AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core i5-14400F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core i5-14400F are processors from different worlds, one a low-power mobile part and the other a full-fat desktop chip. The benchmark data confirms a decisive performance gap, with the Intel part winning 11 of 11 recorded head-to-head tests. This analysis details where each processor can still be considered, how their architectures diverge, and what the specific benchmark numbers mean for real-world tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 3501U does not win a single head-to-head benchmark in the database. Every recorded test, from single-core integer work to multi-threaded compression, is won by the Intel Core i5-14400F. The Ryzen’s role is not about winning performance comparisons; it exists in a different performance and power class.

The Intel Core i5-14400F wins every workload category. It is the clear choice for any task that depends on raw compute throughput. The data shows it is ahead in all measured areas: data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, multi-threaded workloads, physics calculations, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. For a desktop user, this means no workload in the database gives the Ryzen an edge.

The Ryzen 5 3501U retains a purpose in the mobile segment. Its 15 W TDP and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics make it a fit for slim laptops where battery life and low heat output matter more than compute headroom. The benchmark data does not capture these mobile-specific advantages, but the specification difference is clear: a 15 W mobile processor versus a 65 W desktop processor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures, process nodes, and physical designs. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses AMD’s Picasso design, based on the Zen+ microarchitecture. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The chip contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-14400F uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. Its die size is 215 mm², though the database does not list its transistor count.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Ryzen has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads, which indicates a hybrid configuration with performance and efficiency cores, though the database lists only the total core and thread counts. This core advantage is the primary driver of the multi-threaded benchmark gap.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-14400F has 80 KB of L1 per core, a larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen is limited to DDR4. The Ryzen supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The Ryzen 5 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-14400F has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A). This makes the Intel part unsuitable for a system without a discrete GPU. The Ryzen also supports ECC memory, as does the Intel part, but the Ryzen has a dual-channel memory bus with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the Intel memory bandwidth is not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14400F dominates every recorded benchmark. The largest relative gap is in extended instructions, where Intel scores 19,937 against the Ryzen’s 3,274, a delta of -83.6%. This test covers advanced instruction set workloads such as AVX and AES, and the Intel part’s modern architecture handles these far more efficiently.

In floating-point math, the Intel part scores 61,319 versus 12,707, a -79.3% delta. This is a 4.8x advantage and reflects both the higher core count and the newer architecture. Integer math shows a similar story: Intel scores 81,524 against 26,321, a -67.7% delta. Prime number finding is also heavily Intel-favored: 86 versus 21, a -75.6% delta.

Multi-threaded workloads show the biggest absolute differences. The Passmark multi-thread test has Intel at 25,470 versus 7,071, a -72.2% delta. Data compression shows Intel at 315,521 versus 87,380, a -72.3% delta. These results are consistent with a 10-core, 16-thread processor facing a 4-core, 4-thread processor.

Single-thread performance is the closest comparison, but Intel still wins decisively. The Passmark single-thread test has Intel at 3,701 versus 2,136, a -42.3% delta. This is the smallest gap in the entire dataset, but it still shows Intel’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz against the Ryzen’s 3.70 GHz. Physics and random string sorting follow the same pattern: Intel wins with 1,523 versus 483 (-68.3%) and 32,680 versus 10,414 (-68.1%), respectively.

FAQ

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U handle any of the benchmark workloads better than the Intel Core i5-14400F?

A: No. The database records 11 head-to-head benchmarks, and the Intel Core i5-14400F wins all 11. The Ryzen does not lead in any measured test.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores between the two processors?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14,320, while the Intel Core i5-14400F has an average score of 32,279. This places the Intel part in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, compared to the Ryzen’s 69th percentile.

Q: Why does the Intel Core i5-14400F have such a large lead in multi-threaded tests?

A: The Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads, versus 4 cores and 4 threads for the Ryzen. It also has a larger 20 MB L3 cache and a higher 4.70 GHz boost clock. The thread and core count difference is the dominant factor.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3501U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-14400F has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete graphics card for display output.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U supports only DDR4 memory. The Intel Core i5-14400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a smaller performance gap to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has a nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, with an average score of 14,336, a delta of -0.1%. The Intel Core i5-14400F’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-11900, has an average score of 32,226, a delta of 0.2%. Both are closely matched to their nearest rivals.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-14400F is the far stronger processor in every recorded benchmark. It delivers a 125% higher average benchmark score (32,279 versus 14,320) and sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen sits in the 69th percentile. Any workload that benefits from multi-threading, high clock speeds, or modern instruction sets will be significantly faster on the Intel part.

The Ryzen 5 3501U is only a viable pick in a mobile or low-power context. Its 15 W TDP, integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, and compact 210 mm² die make it suitable for laptops where a discrete GPU and high power draw are not acceptable. The Intel part, with a 65 W TDP and no integrated graphics, is exclusively a desktop processor that requires a separate GPU.

For a desktop build, the Intel Core i5-14400F is the only defensible choice according to the database. It wins every head-to-head test, has a larger cache, supports faster PCIe Gen 5, and offers DDR5 memory support. The Ryzen’s sole advantages are its integrated graphics and lower power draw, which are irrelevant to a desktop user with a discrete GPU. There is no recorded benchmark where the Ryzen offers any performance benefit.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U | Intel Core i5-14400F |

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

| Cores | 4 | 10 |

| Threads | 4 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | N/A |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $196 |

The Intel Core i5-14400F also has a later release date (January 2024) compared to the Ryzen 5 3501U (May 2026 per the database record). The Ryzen is a mobile part with a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Intel part boosts to 4.70 GHz. The Intel part’s 20 MB L3 cache is five times larger than the Ryzen’s 4 MB L3. These differences combine to explain the benchmark results: more cores, more threads, a larger cache, and higher clocks all favor Intel.