AMD Ryzen 5 8640U vs Intel Core i5-14400T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a fascinating split between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-14400T and the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U each claim a nearly equal number of benchmark victories, with the AMD winning 8 tests and the Intel winning 7. This is not a one-sided matchup; it is a battle of architectural philosophy.

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-14400T scores 17,189 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U's 10,433. That is a 64.8% advantage for Intel, a massive margin that underscores a heavy difference in sustained multi-threaded workloads. The single-core result in the same test is also noteworthy, but it flips the narrative. The Intel Core i5-14400T scores 2,426, which is a 46.9% lead over the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U's 1,651. This is a surprising outcome, as the AMD chip has a higher boost clock.

In contrast, the older Cinebench R15 tests tell a different story. In R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-14400T wins again, but by a much smaller margin of 4.1% (1,732 vs 1,663). In R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U takes the win, scoring 256 versus 244 for Intel, a 4.7% advantage. The data suggests that the Intel chip's advantage grows significantly as the workload becomes more demanding and multi-threaded.

Looking at the Passmark suite, the wins are more evenly distributed. The Intel Core i5-14400T dominates in floating point math, scoring 49,139 versus 40,330, a 21.8% lead. It also wins in physics (1,244 versus 1,033, a 20.4% lead) and prime number finding (73 versus 69, a 5.8% lead). Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U shows its strengths in extended instructions, scoring a 16,500 versus the Intel's 14,562, an 11.7% advantage. The AMD also wins in random string sorting (28,066 versus 25,181, a 10.3% lead) and data encryption (14,013 versus 13,244, a 5.5% lead).

The Passmark integer math test is close, with the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U edging out a 3.5% lead (68,051 versus 65,667). The two processors are essentially tied in the Passmark multithread test, with the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U ahead by just 0.5% (20,322 versus 20,223). The single-thread scores are also nearly identical, with the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U ahead by only 0.6% (3,534 versus 3,512). The data shows that in most integer and encryption tasks, the AMD is faster, while in floating-point and physics, the Intel is the clear winner.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct profiles. The Intel Core i5-14400T is a desktop processor with a higher TDP of 35 watts and 10 cores, and the benchmark results show it is a multi-core powerhouse. Its 64.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 21.8% lead in floating-point math indicate that it is the better choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any task that can leverage all available cores. The 46.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is also significant, showing strong overall single-thread capability.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U, with its 6 cores and a lower TDP of 28 watts, is designed to be more efficient. Its wins in extended instructions, data encryption, and random string sorting are notable. The data suggests it handles specific workloads, such as cryptography and string manipulation, with greater efficiency. The near-perfect tie in Passmark multithreading is interesting, showing that for some workloads, the AMD can match the Intel despite having fewer cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is not the choice for maximum multi-thread performance; the Intel Core i5-14400T is the clear winner in that regard.

The choice is not about which CPU is "better" but which one is correct for the task. If the workload is heavily threaded, like video rendering or code compilation, the Intel Core i5-14400T is the logical choice. If the workload is more varied and includes tasks like encryption or extended instructions, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U offers a compelling, more efficient alternative. The Intel Core i5-14400T also wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test by a significant margin (46.9%), which is surprising given its lower boost clock, indicating that its architecture is more efficient in this specific test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and for different market segments. The Intel Core i5-14400T is a desktop processor from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation, manufactured on an Intel 10 nm process. It has a die size of 215 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is a mobile processor from the Hawk Point generation, built on the Zen 4 architecture. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 4nm process and has a die size of 178 mm². The AMD chip also has a stated transistor count of 25,000 million, which is not provided for the Intel chip.

The core configs vary significantly. The Intel Core i5-14400T has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The cache hierarchies also differ. The Intel chip has an 80 KB L1 cache per core, a 1.25 MB L2 cache per core, and a 20 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has a 64 KB L1 cache per core, a 1 MB L2 cache per core, and a 16 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz and a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz, compared to the Intel's 1.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost.

Memory support and connectivity are also different. The Intel Core i5-14400T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U supports only DDR5. The Intel chip has ECC memory support, which the AMD does not. The Intel chip has 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different: Intel has the UHD Graphics 730, and AMD has the Radeon 760M. The Intel uses the Intel Socket 1700, and the AMD uses AMD Socket FP8. The Intel is designated as a Desktop segment part, while the AMD is a Mobile part. These differences explain the benchmark results and the performance characteristics of each chip.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-14400T has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: Which CPU is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The recorded data shows the Intel Core i5-14400T is significantly better. It holds a 64.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 4.1% lead in R15 multi-core.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U faster in every single-core test?

A: No. The AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 4.7%, but loses to the Intel Core i5-14400T in Cinebench R23 single-core by a 46.9% margin. The Passmark single-thread tests are nearly tied (0.6% difference).

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400T has a 20 MB (shared) L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has a 16 MB (shared) L3 cache.

Q: Which chip is more efficient in data encryption tasks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U wins the data encryption test by a 5.5% margin (14,013 versus 13,244).

Q: Do these CPUs have the same number of cores?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-14400T has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14400T is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads, as is shown by its 64.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also wins decisively in floating-point math (21.8% lead) and physics (20.4% lead). This indicates a strong preference for tasks like 3D rendering, complex simulation, and professional content creation that can use all available cores. The data also shows a surprising win for the Intel chip in Cinebench R23 single-core (46.9% lead), suggesting that it is not just a multi-thread specialist. In this specific test, the Intel chip is the best choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is the winner in specific workloads that involve data manipulation and security. Its 11.7% lead in extended instructions and 5.5% lead in data encryption point to a processor that handles cryptographic and specialized instruction sets with ease. It also wins in random string sorting (10.3% lead), which is a common task in data processing. The AMD also has a slight edge in single-threaded Passmark (0.6%) and multithread Passmark (0.5%), but these are very small margins. Its advantage in integer math (3.5% lead) is also notable. The data indicates that for these specific, more niche workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is the more efficient and effective processor. It also has a lower TDP of 28 watts, so it is more energy efficient.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every major specification. The Intel Core i5-14400T has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel chip has a TDP of 35 watts, and the AMD chip has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads.

The Intel Core i5-14400T is built on the Raptor Lake architecture and uses a 10 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U uses the Zen 4 architecture and is built on a 4 nm process. The Intel chip has a die size of 215 mm², and the AMD chip has a die size of 178 mm². The Intel chip has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core, and an L3 cache of 20 MB. The AMD chip has an L1 cache of 64 KB per core, an L2 cache of 1 MB per core, and an L3 cache of 16 MB.

The Intel Core i5-14400T supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U supports only DDR5. The Intel chip supports ECC memory, while the AMD chip does not. The Intel chip has PCIe Gen 5 (16 lanes CPU only), while the AMD chip has PCIe Gen 4 (20 lanes CPU only). The integrated graphics are also different: the Intel has UHD Graphics 730, and the AMD has Radeon 760M. The socket is also different, with the Intel using Socket 1700 and the AMD using Socket FP8. The Intel is a desktop processor, and the AMD is a mobile processor. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $221. The AMD has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel was released on 2024-01-07, and the AMD was released on 2023-12-05.