AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 and Intel Core 5 320 are two very different processors, and the benchmark data reflects that clearly. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins 6 of the 11 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 320 wins 5. However, the magnitude of those wins is not evenly distributed. The AMD chip delivers massive victories in multi-threaded and integer-heavy workloads, while the Intel chip counters with a smaller, but consistent, set of wins in single-threaded and specialized math tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is the dominant force in multi-threaded and data-heavy workloads. Its most significant victories come in integer math (100.3% ahead), data compression (75.9% ahead), and random string sorting (72.5% ahead). It also decisively wins the multithread test (40.5% ahead) and shows strong performance in extended instructions (50.2% ahead) and data encryption (35.3% ahead). This pattern points to a processor that excels when handling parallel workloads, large datasets, and complex calculations that can utilize its 12 threads.

The Intel Core 5 320, conversely, establishes its wins in areas that favor higher clock speeds and efficient single-core execution. Its largest victory is in find prime numbers (28.2% ahead), followed by single-thread performance (19.7% ahead). It also edges out the AMD chip in physics (5.8% ahead) and floating-point math (3.9% ahead). These results indicate a processor that is very capable in scenarios that rely on rapid, sequential processing and are less dependent on thread count.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear split in use cases. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is the choice for compute-heavy, parallel tasks. The benchmark results show it is vastly superior in integer math, data compression, and sorting, making it suited for productivity workloads like code compilation, data analysis, and content creation that can leverage multiple cores and threads. Its average benchmark score of 42055 places it at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, and it sits alongside the Intel Core i9-12900K, which it trails by only 0.7% in average score.

The Intel Core 5 320 is the choice for single-threaded responsiveness and low-power mobile use. Its wins in single-thread performance and prime number finding, combined with its very low 15 W TDP, indicate a processor designed for tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light content consumption in a mobile form factor. Its average benchmark score of 18023 places it at the 72nd percentile, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT, sit within 0.7% of its average score. The choice comes down to whether the workload is parallel or sequential, and whether the platform is a desktop or a mobile device.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic disparity in the data is in the integer math test. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 64733, which is 100.3% higher than the Intel Core 5 320's score of 32323. This effectively doubles the AMD chip's performance in this specific metric.

Data compression shows a similar, though less extreme, pattern. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 261749, a 75.9% advantage over the Intel Core 5 320's 148779. Random string sorting follows, with the AMD chip scoring 31110 versus 18038, a 72.5% lead.

In extended instructions, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 19924, which is 50.2% higher than the Intel Core 5 320's 13262. The multithread test also shows a clear AMD victory, with a score of 21712 compared to 15450, a 40.5% difference.

The Intel Core 5 320's most notable win is in the find prime numbers test, scoring 110 against the AMD chip's 79, a 28.2% advantage. In the single-thread test, the Intel chip scores 4045 versus the AMD chip's 3248, a 19.7% lead.

The remaining wins for the Intel Core 5 320 are narrower. In physics, it scores 1221 against 1150, a 5.8% margin. In floating-point math, it scores 42440 against 40784, a 3.9% margin. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 also wins data encryption with a score of 14865 versus 10984, a 35.3% difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 320, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4045, is 19.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400's score of 3248.

Q: Which processor has the higher multithread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400, with a Passmark multithread score of 21712, is 40.5% ahead of the Intel Core 5 320's score of 15450.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: Both processors have 6 cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 320 has 6 threads.

Q: How do the processors compare in data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is significantly faster, scoring 261749 in the data compression test, a 75.9% advantage over the Intel Core 5 320's score of 148779.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7400's boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: What is the performance difference in floating-point math?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 has a slight edge, scoring 42440 in floating-point math, which is 3.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7400's score of 40784.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is a desktop processor from the 7000 series, using the Zen 4 architecture and the Raphael codename. It is manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC and has a transistor count of 6,570 million on a 71 mm² die. It uses AMD Socket AM5 and is part of the Ryzen 5 generation. The design includes a 16 MB shared L3 cache, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

The Intel Core 5 320 is a mobile processor from the Core 5 generation, using the Wildcat Lake codename. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process at Intel and uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket. Its cache hierarchy is notably different: it has a 192 KB L1 cache, a 2.5 MB L2 cache, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has double the threads (12 vs. 6) and a larger shared L3 cache (16 MB vs. 6 MB). The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not.

Specification Differences

The recorded data shows several key specification differences between the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 and the Intel Core 5 320. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Intel chip has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is drastically different: the AMD chip is rated at 65 W, while the Intel chip is rated at 15 W.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 320 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, but over a single-channel bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The AMD chip features PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel chip is locked. The AMD chip is listed with a release date of 2025-09-15, while the Intel chip has a release date of 2026-04-15. The Intel Core 5 320 has a launch MSRP of $340; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400.