AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 211E boosts to 4.90 GHz. The AMD chip has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz compared to the Intel's 2.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 211E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 supports DDR5 exclusively.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E scores 4006 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 18.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7400's score of 3248.

Q: Does either processor have an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core 5 211E is locked.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 211E uses Intel's 10 nm process.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 belongs to the 7000 series and uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Raphael codename. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 211E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a significantly larger die size of 257 mm². The process and transistor differences reflect fundamentally different design approaches: AMD packs six Zen 4 cores into a small, dense die, while Intel spreads ten cores across a much larger physical area.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations on the Intel part give it a structural advantage in workloads that repeatedly access a small working set, while the AMD chip's smaller cache footprint is offset by the higher base clock.

Memory support marks a major architectural split. The Ryzen 5 7400 supports only DDR5 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Core 5 211E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a rated bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s when using DDR5. The AMD chip therefore has a theoretical bandwidth advantage of 6.4 GB/s, though the Intel part's flexibility with older DDR4 memory makes it compatible with a wider range of existing platforms.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 211E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both chips support ECC memory and are currently in active production. The AMD part includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD chip was released on 2025-09-15, while the Intel chip was released on 2025-01-12, making the Intel part the earlier release by roughly eight months. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking, whereas the Intel chip is locked. The process node difference is significant: 5 nm versus 10 nm, which typically affects power efficiency and thermal density, though both parts are rated at 65 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data covers eleven PassMark tests, with the Intel Core 5 211E winning nine and the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 winning two. The largest Intel victory comes in floating point math, where the Core 5 211E scores 66,402 against the Ryzen 5 7400's 40,784, a margin of 38.6%. That is a decisive gap and indicates the Intel chip has a strong advantage in numerically intensive workloads.

Integer math follows a similar pattern. The Intel chip scores 88,117 versus 64,733 for the AMD chip, a 26.5% lead. Data compression shows the Intel part at 346,757 against 261,749, a 24.5% advantage. Data encryption favors Intel by 17.1%, with scores of 17,938 and 14,865 respectively. Single-thread performance also goes to Intel: 4,006 versus 3,248, an 18.9% lead. Random string sorting favors Intel by 9.3%, with scores of 34,308 and 31,110. Extended instructions go to Intel by 7.7%, 21,592 versus 19,924. The overall multithread score favors Intel by 8.9%, 23,833 versus 21,712.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins the remaining two tests by large margins. In find prime numbers, AMD scores 79 against Intel's 43, an 83.7% advantage. In physics, AMD scores 1,150 against Intel's 702, a 63.8% lead. These two wins are substantial but cover narrow workload types. The prime number test and physics simulation both show the AMD architecture's strength in specific algorithmic patterns, likely related to its higher base clock and Zen 4 design characteristics.

The average benchmark score in the database places the AMD chip at 42,055 versus 37,829 for the Intel chip. This is notable because it contradicts the head-to-head test totals. The AMD chip's average score is higher, yet it loses the majority of individual PassMark tests. The explanation lies in the weighting and composition of the average score metric, which includes a different mix of workloads than the head-to-head list. The AMD chip also holds a higher percentile rank at 88 versus 86 for the Intel chip, meaning it sits above a slightly larger share of all CPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 include the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS with an average score of 41,963 (0.2% lower), the Intel Core i7-14700T at 41,914 (0.3% lower), the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 41,779 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core i9-12900K at 42,335 (0.7% higher). For the Intel Core 5 211E, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 at 37,804 (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 at 37,762 (0.2% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37,904 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37,911 (0.2% higher). The AMD chip competes in a higher average-score tier than the Intel chip, despite losing most direct comparisons.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 211E uses 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.30 GHz for AMD and 4.90 GHz for Intel. Both are rated at 65 W TDP.

The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is built on Zen 4 architecture with the Raphael codename, while the Intel part uses the Bartlett Lake codename. Process nodes are 5 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The AMD die is 71 mm² with 6,570 million transistors; the Intel die is 257 mm² with no transistor count recorded.

Cache configurations differ in every tier. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support: AMD is DDR5 only, Intel is DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 76.8 GB/s for Intel. Both are dual-channel and support ECC.

PCIe lanes differ: AMD has Gen 5 with 24 lanes, Intel has Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon Graphics, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Release dates are 2025-09-15 for AMD and 2025-01-12 for Intel. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $221; the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows two processors with different strengths that do not align neatly with core counts. The Intel Core 5 211E wins nine of eleven head-to-head benchmarks, including the major productivity categories of floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, and single-thread performance. Its 10-core, 16-thread configuration with a 4.90 GHz boost clock delivers consistently higher scores across general-purpose workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins the two remaining benchmarks by enormous margins: 83.7% in find prime numbers and 63.8% in physics. It also holds a higher average benchmark score (42,055 versus 37,829) and a higher percentile rank (88 versus 86). This suggests that the AMD chip performs better in the specific mix of workloads used to compute the average score, even though it loses most direct PassMark comparisons.

The Intel chip's 18.9% lead in single-thread performance is particularly important for older software and lightly threaded applications. Its 24.5% lead in data compression and 26.5% lead in integer math make it the stronger choice for file handling and general computation. The AMD chip's wins in prime number finding and physics point to specialized mathematical or simulation workloads where its architecture excels.

The 65 W TDP on both parts means neither has a thermal advantage on paper. The AMD chip's smaller 5 nm die likely contributes to its higher average score per watt, but the data does not include direct efficiency measurements. The Intel chip's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives it broader platform compatibility, while the AMD chip's 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide more expansion bandwidth for storage and peripherals.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 211E is the clear winner in multi-threaded productivity. Its multithread score of 23,833 beats the AMD chip by 8.9%, and its floating point score of 66,402 beats AMD by 38.6%. Any workload that involves heavy math, data processing, or content creation will favor the Intel part. The 18.9% single-thread lead also makes it the better choice for everyday responsive computing and older applications that use one or two threads. Data compression and encryption tasks, where Intel leads by 24.5% and 17.1% respectively, fall firmly in its territory.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins in specialized mathematical workloads. The 83.7% margin in find prime numbers and the 63.8% margin in physics indicate that its Zen 4 architecture handles certain algorithmic patterns far more efficiently than the Intel design. The higher average benchmark score of 42,055 and the 88th percentile rank suggest that, across the broader database metric, the AMD chip performs better than its head-to-head record implies. Its 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes also make it the stronger option for systems with multiple high-speed NVMe drives or other Gen 5 expansion cards.

Platform choice is a deciding factor. The AMD chip requires DDR5 memory and an AM5 socket, while the Intel chip accepts both DDR4 and DDR5 on Socket 1700. Users upgrading an existing DDR4 system can use the Intel part without replacing memory. Users building a new system with DDR5 and wanting more PCIe lanes should consider the AMD part. The unlocked multiplier on the AMD chip also allows overclocking, which the locked Intel chip does not permit. The Intel chip carries a launch MSRP of $221, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip.