AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS vs Intel Core i5-11400F Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS occupy different corners of the processor market: one is a desktop part built for sustained workloads, the other a mobile chip designed for efficiency in thin laptops. The benchmark data in this comparison shows a consistent pattern, but the context of each platform matters. This analysis walks through the recorded measurements, what they mean for real-world tasks, and which processor suits which use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-11400F wins every recorded benchmark against the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS. Out of 17 head-to-head tests, Intel takes all 17, with no ties. The margins, however, vary widely depending on the workload.

Starting with rendering and multi-threaded performance, Cinebench results show a substantial gap. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 1445 against AMD's 1050, a 37.6% advantage. The R20 multicore test tells a similar story: Intel scores 6022, AMD scores 4375, again a 37.6% delta. Cinebench R23 multicore follows with Intel at 14340 and AMD at 10418, a 37.6% lead for Intel. These are not marginal differences; they indicate that the Intel chip has significantly more raw multi-threaded throughput, likely due to its 6 cores and 12 threads versus AMD's 4 cores and 8 threads.

Single-core performance in Cinebench also favors Intel, though the percentage is similar. R15 singlecore shows Intel at 204 versus AMD at 148, a 37.8% delta. R20 singlecore has Intel at 850 and AMD at 617, also 37.8%. R23 singlecore shows Intel at 2024 and AMD at 1470, a 37.7% gap. This consistency across all three Cinebench versions suggests a fundamental per-thread performance advantage for Intel, not just a core-count effect.

PassMark tests reveal an interesting split. The widest margin comes from PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 51 and AMD scores 31, a 64.5% advantage. This workload stresses integer arithmetic and memory latency, and Intel's lead here is substantial. PassMark random string sorting also shows a large gap: Intel at 24124, AMD at 15294, a 57.7% delta. PassMark floating point math has Intel at 34127 and AMD at 23091, a 47.8% lead. PassMark physics shows Intel at 842 versus AMD at 574, a 46.7% margin. PassMark integer math follows with Intel at 57624 and AMD at 40174, a 43.4% advantage.

PassMark multithread performance gives Intel 16908 versus AMD's 12243, a 38.1% delta, which aligns closely with the Cinebench multicore results. PassMark extended instructions shows Intel at 14976 and AMD at 10887, a 37.6% gap. PassMark data compression has Intel at 208472 and AMD at 152168, a 37% lead.

The narrowest margin is in PassMark single-thread tests. Both PassMark single_thread and singlethread show Intel at 2981 and AMD at 2873, a 3.8% advantage for Intel. This is the only test where the two processors are close. It implies that for lightly threaded tasks, the Intel chip is only slightly faster per core, and the large multi-core gaps come primarily from having more cores and threads.

PassMark data encryption shows Intel at 10247 and AMD at 9051, a 13.2% lead, which is moderate compared to other tests.

The average benchmark score for the Intel Core i5-11400F is 17177, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS averages 16902. The Intel part sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs in the database, and the AMD part at the 70th percentile. These percentile values are close, meaning that in the broader context of all processors, both are mid-range performers, but the head-to-head data shows Intel ahead in every measured workload.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-11400F wins every head-to-head benchmark against the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS. The average benchmark score difference is small in percentage terms, but the individual test deltas are large, especially in multi-threaded workloads. Intel leads by 37.6% to 38.1% in Cinebench multicore tests and PassMark multithread, and by even larger margins in specific math and sorting tasks.

However, the verdict is not simply "Intel is better." The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-11400F is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. The database records the Intel chip as end-of-life, meaning it is no longer in production, while the AMD part is active. The AMD chip also includes integrated graphics, which the Intel F-series lacks (the "F" designation indicates no integrated graphics). If a system requires a discrete GPU anyway, this difference matters less, but for a compact laptop, the integrated Radeon 660M in the AMD chip may be essential.

Who should pick which? From a pure performance standpoint, the Intel Core i5-11400F is the clear winner. Every recorded benchmark shows it ahead, and the margins are often 30% or more. Users building a desktop with a dedicated graphics card and prioritizing CPU throughput should choose Intel without hesitation. The data shows no scenario where the AMD chip wins a single test.

But the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS makes sense for a different use case: mobile systems where power consumption and integrated graphics are priorities. The 45 W TDP, compared to Intel's 65 W, suggests lower power draw, and the integrated GPU removes the need for a separate graphics card. The database does not include battery life or thermal measurements, so those claims are qualitative, but the TDP figures themselves are recorded. For a thin laptop that needs to be portable, the AMD part is the only one of the two that fits, since the Intel chip is a desktop Socket 1200 part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400F wins every benchmark category, but the magnitude of each win suggests different strengths.

The largest wins are in integer arithmetic and prime number finding. The 64.5% lead in PassMark find prime numbers and the 43.4% lead in PassMark integer math indicate that the Intel chip excels at calculation-heavy tasks like scientific computing, financial modeling, or any workload that involves heavy integer operations. The 47.8% lead in floating point math also points to strength in numerical simulations and physics calculations.

The 57.7% lead in PassMark random string sorting suggests Intel handles data manipulation and sorting tasks much faster, which could benefit database operations, text processing, or any application that frequently rearranges large datasets.

For rendering and content creation, the Cinebench results show a consistent 37.6% to 37.8% lead across all versions. This translates to faster 3D rendering, video encoding, and other multi-threaded creative workloads. The PassMark multithread test confirms this with a 38.1% advantage.

The narrowest win, at 3.8%, is in single-thread performance. This means that for everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, or light productivity, the two processors are nearly identical. The Intel chip is slightly faster per core, but the difference is small enough that most users would not notice it in casual use.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS does not win any benchmark, but it has qualitative advantages that are not captured in CPU performance tests. It includes integrated graphics, which the Intel F-series does not. It has a lower TDP at 45 W versus 65 W, suggesting better efficiency. It supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. It supports DDR5 memory, while Intel only supports DDR4. These features are not reflected in the CPU benchmark scores, but they are relevant for specific system designs.

For a desktop workstation where maximum CPU throughput is the goal and a discrete GPU is already present, the Intel chip wins on every measured axis. For a mobile laptop where integrated graphics, power efficiency, and modern memory support are priorities, the AMD chip offers features the Intel part cannot match, even though it loses every CPU benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F scores 14340 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS scores 10418. Intel leads by 37.6%.

Q: How close are the two in single-thread performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Intel chip scores 2981 and the AMD chip scores 2873, a 3.8% difference. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 2024 and AMD scores 1470, a 37.7% gap. The PassMark result shows they are close, but the Cinebench result shows a larger difference.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the database lists the AMD chip with integrated graphics as "Radeon 660M." The Intel Core i5-11400F has no integrated graphics listed, consistent with the "F" designation.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS supports DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core i5-11400F supports DDR4. The AMD chip also has a higher memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s compared to Intel's 51.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has a TDP of 65 W, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has a TDP of 45 W. The AMD chip is rated for lower power consumption.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11400F uses Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The die size is 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS uses Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt-R, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 210 mm². The smaller process node suggests better transistor density and potentially better power efficiency, though the recorded TDP difference supports that, with AMD at 45 W and Intel at 65 W.

Cache layouts differ as well. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel has a larger L3 cache total, which can help with workloads that reuse data across cores.

Memory support is a major architectural split. Intel supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. AMD supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not. This makes the AMD part more suitable for error-sensitive workloads like data servers or scientific computing, though it is a mobile chip.

Both processors support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, according to the database. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not officially supported for either.

The integrated graphics situation is a clear difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS includes a Radeon 660M GPU, while the Intel Core i5-11400F has no integrated graphics. This is a defining feature for the AMD chip in mobile systems where a discrete GPU may not be present.

The manufacturing process is also distinct: Intel uses a 14 nm node, while AMD uses a 6 nm node from TSMC. The smaller node typically allows for lower power consumption and higher transistor density, which aligns with the AMD chip's lower TDP.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights the key specification differences between the two processors.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11400F | AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon 660M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Launch MSRP | $157 | Not listed |

The Intel chip has more cores and threads, a higher boost clock, and a larger L3 cache. The AMD chip has a higher base clock, lower TDP, smaller process node, newer memory standard, ECC support, and integrated graphics. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active. The Intel chip carries a launch MSRP of $157, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip. The Intel chip uses a desktop socket, and the AMD chip uses a mobile socket, so they are not interchangeable in a system.