AMD Ryzen 5 8400F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into clearly distinct roles. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F takes 4 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins 13. That raw tally, however, hides the more interesting story: each chip dominates in entirely different workload families.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T sweeps every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, across R15, R20, and R23. It also wins PassMark's multithread, physics, floating point math, data encryption, and prime number tests. The single-thread gap is substantial at 15.2%, and the floating point math deficit for AMD reaches 44.1%. This is a processor built for rendering, simulation, and heavily threaded productivity.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, by contrast, wins the specialized data tasks. It beats the Intel part by 23.1% in data compression, by 24.3% in integer math, by 20.3% in random string sorting, and by 10.4% in extended instructions. These are workloads that benefit from the Zen 4 architecture's instruction handling and integer throughput. The AMD chip also posts a higher average benchmark score in its own nearest-rival group, though the Intel part sits in the 82nd percentile versus the AMD part's 77th.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T carries a higher average benchmark score of 30468 compared to 25005 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F. The Intel processor also claims a higher percentile placement among all CPUs. The AMD part remains competitive in integer-heavy and compression-heavy tasks, but the Intel part holds the broader performance advantage across the recorded benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F wins 4.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 4348 against 3685 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, a 15.2% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3101 versus 2943, a 5.1% lead for Intel.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD processor wins?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F wins data compression (288158 vs 233998, up 23.1%), integer math (74021 vs 59543, up 24.3%), random string sorting (34604 vs 28774, up 20.3%), and extended instructions (22175 vs 20083, up 10.4%).

Q: What is the multi-core Cinebench result?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 21971 versus 20851 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, a 5.1% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 9227 against 8757, also a 5.1% lead for Intel.

Q: How do the two processors rank among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T sits in the 82nd percentile. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F sits in the 77th percentile.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most consistent pattern in the data is the Cinebench sweep. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins by exactly 5.1%. The R15 multi-core result is 2214 against 2101, R20 multi-core is 9227 against 8757, and R23 multi-core is 21971 against 20851. Single-core results follow the same margin: R15 at 312 versus 296, R20 at 1302 versus 1236, and R23 at 3101 versus 2943. This uniform delta suggests a consistent architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark suite reveals larger swings. The Intel part wins floating point math by a massive 44.1%, scoring 82751 versus 46217. Prime number finding shows the biggest relative gap at 68.7% in favor of Intel, with scores of 284 against 89. Physics also favors Intel by 35.1%, at 2053 versus 1332. Data encryption goes to Intel by 9%, at 18289 versus 16646. The overall PassMark multithread score lands at 25358 for Intel versus 24389 for AMD, a 3.8% edge.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F wins its four tests by wider margins than the Intel part's Cinebench wins. Data compression goes to AMD by 23.1%, integer math by 24.3%, random string sorting by 20.3%, and extended instructions by 10.4%. The compression score of 288158 versus 233998 is the single largest absolute point difference in AMD's favor. Integer math at 74021 versus 59543 shows the Zen 4 core's strength in arithmetic-heavy code.

The single-thread PassMark result deserves attention. Intel scores 4348 against 3685, a 15.2% lead. This is the largest single-core gap in the entire dataset and explains why the Intel part wins every Cinebench single-core test as well. The AMD part's wins are all in multi-threaded or instruction-specific workloads, where its 12 threads and specialized execution units compensate for lower per-thread performance.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ sharply. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F uses 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses 10 cores but only 10 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD part's thread count exceeds its core count, while Intel's matches it.

Clock speeds also differ. AMD runs a 4.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.70 GHz. Intel runs a lower 2.50 GHz base clock but boosts higher to 4.90 GHz. The higher Intel boost clock aligns with its single-thread benchmark wins.

Cache configurations diverge. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. Intel leads in every cache level.

Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s for AMD, both on dual-channel DDR5. PCIe support differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The AMD processor has no integrated graphics; the Intel part includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $170. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has a locked multiplier. The AMD part released on 2024-03-31, while Intel's release date is 2024-12-31.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, part of the 8000 series. It is built on TSMC's 4 nm process with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture under the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of Core Ultra Series 2. It is built on TSMC's 3 nm process with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

The process node difference is significant: 4 nm for AMD versus 3 nm for Intel. Despite the smaller node, Intel's die is larger at 243 mm² versus 178 mm², and Intel packs fewer transistors into that space. The transistor count difference (25,000 million for AMD versus 17,800 million for Intel) reflects the different design philosophies: AMD uses fewer, larger cores with simultaneous multithreading, while Intel uses more physical cores without SMT.

Cache architecture differs by design. AMD allocates 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, with 20 MB shared L3. The larger per-core caches on Intel explain part of its single-thread advantage, while AMD's smaller per-core footprint allows a more compact die.

The memory controllers also differ. Both support DDR5 and dual-channel operation, but Intel's 102.4 GB/s bandwidth exceeds AMD's 83.2 GB/s by roughly 23%. PCIe generation is another split: AMD provides Gen 4 lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 lanes, both with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The sockets are incompatible. AMD uses Socket AM5, Intel uses Socket 1851. The AMD part includes no iGPU, while the Intel part integrates Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, Intel's is not. These architectural differences map directly onto the benchmark results: Intel's larger caches and higher boost clock drive its single-thread wins, while AMD's SMT and specialized integer units drive its compression and math victories.