AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T are both 65-watt desktop processors, but the benchmark data reveals two distinctly different performance profiles. The Intel part secures the majority of the wins, taking 8 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD chip claims 3 victories. A closer look at the margins shows that the Core Ultra 5 225T often wins by wide margins, while the Ryzen 5 7400's wins are comparatively narrow.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T appears in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test. The Intel chip scores 284, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 79, a delta of -72.2%, meaning the Intel processor is more than three and a half times faster in this specific workload. This is the most lopsided result in the entire comparison.

The Intel processor also shows a commanding lead in passmark_floating_point_math. It scores 82751 against 40784 for the AMD chip, a difference of -50.7%. This is nearly a two-fold advantage in raw floating-point throughput. Similarly, in the passmark_physics test, the Intel part scores 2053 versus 1150, a delta of -44%, indicating a substantial lead in this simulation-style workload.

Single-thread performance clearly favors Intel. In both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 4348 against 3248 for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400, a consistent delta of -25.3%. This is a significant edge for applications that rely on a single core. The Intel chip also wins the passmark_multithread test, scoring 25358 versus 21712, a delta of -14.4%, showing that its higher core count translates into a lead in parallel workloads as well. In passmark_data_encryption, Intel scores 18289 versus 14865, a delta of -18.7%, and in passmark_extended_instructions, Intel scores 20083 versus 19924, a narrow delta of -0.8%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins its three benchmarks with smaller margins. Its largest win is in passmark_data_compression, scoring 261749 against 233998, a delta of 11.9%. This is the only AMD victory that exceeds a 10% margin. In passmark_integer_math, the AMD chip scores 64733 versus 59543, a delta of 8.7%. In passmark_random_string_sorting, AMD scores 31110 versus 28774, a delta of 8.1%.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is clear from the data. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T dominates in computational throughput and integer-heavy tasks like prime number finding. Its massive lead in floating-point math and physics simulations points to a strong showing in scientific computing, engineering simulations, and any task that involves heavy mathematical calculations. The single-thread performance advantage also makes it the stronger choice for applications that are not well-optimized for multiple cores, such as older games or legacy software.

The Intel processor's lead in data encryption indicates better performance in security-related workloads. Its multithread score, despite having fewer threads, suggests that its architecture is more efficient at extracting performance from parallel tasks. The Intel chip’s wins in extended instructions also suggest a broader set of execution capabilities.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400, conversely, shows its strengths in data compression and string sorting. These tasks often benefit from large caches and efficient memory access patterns. The 11.9% lead in data compression is a notable, if isolated, victory. Its win in integer math, while only 8.7%, shows that it holds its own in general-purpose arithmetic operations. The AMD chip is the better choice for workloads focused on data storage, file archiving, and text processing.

The data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is a more versatile processor for mixed workloads due to its broad lead in multiple benchmark categories. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 appears specialized for memory-latency-sensitive tasks, but the recorded scores show it is less competitive in most other areas.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, codenamed Arrow Lake-S. The AMD chip is manufactured on a 5 nm process node, while the Intel chip is on a 3 nm process. Both use TSMC as the foundry.

The transistor counts differ significantly. The AMD chip has 6,570 million transistors on a die size of 71 mm². The Intel chip has 17,800 million transistors on a die size of 243 mm². This difference in scale reflects the more complex design of the Intel processor, which includes a heterogeneous core layout.

Cache configurations also vary. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has more cache at every level, which likely contributes to its performance advantages in several tests.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip has 102.4 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR5 memory. The Intel processor also comes with Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU as its integrated graphics, whereas the AMD chip has Radeon Graphics.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts present an interesting contrast. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads, utilizing simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, with no multithreading. Despite having fewer threads, the Intel part wins the multithread benchmark, indicating its cores are more powerful individually.

Clock speeds differ notably. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel chip has a lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but a much higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This higher boost clock likely explains the Intel chip’s significant single-thread performance lead.

Both processors have a TDP of 65 watts, but their sockets are different: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. The AMD chip has PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while the Intel chip has PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T does not.

The AMD chip has a release date of 2025-09-15, while the Intel chip was released on 2024-12-31. The AMD part number is 100-000001900, while the Intel part number is listed as unknown.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The AMD chip has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for the Intel chip.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has more cache at every level: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is faster. It scores 4348 in the passmark_single_thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 3248, a delta of -25.3%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T does not.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T as the stronger overall performer. It wins 8 of 11 benchmarks, including all of the most computationally demanding ones. Its 25.3% lead in single-thread performance makes it the clear choice for applications that depend on a single core. Its 50.7% lead in floating-point math and 44% lead in physics simulations make it the better option for scientific and engineering workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is competitive in specific areas. Its 11.9% lead in data compression and 8.7% lead in integer math show that it can outperform the Intel chip in certain data-processing tasks. Its support for ECC memory and unlocked multiplier are also differentiating features, but they do not translate into benchmark wins.

Users who prioritize raw computational performance, single-thread speed, and broad workload coverage should select the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T. Users who specifically require ECC memory support, need an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, or primarily work with data compression and string sorting workloads might find the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 sufficient. The recorded data, however, consistently favors the Intel chip in most performance-critical scenarios. The Intel processor's higher boost clock, larger cache, and higher memory bandwidth appear to be decisive factors in its favor.