AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 and Intel Core 7 251TE are both actively produced desktop processors that land at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, yet they achieve that standing through radically different designs. The data shows a clear split: the Intel Core 7 251TE dominates the aggregate benchmark suite with 10 wins out of 11 head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 secures a single but significant victory in extended instruction throughput. The Intel part’s 24 cores and 32 threads provide a substantial multi-threaded advantage, but the AMD chip’s Zen 4 architecture delivers superior efficiency in specific workloads. The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 7 251TE is $384, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The Intel Core 7 251TE is the default choice for users prioritizing raw throughput across a broad spectrum of tasks. Its 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 5.40 GHz boost clock, produce a passmark_multithread score of 30022, which is 27.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400’s 21712. The Intel chip also wins in every single-threaded comparison, posting a passmark_single_thread score of 3568 versus 3248 for the AMD, a 9% lead. For workloads like compression, encryption, and physics simulation, the Intel part is decisively faster, as shown by its 334399 score in data compression against the AMD’s 261749, a 21.7% gap.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is the pick when extended instruction sets matter most. It wins the passmark_extended_instructions test with a score of 19924, which is 17.4% higher than the Intel’s 16974. This indicates that for specialized software leveraging AVX-512 or similar instruction paths, the AMD part offers a tangible advantage. However, outside of that niche, the AMD chip trails in every other measured category. The data suggests the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is best suited for users with specific, instruction-heavy workloads, while the Intel Core 7 251TE serves as the more versatile, high-performance generalist.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251TE wins decisively in all multi-threaded and most single-threaded scenarios. In passmark_floating_point_math, the Intel chip scores 85607 against the AMD’s 40784, a massive 52.4% lead—the largest margin in the entire comparison. Integer math follows a similar pattern: 125739 for Intel versus 64733 for AMD, a 48.5% advantage. The physics test shows Intel at 1938 versus AMD’s 1150, a 40.7% margin. Even in memory-sensitive tasks like random string sorting, Intel wins 39643 to 31110, a 21.5% edge. The encryption test is also firmly Intel’s, with 22176 points against AMD’s 14865, a 33% gap. Prime number finding shows Intel at 140 versus AMD’s 79, a 43.6% lead.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins exclusively in the passmark_extended_instructions benchmark, scoring 19924 versus Intel’s 16974. This 17.4% advantage suggests that the Zen 4 architecture’s instruction set implementation is superior for certain SIMD or cryptographic workloads. Notably, the AMD part does not win any other test, indicating that its strengths are highly focused rather than broad. For users whose software explicitly benefits from extended instructions, the AMD chip is the clear winner; for everything else, the Intel part takes the crown.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process at TSMC, packing 6,570 million transistors into a 71 mm² die. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, providing 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and it includes ECC memory support. It features PCIe Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes and integrated Radeon Graphics. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, and it uses the AMD Socket AM5.

The Intel Core 7 251TE, codenamed Bartlett Lake, uses a 10 nm process at Intel Foundry and has a 215 mm² die size. It offers 24 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of just 1.40 GHz but a much higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy is larger: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a slightly higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory and includes PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, and the multiplier is locked. It uses the Intel Socket 1700. The Intel part has a TDP of 45 watts, notably lower than the AMD’s 65 watts, despite having four times the cores.

The core count disparity is the most striking difference: 24 cores versus 6. The Intel chip’s 32 threads double the AMD’s 12 threads, which explains its dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks. However, the AMD part’s smaller core count allows for a higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs 1.40 GHz), and its 5 nm process node is more advanced than Intel’s 10 nm. The Intel chip compensates with a 5.40 GHz boost clock, which drives its single-thread wins. The cache sizes also favor Intel, with 36 MB of L3 versus 16 MB, though the AMD part’s larger per-core L2 (1 MB vs 1.25 MB per core, but fewer cores) reflects a different trade-off.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE scores 3568 in passmark_single_thread, which is 9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7400’s 3248.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the passmark_extended_instructions test with a score of 19924, which is 17.4% higher than the Intel’s 16974.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has a slightly higher 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has a locked multiplier.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has a lower TDP of 45 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core 7 251TE comes in passmark_floating_point_math, where it scores 85607 against the AMD’s 40784, a 52.4% margin. This is the single biggest delta in the comparison and highlights the Intel chip’s massive advantage in floating-point throughput. Integer math follows closely, with Intel at 125739 versus AMD’s 64733, a 48.5% lead. The prime number test shows Intel at 140 versus AMD’s 79, a 43.6% advantage, while the physics test gives Intel 1938 points against AMD’s 1150, a 40.7% margin.

The encryption benchmark is also firmly in Intel’s favor: 22176 versus 14865, a 33% gap. Multi-threaded performance shows Intel at 30022 versus AMD’s 21712, a 27.7% lead. Data compression sees Intel at 334399 against AMD’s 261749, a 21.7% advantage. Random string sorting shows Intel at 39643 versus AMD’s 31110, a 21.5% margin. Even the single-thread test, while closer, goes to Intel with 3568 versus AMD’s 3248, a 9% difference.

The sole win for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is in passmark_extended_instructions, where it scores 19924 against the Intel’s 16974. This 17.4% advantage is the only bright spot for AMD in the entire benchmark suite. The data indicates that the AMD chip’s Zen 4 architecture is particularly efficient at executing extended instruction sets, but this does not translate into wins in other categories. The Intel Core 7 251TE’s victories are consistent across memory, math, and physics workloads, making it the superior processor for general-purpose computing based on the available benchmark data.