AMD Ryzen 5 8400F vs Intel Core i7-11700KF Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a mixed picture, with each processor claiming a distinct set of victories. The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 11 benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F takes 12. The most dramatic result is in the 3dmark_16_threads test, where the Intel part scores 8067 against 6091, a 32.4% advantage. The 3dmark_max_threads test shows a similar pattern, with Intel leading 8049 to 6165, a 30.6% gap. These are the largest margins recorded in either direction.

The Intel processor also demonstrates a clear edge in the 8-thread 3dmark test, winning 6294 to 5275, a 19.3% difference. In lower-thread-count 3dmark tests, the margins narrow considerably. The 2-thread test goes to Intel by a slim 1.9% (1909 versus 1874), and the 4-thread test also favors Intel, 3645 to 3563, a 2.3% edge. Even the single-thread 3dmark test goes to Intel, 978 to 951, a 2.8% difference.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, however, claims all of the Cinebench victories. In cinebench_r15_multicore, it scores 2101 against 2037, a 3% lead. The single-core r15 test also goes to AMD, 296 to 287, again a 3% margin. The r20 suite shows a 3.1% advantage for AMD in both multicore (8757 versus 8489) and singlecore (1236 versus 1198). The r23 results mirror this pattern: AMD wins multicore 20851 to 20214 and singlecore 2943 to 2853, both by 3.1%.

The Passmark suite reveals a split that does not align with core count. The Intel chip wins data compression by 10.3% (317712 versus 288158), floating point math by 9.4% (50571 versus 46217), and integer math by 15.3% (85377 versus 74021). It also edges out AMD in extended instructions, 22247 to 22175, a 0.3% margin, and random string sorting, 36309 to 34604, a 4.9% gap. AMD takes the Passmark multithread test, 24389 to 23819, a 2.3% win, and the physics test by a substantial 26.1% (1332 versus 985). AMD also wins the Passmark single-thread test, 3685 to 3368, an 8.6% margin. In data encryption, AMD leads 16646 to 15229, an 8.5% difference. The find prime numbers test is the most lopsided AMD victory: 89 versus 62, a 30.3% margin.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the stronger choice for workloads that scale with high thread counts and heavy parallel math. The 3dmark 16-thread and max-thread results, with leads of 32.4% and 30.6%, point to a decisive advantage in synthetic multithreaded rendering tasks. The Passmark integer math result, a 15.3% lead, and floating point math, a 9.4% lead, reinforce this interpretation. Data compression also favors Intel, with a 10.3% advantage, suggesting an edge in archiving and file-handling tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, despite having fewer cores and threads, wins the Cinebench suites consistently. The 3.1% advantage in both r23 multicore and singlecore, along with similar margins in r15 and r20, shows that AMD's per-core efficiency translates into real-world wins in rendering workloads. The physics test result, a 26.1% lead, and the prime number finding result, a 30.3% lead, indicate that AMD is particularly strong in computational and scientific workloads. The Passmark single-thread test, an 8.6% margin, and data encryption, an 8.5% margin, further demonstrate AMD's capability in single-threaded and security-related tasks.

For users prioritizing multithreaded productivity and parallel integer math, the Intel part holds a clear advantage. For those focused on rendering, physics simulation, and single-thread responsiveness, the AMD processor is the better fit. The two chips are close in overall average score, with Intel at 25423 and AMD at 25005, a difference of 1.7%, but the distribution of wins suggests they are not interchangeable for specific workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations. The Intel Core i7-11700KF is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm process manufactured by Intel. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads on a die measuring 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F uses Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The AMD die is smaller at 178 mm² and contains 25,000 million transistors. The Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core but a larger 1 MB of L2 per core, also with 16 MB of shared L3. The larger L2 allocation on the AMD chip likely contributes to its strong single-threaded performance.

Memory support marks a major generational split. Intel uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. AMD uses DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The AMD part's memory bandwidth is 62.5% higher, a factor that can influence memory-sensitive workloads. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The platform sockets differ as well. Intel uses Socket 1200, while AMD uses Socket AM5. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes available from the CPU. The Intel part has no integrated graphics, and the AMD part is also listed with no integrated graphics. Both have unlocked multipliers, and both are positioned for the desktop market. The Intel chip is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD chip is still active. The Intel part launched in March 2021, and the AMD part launched in March 2024. The Intel launch MSRP is $374, and the AMD launch MSRP is $170. The Intel TDP is 125 watts, while the AMD TDP is 65 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF boosts up to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-threaded Cinebench performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F wins all single-core Cinebench tests by 3% to 3.1%. In cinebench_r23_singlecore, AMD scores 2943 against Intel's 2853.

Q: Which processor shows a larger advantage in multithreaded 3dmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF leads by 32.4% in the 16-thread test and by 30.6% in the max-thread test.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F support DDR4 memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F supports DDR5 memory. The Intel Core i7-11700KF supports DDR4.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has 25,000 million transistors. The transistor count for the Intel Core i7-11700KF is not recorded in the database.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11700KF is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is listed as active.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel base clock is 3.60 GHz and boost clock is 5.00 GHz. The AMD base clock is 4.20 GHz with a 4.70 GHz boost. The Intel TDP is 125 watts, the AMD TDP is 65 watts.

The process node differs by three generations: Intel uses 14 nm, AMD uses 4 nm. The foundry is Intel for the Rocket Lake chip and TSMC for the Zen 4 chip. The Intel die size is 276 mm², the AMD die is 178 mm². The transistor count is 25,000 million for AMD, with no recorded figure for Intel.

Cache configuration differs in L1 and L2. Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core. AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core. Both share 16 MB of L3. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for Intel and 83.2 GB/s for AMD.

The socket is Intel Socket 1200 versus AMD Socket AM5. The architecture is Rocket Lake versus Zen 4, with codenames Rocket Lake and Phoenix respectively. The Intel part number is SRKNN, the AMD part number is 100-000001591. The Intel release date is March 2021, the AMD release date is March 2024. The Intel production status is end-of-life, the AMD status is active. The launch MSRP is $374 for Intel and $170 for AMD. The Intel integrated graphics field is empty, and the AMD field is listed as N/A. The generation names also differ: Core i7 (Rocket Lake-S) versus Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 Phoenix).

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation based on workload profile. For users running heavily multithreaded synthetic benchmarks, integer-heavy math, or data compression, the Intel Core i7-11700KF offers decisive advantages. The 32.4% lead in 3dmark_16_threads and the 30.6% lead in max-thread performance are the largest margins in the entire comparison. The 15.3% integer math win and the 10.3% data compression win reinforce this direction.

For users prioritizing rendering, physics, or single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is the stronger option. The consistent 3.1% Cinebench r23 wins in both multicore and singlecore, the 26.1% physics lead, and the 30.3% prime number finding lead are substantial. The 8.6% single-thread Passmark win and the 62.5% higher memory bandwidth also favor AMD for memory-sensitive and latency-sensitive tasks.

The average benchmark scores are close: 25423 for Intel versus 25005 for AMD, a 1.7% difference. The percentile rankings are identical at 77 for both. However, the distribution of wins is not even. Intel wins the tests where raw thread count and parallel throughput matter most. AMD wins where per-core efficiency and memory bandwidth matter most.

The Intel part's 125 watt TDP and older 14 nm process suggest higher power draw, while the AMD part's 65 watt TDP and 4 nm process point to better efficiency, though the database does not record direct power measurements. The AMD chip is active in production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life, which may factor into platform longevity. The AMD launch MSRP is $170, and the Intel launch MSRP is $374, though the database records no current pricing.

For a system aimed at multithreaded productivity, compression, and integer workloads, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the data-backed choice. For rendering, physics simulation, encryption, and single-threaded application response, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is the better fit. The two chips are close in overall average performance, but their strengths do not overlap. The decision rests on which benchmark family matches the intended use case.