AMD Ryzen 5 40 vs Intel Core i5-1235U Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 40 compare to the Intel Core i5-1235U in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U posts an average benchmark score of 16,770, which is about 5.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 40's 15,882. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U wins 14 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 wins only one test, Cinebench R15 single-core, with a score of 165.5 versus Intel's 138, a margin of 19.9%.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel chip scores 954 versus AMD's 20, a delta of -97.9% favoring Intel. This is an extreme outlier in the dataset.

Q: Are both processors built on the same manufacturing process?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 uses a 6 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core i5-1235U uses Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip also has a smaller die size at 100 mm², while Intel's die size is not recorded.

Q: Do both chips support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 supports LPDDR5 memory only, with a recorded bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-1235U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but its memory bandwidth is not listed in the database.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 40's 4 cores and 8 threads. Both are mobile processors with a 15 W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two mobile processors is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 is built on Zen 2 architecture under the codename Mendocino, fabricated on a 6 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i5-1235U uses Alder Lake architecture under the codename Alder Lake-U, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. These are fundamentally different design philosophies: AMD opts for a smaller, denser process, while Intel's hybrid architecture relies on a mix of performance and efficiency cores.

Core counts differ dramatically. The AMD chip offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel chip provides 10 cores and 12 threads. This difference in core count explains much of the multi-threaded performance gap observed in benchmarks. The Intel processor also has a much larger L3 cache at 12 MB shared, versus AMD's 4 MB shared. Per-core L2 cache is also larger on Intel at 1.25 MB per core, compared to AMD's 512 KB per core. L1 cache is 80 KB per core on Intel versus 64 KB per core on AMD.

The base clock values are recorded quite differently: AMD lists a 2.80 GHz base clock, while Intel lists 1300.00 MHz, which likely reflects the efficiency core base frequency in the hybrid design. Boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 4.30 GHz and Intel at 4.40 GHz. Both processors have a 15 W TDP and are not multiplier-unlocked.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 supports LPDDR5 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-1235U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, but its bandwidth is unrecorded. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ too. AMD pairs the Ryzen 5 40 with Radeon 610M graphics, while Intel uses Iris Xe 80EU. Both are mobile parts with active production status, but the AMD chip carries a release date of September 2025, while the Intel chip was released in February 2022. The AMD part's part number is unknown; Intel's is SRLFR.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a clear picture of Intel dominance across most workloads, but the single AMD victory is notable. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 40 scores 165.5 against Intel's 138, a 19.9% advantage. This suggests that AMD's Zen 2 core design, at least in this specific test, delivers better per-thread performance than Intel's hybrid setup.

However, the multi-core tests tell a different story. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows Intel at 985 versus AMD at 790, a 19.8% deficit for AMD. The gap widens considerably in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 9,774 and AMD manages only 4,841, a 50.5% difference. This is the second-largest margin in the dataset and reflects the core count disparity. Even in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads with 1,379 versus AMD's 1,150, a 16.6% margin, reversing the R15 single-core result.

PassMark tests show consistent Intel advantages. In integer math, Intel scores 48,553 versus AMD's 31,598, a 34.9% lead. Floating-point math shows an even larger gap: Intel at 43,303 and AMD at 15,194, a 64.9% difference. Data encryption favors Intel at 9,347 versus 6,646, a 28.9% gap. Extended instructions show Intel at 8,176 versus 6,437, a 21.3% lead. Data compression is closer, with Intel at 147,450 and AMD at 141,533, a modest 4% difference.

The PassMark multi-thread test has Intel at 12,923 versus AMD's 9,341, a 27.7% margin. Physics performance shows Intel at 686 versus AMD's 432, a 37% gap. Random string sorting favors Intel at 17,050 versus 15,124, an 11.3% lead. Single-thread PassMark results give Intel 3,151 versus AMD's 2,477, a 21.4% advantage.

The outlier remains find prime numbers, where Intel scores 954 and AMD scores just 20, a 97.9% difference. This test appears to heavily favor Intel's architecture, though the magnitude is unusual. Across all 15 head-to-head tests, Intel wins 14, with only the R15 single-core test going AMD's way.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-1235U is the stronger processor for essentially all measured workloads except one. The 10-core, 12-thread configuration provides a massive multi-threaded advantage, most visible in Cinebench R23 multi-core where Intel doubles AMD's score. The 50.5% margin there is decisive. For users running rendering, compilation, or any parallel workload, the Intel chip is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 does win Cinebench R15 single-core by 19.9%, which could indicate better legacy single-thread performance in that specific test. However, the newer Cinebench R23 single-core test favors Intel by 16.6%, and PassMark single-thread also favors Intel by 21.4%. So the R15 result appears isolated rather than a general pattern.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall hierarchy: Intel at 16,770 versus AMD at 15,882, a 5.6% difference. Both sit at the 70th percentile, meaning they are comparable in the broader CPU landscape, but the Intel chip consistently edges ahead in nearly every recorded test. The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce this: Intel's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U at 16,827, while AMD's closest is the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U at 15,910.

For buyers prioritizing raw performance across a wide range of tasks, the Intel Core i5-1235U is the data-backed recommendation. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 could be considered for scenarios where its specific single-core R15 advantage matters, but the evidence suggests that advantage does not generalize.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. Core counts are 4 versus 10, threads are 8 versus 12. Base clocks are recorded as 2.80 GHz for AMD and 1300.00 MHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. The AMD chip uses Zen 2 architecture on a 6 nm TSMC process, while Intel uses Alder Lake on a 10 nm Intel process.

Cache configurations differ significantly: L1 is 64 KB per core on AMD versus 80 KB per core on Intel, L2 is 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 4 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. Memory support is LPDDR5 only for AMD, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded only for AMD at 88.0 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 3 with 4 lanes for AMD, Gen 4 with 20 lanes for Intel.

Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on AMD and Iris Xe 80EU on Intel. Sockets differ: AMD Socket FT6 versus Intel BGA 1744. Release dates are September 2025 for AMD and February 2022 for Intel. Part numbers are unknown for AMD and SRLFR for Intel. Both are mobile parts with 15 W TDP, no ECC support, no unlocked multiplier, and active production status.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1235U wins in every recorded category except one. Its multi-core dominance is overwhelming, with Cinebench R23 multi-core showing a 50.5% advantage and PassMark multi-thread showing 27.7%. The floating-point math gap of 64.9% indicates strong SIMD and FPU performance. Integer math is also 34.9% ahead. Data encryption, extended instructions, physics, and random string sorting all favor Intel by margins ranging from 11.3% to 37%. Even single-thread performance, outside the R15 anomaly, favors Intel by 16.6% in R23 and 21.4% in PassMark.

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 has exactly one recorded win: Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 19.9%. This could be relevant for legacy software that relies on older single-thread benchmarks, but the newer R23 single-core result contradicts it. The AMD chip also has a smaller die at 100 mm², which could imply different thermal characteristics, though the 15 W TDP is identical for both.

For workloads involving compression, the gap narrows to just 4% in Intel's favor, suggesting the AMD chip is competitive in that specific area. Data compression is the closest benchmark overall. Users who prioritize that workload might find the AMD chip acceptable, but the broader pattern is unambiguous: Intel wins 14 of 15 tests, often by double-digit margins. The Ryzen 5 40 is a capable mobile processor, but the recorded data positions the Core i5-1235U as the superior performer across nearly all measured scenarios.