AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Core i5-14490F are two 65W desktop CPUs with different design strategies. The recorded benchmarks show a split decision: the AMD part wins 10 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part wins 5 and holds a higher aggregate percentile. The architecture records show a 4 nm AMD design versus a 10 nm Intel design, and the specification records show different core counts, cache sizes, and platform features.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher core and thread count?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU records the higher single-thread Passmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X scores 4570, which is 18% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14490F's 3873.

Q: What are the head-to-head win counts?

A: The AMD part wins 10 recorded comparisons and the Intel part wins 5.

Q: How do the closest recorded rivals compare?

A: The AMD part's average score of 29713 is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (29656). The Intel part's average score of 38149 is 0.1% below the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T (38194).

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports DDR5 only.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from separate design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake architecture on the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a 215 mm² die; the database records no transistor count for the Intel part.

The core layout differs sharply. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part runs a 3.90 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock; the Intel part runs a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. Both parts are rated at 65W.

Cache organization also differs. L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core. L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD and 1.25 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 32 MB shared for AMD and 24 MB shared for Intel.

Platform features separate the two further. The AMD part supports DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 with no bandwidth figure recorded. AMD exposes PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, Intel with 16 lanes. AMD includes Radeon Graphics and ECC memory support; Intel lists no integrated graphics and no ECC support. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, while the Intel multiplier is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results are:

| Test | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Intel Core i5-14490F | Winner | Delta |

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

| Cinebench R15 multicore | 2691 | 2318 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 16.1% |

| Cinebench R15 singlecore | 342 | 327 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 4.6% |

| Cinebench R23 multicore | 17528.5 | 23000 | Intel Core i5-14490F | -23.8% |

| Cinebench R23 singlecore | 2183.5 | 3247 | Intel Core i5-14490F | -32.8% |

| Passmark data compression | 341021 | 340026 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 0.3% |

| Passmark data encryption | 16638 | 18225 | Intel Core i5-14490F | -8.7% |

| Passmark extended instructions | 28023 | 21731 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 29% |

| Passmark find prime numbers | 233 | 122 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 91% |

| Passmark floating point math | 60081 | 66558 | Intel Core i5-14490F | -9.7% |

| Passmark integer math | 89918 | 87844 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 2.4% |

| Passmark multithread | 30027 | 28662 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 4.8% |

| Passmark physics | 2012 | 2093 | Intel Core i5-14490F | -3.9% |

| Passmark random string sorting | 35946 | 35608 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 0.9% |

| Passmark single thread | 4570 | 3873 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 18% |

| Passmark singlethread | 4570 | 3873 | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 18% |

The AMD part wins 10 of these comparisons; the Intel part wins 5. The largest margin belongs to AMD in Passmark find prime numbers, with a 91% lead (233 vs 122). Intel's largest margin is 32.8% in Cinebench R23 singlecore (3247 vs 2183.5). Intel also takes Cinebench R23 multicore by 23.8% (23000 vs 17528.5). AMD counters with an 18% lead in Passmark single-thread (4570 vs 3873) and a 16.1% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore (2691 vs 2318).

The two Cinebench generations disagree. AMD wins Cinebench R15 multicore and singlecore. Intel wins Cinebench R23 multicore and singlecore. Passmark results also split: AMD wins multithread by 4.8% (30027 vs 28662), integer math by 2.4% (89918 vs 87844), extended instructions by 29% (28023 vs 21731), data compression by 0.3% (341021 vs 340026), random string sorting by 0.9% (35946 vs 35608), and Cinebench R15 singlecore by 4.6% (342 vs 327). Intel wins data encryption by 8.7% (18225 vs 16638), floating point math by 9.7% (66558 vs 60081), and physics by 3.9% (2093 vs 2012).

Specification Differences

The recorded specification differences are:

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Intel Core i5-14490F |

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

| Series | 9000 series | Core 14th Gen |

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.90 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Raptor Lake-R |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 8,315 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 70.6 mm² | 215 mm² |

| 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 | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | true | false |

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

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | N/A |

| Release date | 2024-08-07 | 2023-12-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $279 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier unlocked | true | false |

The table confirms the architecture split: the AMD part is smaller on process node and die size, while the Intel part has more cores and threads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X wins 10 recorded tests. The list includes the Passmark single-thread test and the identically scored Passmark singlethread test, both 4570 versus 3873. It also includes Cinebench R15 singlecore (342 vs 327), Cinebench R15 multicore (2691 vs 2318), Passmark multithread (30027 vs 28662), Passmark integer math (89918 vs 87844), Passmark extended instructions (28023 vs 21731), Passmark find prime numbers (233 vs 122), Passmark data compression (341021 vs 340026), and Passmark random string sorting (35946 vs 35608).

The Intel Core i5-14490F wins 5 recorded tests: Cinebench R23 multicore (23000 vs 17528.5), Cinebench R23 singlecore (3247 vs 2183.5), Passmark data encryption (18225 vs 16638), Passmark floating point math (66558 vs 60081), and Passmark physics (2093 vs 2012).

The AMD wins concentrate in integer math, extended instructions, compression, sorting, and single-thread tests. The Intel wins concentrate in Cinebench R23, floating-point math, encryption, and physics. The Intel part's higher core count does not translate into a Passmark multithread win; the AMD part leads that test by 4.8%. The two single-thread records point in opposite directions: AMD leads Passmark single-thread by 18%, Intel leads Cinebench R23 singlecore by 32.8%.

The Verdict

The database's aggregate metrics favor the Intel part: 86th percentile versus 81st and an average score of 38149 versus 29713. The direct head-to-head record favors the AMD part by 10 wins to 5. The data supports the Intel part for Cinebench R23, floating-point math, data encryption, and physics. The data supports the AMD part for Passmark single-thread, integer math, extended instructions, data compression, random string sorting, and the larger share of head-to-head wins.