AMD Ryzen 5 7400F vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H represent two distinct approaches to processing, one a desktop part and the other a mobile part. The benchmark data from the database reveals a clear split in performance characteristics, with the Intel chip dominating the majority of measured tests, while the AMD chip secures notable victories in the Cinebench R23 suite. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F winning the remaining 2.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant win for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H comes in the PassMark floating point math test, where it scores 112,550 against the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F's 45,799. This represents a delta of -59.3%, meaning the Intel chip is 59.3% ahead in this workload. This is the largest performance gap recorded in either direction across the entire benchmark suite.

The Intel chip also shows a commanding lead in the PassMark physics test, scoring 3,226 versus 1,660 for the AMD part, a delta of -48.5%. The passmark_find_prime_numbers test similarly favors Intel, with a score of 358 against AMD's 191, a delta of -46.6%. These results indicate a substantial advantage for the Intel processor in compute-intensive tasks that rely heavily on parallel processing capabilities.

In the Cinebench R20 tests, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H extends its lead. The multicore test shows Intel scoring 13,101 against AMD's 9,141, a delta of -30.2%. The singlecore test in Cinebench R20 also shows Intel ahead by the same margin, with scores of 1,849 and 1,290 respectively. The Cinebench R15 multicore test reveals a smaller but still significant Intel advantage, with scores of 2,955 and 2,193, a delta of -25.8%.

The PassMark multithread test shows the Intel chip scoring 36,811 versus 25,645 for the AMD chip, a delta of -30.3%. The PassMark data encryption test shows Intel at 28,490 against AMD's 16,712, a delta of -41.3%. The extended instructions test favors Intel at 29,943 versus 21,747, a delta of -27.4%. The random string sorting test shows Intel at 44,010 and AMD at 35,096, a delta of -20.3%. The data compression test shows Intel at 361,763 and AMD at 289,999, a delta of -19.8%. The integer math test shows Intel at 90,882 and AMD at 74,745, a delta of -17.8%. The single thread tests, both listed as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, show Intel at 4,280 and AMD at 3,689, a delta of -13.8%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F secures its victories in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. In the multicore test, AMD scores 21,765 against Intel's 18,911, a delta of 15.1% in favor of AMD. The singlecore test in Cinebench R23 shows an even more pronounced AMD advantage, with scores of 3,072 and 2,200.5 respectively, a delta of 39.6%. The Cinebench R15 singlecore test is nearly a tie, with Intel winning by the narrowest of margins, 309.5 to 309, a delta of -0.2%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H demonstrates a broad and consistent advantage across most of the PassMark suite, indicating strength in a wide range of computational tasks. Its wins in floating point math, physics, and prime number finding suggest a strong capability in scientific and engineering workloads that involve heavy mathematical computation. The data compression and encryption wins point to proficiency in data handling and security-related tasks. The extended instructions result indicates strong support for advanced instruction sets.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F, while losing most tests, shows a definitive edge in the Cinebench R23 rendering workloads. The 39.6% lead in singlecore performance and the 15.1% lead in multicore performance within that specific benchmark suite are its two most notable achievements. These wins suggest that the AMD processor has a particular strength in the rendering engine used by Cinebench R23, which may not translate directly to other application types. The nearly identical scores in the Cinebench R15 singlecore test, 309 for AMD and 309.5 for Intel, indicate that in this older test, the two processors perform essentially at parity.

The overall average benchmark score for the Intel chip is 44,466, compared to 32,750 for the AMD chip. This places the Intel part at the 88th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD part sits at the 83rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with an average score of 44,573 and a delta of -0.2%, the Intel Core i9-13950HX with 44,342 and a delta of 0.3%, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 with 44,309 and a delta of 0.4%, and the Intel Core i5-13600 with 44,240 and a delta of 0.5%. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T with an average score of 32,707 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with 32,697 and a delta of 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H with 32,812 and a delta of -0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 with 32,662 and a delta of 0.3%.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is the more powerful processor in the majority of recorded benchmarks. With 15 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons and a higher average benchmark score of 44,466 against 32,750, the Intel chip demonstrates a superior overall performance profile. Its wins span across various test categories, including data encryption, floating point math, and physics, making it a strong choice for users who require high throughput in diverse computational tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F, while having fewer wins, shows a specific and significant advantage in the Cinebench R23 benchmarks. The 39.6% lead in singlecore and 15.1% lead in multicore within that suite are substantial margins that should not be overlooked. For workloads that are specifically aligned with what Cinebench R23 measures, the AMD chip is clearly the better performer.

The choice between the two processors depends entirely on the targeted application. The Intel chip is the better all-around performer based on the database's measurements, offering higher scores in the majority of tests. The AMD chip is the better option for tasks that mirror the Cinebench R23 workload, where it delivers a remarkable singlecore performance advantage. The Intel chip's higher percentile rank of 88 versus the AMD's 83 further confirms its broader appeal within the database's collection of tested CPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has a higher average benchmark score of 44,466, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F's 32,750.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark floating point math test, where the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H leads the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F by 59.3%, with scores of 112,550 and 45,799 respectively.

Q: In which benchmarks does the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F wins in the Cinebench R23 multicore test with a score of 21,765 against 18,911, and in the Cinebench R23 singlecore test with a score of 3,072 against 2,200.5.

Q: What is the difference in their percentile rankings?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is at the 83rd percentile.

Q: How do the processors compare in the Cinebench R15 singlecore test?

A: The results are nearly identical, with the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scoring 309.5 and the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F scoring 309, a difference of 0.2%.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H?

A: The nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with an average score of 44,573, the Intel Core i9-13950HX with 44,342, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 with 44,309, and the Intel Core i5-13600 with 44,240.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a desktop processor from the 7000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture with the codename Raphael. It uses a 5 nm process from TSMC and has a die size of 71 mm² with 6,570 million transistors. The processor features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It has a TDP of 65 watts and uses the AMD Socket AM5. The cache structure includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s and supports ECC memory. The CPU provides 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and has no integrated graphics. The multiplier is unlocked, and it was released on 2025-01-08 with a launch MSRP of $229.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a mobile processor from the Core Ultra Series 3, built on the Panther Lake architecture. It uses a 3 nm process from Intel. This processor has 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The TDP is 25 watts and it uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket. The cache includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration with a higher memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s and does not support ECC memory. The CPU provides 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and includes integrated Arc B390 graphics. The multiplier is locked. It was released on 2026-01-04.

The architectural differences are significant. The Intel chip has more cores, 16 versus 6, but the same number of threads as the AMD chip has, 16 versus 12, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, but a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The Intel chip has a much lower TDP of 25 watts versus 65 watts, reflecting its mobile design. The memory bandwidth of the Intel chip is substantially higher at 153.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s. The Intel chip also has a larger L1 and L2 cache per core, but a smaller shared L3 cache at 18 MB versus 32 MB. The AMD chip has a much larger number of PCIe lanes at 24 versus 4, and it includes ECC support, which the Intel chip lacks. The AMD chip features an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. The process nodes also differ, with Intel using a newer 3 nm process compared to AMD's 5 nm.