AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 and Intel Core 3 201E are both active desktop processors, but the recorded benchmark data shows they serve distinctly different performance profiles. The Ryzen 5 7400, a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 part on AMD Socket AM5, dominates the majority of the PassMark test suite, winning 9 of the 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 3 201E, a 4-core, 8-thread Bartlett Lake part on Intel Socket 1700, claims victory in the single-threaded tests. This split creates a clear delineation: the AMD processor is the multi-threaded workhorse, while the Intel processor holds a narrow but real advantage in single-thread responsiveness.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 7400 is the overwhelming winner in throughput-oriented workloads. Its advantages range from a marginal 0.8% lead in the physics test to a commanding 80.6% lead in extended instructions. The largest margins appear in data compression (59.4%), random string sorting (74.9%), and extended instructions (80.6%), which are all tasks that scale well with additional cores and threads. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration, paired with 16 MB of shared L3 cache, delivers a 46.3% lead in the multithread benchmark, a result consistent with its performance in integer math (47.5% ahead) and data encryption (66.4% ahead). The Ryzen 5 7400 also holds a 38.6% advantage in the find prime numbers test and a 22.6% lead in floating point math.

The Intel Core 3 201E wins only the single-thread tests, scoring 3482 compared to 3248 for the AMD part, a margin of 6.7%. Its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.30 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7400 likely contributes to this result. The Intel part also edges out the AMD processor in the physics test by a negligible 0.8% (1141 versus 1150), though this is within the margin of measurement noise and does not represent a meaningful performance advantage.

The percentile rankings reinforce this split. The Ryzen 5 7400 sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Core 3 201E sits at the 73rd percentile. The average benchmark scores, 42055 for the AMD part and 19056 for the Intel part, show a substantial overall performance gap favoring the Ryzen 5 7400.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E scores 3482 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 6.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7400's score of 3248.

Q: How large is the multithreaded performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 21712 in the PassMark multithread test, compared to 14839 for the Intel Core 3 201E, giving the AMD part a 46.3% advantage.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the extended instructions test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 19924 versus 11035 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a difference of 80.6%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 261749 in data compression, while the Intel Core 3 201E scores 164160, resulting in a 59.4% lead for the AMD part.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 and the Intel Core 3 201E support ECC memory.

Q: What are the processor socket requirements?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern of AMD dominance across compute-intensive tasks. In data compression, the Ryzen 5 7400 scores 261749 against 164160 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a 59.4% margin. The encryption test shows a 66.4% advantage (14865 versus 8931), and the extended instructions test shows the largest gap at 80.6% (19924 versus 11035). The find prime numbers test yields a 38.6% lead (79 versus 57), while floating point math shows a 22.6% advantage (40784 versus 33260). Integer math follows with a 47.5% margin (64733 versus 43894).

The multithread benchmark, which is often the best single indicator of overall processor throughput, shows the Ryzen 5 7400 at 21712 and the Intel Core 3 201E at 14839, a 46.3% difference. Random string sorting shows a 74.9% gap (31110 versus 17783), and the physics test shows the closest result: 1150 versus 1141, a 0.8% margin in favor of the AMD part.

The only wins for the Intel Core 3 201E come in the single-thread tests. Both the PassMark single_thread and singlethread entries report identical scores: 3482 for the Intel part and 3248 for the AMD part, a 6.7% difference. This is the only area where the Intel processor demonstrates a measurable advantage, and it is relatively narrow compared to the multi-threaded margins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz compared to 3.30 GHz on the AMD part, and a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. The thermal design power is similar: 65 W for the AMD part and 60 W for the Intel part.

Memory support differs notably. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 supports only DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s compared to 76.8 GB/s for the Intel part. Both processors support ECC memory.

Cache configurations also differ. The AMD part uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has a smaller die size of 71 mm² versus 163 mm² for the Intel part, despite having more cores and threads.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 provides 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 3 201E provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, whereas the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD part does not have a recorded launch MSRP, while the Intel Core 3 201E has a launch MSRP of $134.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is built on Zen 4 architecture with the codename Raphael, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 6,570 million transistors. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, with no transistor count recorded in the database. The Intel part has a die size of 163 mm², over twice the 71 mm² die size of the AMD part.

The generation labels reflect the different lineages: the AMD part is listed as Ryzen 5 (Zen 4, Raphael), while the Intel part is listed as Core 3 (Bartlett Lake). The AMD processor belongs to the 7000 series, while the Intel processor has no series designation recorded.

The socket and platform requirements differ completely, with the AMD part on AM5 and the Intel part on LGA 1700. The AMD part has a release date of September 15, 2025, while the Intel part has a release date of January 12, 2025, making the Intel part the earlier release. Both are listed as active production parts.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins 9 of the 11 recorded benchmarks, with margins ranging from 0.8% in physics to 80.6% in extended instructions. Its average benchmark score of 42055 places it at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i9-12900K (0.7% lower) and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS (0.2% higher). This places the Ryzen 5 7400 in a performance class well above the Intel Core 3 201E, whose average score of 19056 puts it at the 73rd percentile, near the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core i5-12400F.

The Intel Core 3 201E is not without merit. Its 6.7% single-thread advantage and higher boost clock make it competitive for lightly threaded tasks, and its lower TDP of 60 W, dual memory support (DDR4 and DDR5), and lower launch MSRP of $134 are notable attributes. However, the benchmark data shows that in any workload that can utilize more than one or two threads, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 delivers substantially higher performance. The 46.3% multithread lead, the 59.4% compression lead, and the 74.9% sorting lead are all decisive margins.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For users whose primary workloads are single-threaded and who value the lower power envelope and memory flexibility of the Intel platform, the Intel Core 3 201E offers a viable alternative, but the overall performance profile strongly favors the AMD part. The database records the Ryzen 5 7400 as the higher-performing processor in nearly every measurable category.