AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE vs Intel Core i5-9400T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE and Intel Core i5-9400T are both 35-watt desktop processors aimed at compact and low-power systems, yet the benchmark data reveals a clear and consistent performance hierarchy between them. Across every head-to-head Cinebench test, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE finishes ahead, with the Intel Core i5-9400T trailing by a margin of roughly 9% in each metric. This page breaks down the raw scores, the architectural reasoning behind them, and what the data means for a potential buyer.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison is a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE, winning all six recorded Cinebench tests. The most significant single-core victory occurs in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD chip scores 106 against Intel’s 97, a delta of 9.3%. The multi-core R15 test shows a slightly smaller gap, with AMD at 757 and Intel at 695, an 8.9% lead.

Moving to the more demanding Cinebench R20 workload, the pattern holds. The AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE scores 3158 in multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-9400T manages 2896, a 9% advantage for AMD. In single-core R20, AMD again wins by 9.1%, posting 445 against Intel’s 408. The trend is identical in Cinebench R23: AMD leads with 7520 multi-core and 1061 single-core, versus Intel’s 6896 and 973, respectively. Both R23 deltas sit at exactly 9%.

Notably, the Intel Core i5-9400T has two additional physical cores (6 vs. 4), yet it still loses every multi-threaded test. The AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE compensates for fewer cores with simultaneous multithreading (8 threads vs. 6) and a significantly higher base clock. The Intel part’s base clock is listed as 1800 MHz, which is far below AMD’s 3.30 GHz. While Intel’s boost clock reaches 3.40 GHz, it cannot overcome the combination of AMD’s higher boost (4.00 GHz) and its thread advantage in these workloads.

In terms of average benchmark score across all tested applications, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE sits at 2175, compared to Intel’s 2136. That is a difference of roughly 1.8%, but the Cinebench suite shows a wider gap, suggesting AMD’s advantage is workload-specific rather than universal. Both processors occupy the 47th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite the consistent Cinebench deltas.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE uses the Zen+ architecture (codename Picasso) built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-9400T uses the older Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process manufactured by Intel. This process node difference (12 nm vs. 14 nm) is a key factor in AMD’s ability to reach higher clock speeds while staying within the same 35 W TDP envelope.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel part has 6 cores and 6 threads — no hyper-threading. Despite having 50% more physical cores, Intel’s lack of SMT and lower clock speeds hurt it in threaded Cinebench runs. Cache configurations also vary: AMD provides 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3. Intel offers 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a much larger 9 MB shared L3 cache. That larger L3 gives Intel a theoretical memory hierarchy advantage, but the benchmark results show it does not translate into a win.

Memory bandwidth slightly favors AMD: 46.9 GB/s versus Intel’s 42.7 GB/s, both over dual-channel DDR4. The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD includes a Radeon RX Vega 11, while Intel relies on UHD 630. The AMD part also features an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas Intel’s multiplier is locked. Another difference is the socket: AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1151. Production status also differs — AMD’s chip is listed as active, while Intel’s is end-of-life. Release dates show Intel shipping earlier (2018-08-31) than AMD (2019-07-06).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. If a user is choosing strictly based on the provided Cinebench scores, the AMD chip is the better performer in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks, with a consistent ~9% lead. The Intel Core i5-9400T, despite having more physical cores, cannot match AMD’s higher clocks and thread count in these tests.

However, the overall picture is more nuanced. Both CPUs land at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close (2175 vs. 2136). This suggests that outside of Cinebench, the gap may shrink or even reverse in workloads that favor Intel’s larger L3 cache or its six physical cores. The Intel chip also has the advantage of being on a more mature platform (Socket 1151) with a longer production history, though it is now end-of-life. For users who prioritize the specific Cinebench workloads shown here, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE is the clear choice. For those relying on other applications not covered by these tests, the Intel part remains a viable alternative, though the data provided does not show a single test where it comes out ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400T has 6 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE has 4 cores.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, including R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core modes.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE leads by 9.3%.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to 3.40 GHz for the Intel Core i5-9400T.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE and Intel Core i5-9400T are in the 47th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE has 4 MB.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the data, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE wins in every recorded benchmark category. Its advantages are most pronounced in single-core performance, where it leads by 9.3% in R15, 9.1% in R20, and 9% in R23. In multi-core, the deltas are similarly consistent at 8.9%, 9%, and 9% for R15, R20, and R23, respectively. This makes the AMD chip the better option for users running Cinebench or similar rendering workloads that scale with thread count and clock speed.

The Intel Core i5-9400T, while losing all head-to-head tests, does have a few structural advantages that are not reflected in the benchmark scores. Its 9 MB L3 cache is more than double AMD’s 4 MB, which could help in cache-sensitive applications. Its six physical cores, even without hyper-threading, might handle certain lightly-threaded or memory-latency-sensitive tasks differently. Additionally, Intel’s UHD 630 integrated graphics and its Socket 1151 platform offer compatibility with a different ecosystem of motherboards. But in the absence of any benchmark win, these remain theoretical benefits rather than demonstrated performance advantages.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the provided data.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE | Intel Core i5-9400T |

|----------------|-------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 1800 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen+ | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Picasso | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | N/A |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | N/A |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega 11 | UHD 630 |

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

| Release Date | 2019-07-06 | 2018-08-31 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | YD3400C6M4MFH | SR3X8 |