in PassMark data encryption, the AMD part scores 12,146 versus 11,418 for Intel, a 6% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts of both processors?

A: Both the Intel Core i5-12400 and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E have 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-12400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E supports DDR4 only.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has no integrated graphics listed in the database.