AMD Ryzen 5 7400F vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data delivers a clear verdict: the Intel Core i5-14490F wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F takes only 2. The Intel part's advantages are broad, but the AMD chip counters in two specific, high-contrast workloads.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Intel Core i5-14490F leads across every single- and multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 2318 versus AMD's 2193, a 5.4% gap. The single-core R15 result shows Intel at 327 against AMD's 309, also a 5.5% difference. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20: Intel wins multicore 9660 to 9141 (5.4% ahead) and single-core 1363 to 1290 (5.4% ahead). Cinebench R23 repeats the same margin: Intel's 23000 beats AMD's 21765 in multicore, and Intel's 3247 beats AMD's 3072 in single-core, both at 5.4%. These consistent deltas indicate a steady clock-for-clock advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The PassMark tests widen the gap in several areas. The largest Intel win comes in floating point math, where Intel scores 66558 against AMD's 45799, a 31.2% lead. Integer math also favors Intel decisively: 87844 versus 74745, a 14.9% margin. Data compression shows Intel at 340026 against AMD's 289999, a 14.7% lead. Data encryption goes to Intel by 8.3% (18225 versus 16712). The multithread PassMark score shows Intel at 28662 versus AMD's 25645, a 10.5% advantage. Physics simulation favors Intel by 20.7% (2093 versus 1660). Even random string sorting, a narrow win, goes to Intel: 35608 versus 35096, just 1.4% apart. Single-thread PassMark shows Intel at 3873 versus AMD's 3689, a 4.8% edge.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F claims two victories. The first is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 21747 against Intel's 21731, a razor-thin 0.1% margin. The second is far more pronounced: in PassMark find prime numbers, AMD scores 191 versus Intel's 122, a 56.6% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it shows the Zen 4 architecture handling prime-number workloads with exceptional efficiency relative to the Intel design.

The aggregate benchmark data reinforces the Intel lead. The Intel Core i5-14490F has an average benchmark score of 38149, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F averages 32750. In percentile terms, Intel sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, AMD at the 83rd. The nearest-rival data places the Intel part alongside the Intel Core i5-13600KF (delta of 0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (delta of -0.2%), while the AMD part sits near the Intel Core i5-14600T (delta of 0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (delta of -0.2%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Raphael codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture on the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process, and it offers 10 cores and 16 threads. The core count difference is significant: Intel provides 4 more cores and 4 more threads, which directly explains many of the multi-threaded benchmark wins.

Cache configurations also differ. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's per-core cache is larger, but AMD's total L3 pool is bigger by 8 MB. The AMD processor uses a 71 mm² die with 6,570 million transistors; the Intel die is 215 mm² with no transistor count listed.

Clock speeds tell a mixed story. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel chip has a lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel part's higher boost clock contributes to its single-thread wins, while the AMD part's higher base clock does not translate into benchmark superiority. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel processor does not.

Platform support diverges sharply. AMD uses Socket AM5 with DDR5 memory only, dual-channel, and supports ECC memory. Intel uses Socket 1700 with both DDR4 and DDR5 support, dual-channel, but no ECC. PCIe lanes also differ: AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither chip includes integrated graphics. The AMD part's memory bandwidth is listed at 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel part has no listed bandwidth figure.

Production status for both is Active. The AMD processor released on 2025-01-08, while the Intel processor released on 2023-12-31. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $229; the Intel part has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14490F dominates the vast majority of workloads. Its 10-core, 16-thread configuration delivers clear advantages in multi-threaded rendering, as shown by the consistent 5.4% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. The PassMark multithread score confirms this with a 10.5% edge. For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, or any parallel compute task, the Intel part is the stronger choice based on these measurements.

The Intel chip also wins in single-thread performance. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock drives a 5.4% to 5.5% lead in Cinebench single-core tests and a 4.8% lead in PassMark single-thread. This matters for applications with heavy per-core dependencies, such as legacy software or lightly threaded games. The floating point math result, where Intel leads by 31.2%, indicates strong numerical compute for scientific or financial workloads. Data compression and encryption also favor Intel, making it the better pick for archival and security-related tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F wins in two specific areas. The first is prime number finding, where it leads by 56.6%. This is a specialized workload, but the magnitude of the win suggests the Zen 4 architecture has a particular strength in integer-heavy, branch-dependent operations. The second win is extended instructions, though the 0.1% margin is effectively a tie. For users running prime-number benchmarks or similar number-theoretic computations, the AMD part is the clear choice.

The average benchmark score difference of 38149 versus 32750 (a 16.5% gap in Intel's favor) means the Intel part is the default recommendation for mixed-use desktops. The AMD part's 83rd percentile versus Intel's 86th percentile places it slightly lower in the overall CPU hierarchy. The nearest-rival data shows the AMD part competing with the Intel Core i5-14600T (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (0.2% delta), while the Intel part competes with the Intel Core i5-13600KF (0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (-0.2% delta). This places both processors in the upper mid-range of desktop CPUs, but the Intel part sits one tier higher in absolute performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, Intel scores 23000 versus AMD's 21765, a 5.4% lead. The same margin appears in R15 (2318 versus 2193) and R20 (9660 versus 9141).

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F beats the Intel part by a large margin?

A: Yes, in PassMark find prime numbers, the AMD part scores 191 versus Intel's 122, a 56.6% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the comparison.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14490F has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has an average benchmark score of 38149, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F averages 32750. Intel also sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs versus AMD's 83rd.

The Verdict

The data points decisively to the Intel Core i5-14490F for general-purpose desktop use. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests, all major PassMark math workloads, and the multithread and physics tests. The 10-core, 16-thread configuration with a 5.00 GHz boost clock delivers a 5.4% to 31.2% advantage across most benchmarks. For users who run rendering, compression, encryption, or floating-point-heavy applications, the Intel part is the stronger choice by every recorded measurement.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is the pick only for a narrow use case. Its 56.6% lead in prime number finding is remarkable, but that workload is niche. The 0.1% win in extended instructions is statistically negligible. Outside those two tests, the AMD part trails by margins ranging from 1.4% to 31.2%. The AMD chip does offer an unlocked multiplier, which allows manual overclocking, and it supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. It also uses a smaller 71 mm² die on a 5 nm TSMC process, which may appeal to builders focused on power efficiency, though both parts carry a 65 W TDP.

For buyers who prioritize raw benchmark performance, the Intel Core i5-14490F is the clear winner. For users who need ECC memory support or plan to overclock, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F has specific advantages. The Intel part's higher percentile ranking (86th versus 83rd) and higher average score (38149 versus 32750) make it the default recommendation in this comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7400F | Intel Core i5-14490F |

|----------------|-------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 71 mm² | 215 mm² |

| Transistors | 6,570 million | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2025-01-08 | 2023-12-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $229 | Not listed |

| Part Number | 100-000001845 | SRN35 |