AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G vs Intel Core i5-8259U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8259U and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G are both 4-core, 8-thread processors from 2018, yet they target vastly different platforms: one is a mobile chip for thin laptops, the other a desktop chip for workstations. Benchmark data shows they land within 0.3% of each other in average score, making them statistical twins in overall performance, but a closer look at individual workloads reveals a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the AMD part across every single test recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, covering both single-core and multi-core tests across three Cinebench versions. It does not win by a small margin in one or two tests; it wins every test by a nearly identical margin, ranging from 8.7% to 8.9%. This consistency suggests a fundamental clock-speed or IPC advantage that scales across all workloads, not a quirk of a specific benchmark.

The Intel Core i5-8259U, meanwhile, has zero wins in the recorded head-to-head comparisons. Its strengths lie elsewhere: it is a 28W TDP mobile processor with Intel Iris Pro Plus 655 graphics, while the AMD part is a 65W desktop chip with Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics. The data cannot show a scenario where the Intel chip wins on performance, but its lower TDP and mobile socket imply a use case for battery-powered systems where the AMD desktop chip simply cannot operate. The Intel part also supports 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), double the AMD chip’s 8 lanes, which could matter for external GPU or NVMe expansion in a portable chassis.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural philosophies. The Intel i5-8259U uses Coffee Lake-U, built on a 14nm process at Intel’s foundry, with a die size of 126 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G uses Zen (Raven Ridge), also on 14nm but at GlobalFoundries, with a substantially larger die at 210 mm² and 4,950 million transistors. That larger die houses a more complex memory subsystem: the Intel part has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 6 MB shared L3, while the AMD part has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, but only 4 MB shared L3. The AMD chip compensates for less L3 with higher memory bandwidth: 46.9 GB/s versus Intel’s 38.4 GB/s, both dual-channel DDR4.

Clock speeds tell a similar story of AMD’s aggressive tuning. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G runs at a base of 3.60 GHz and boosts to 3.90 GHz. The Intel i5-8259U sits lower at 2.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. That 1.3 GHz base-clock gap is enormous and directly explains the benchmark results, but the Intel chip’s 28W TDP versus AMD’s 65W TDP shows the trade-off: Intel delivers more performance per watt by a wide margin, even if raw performance is lower. The AMD part is also multiplier-unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. Memory support differs too: the AMD chip supports ECC memory, the Intel chip does not. PCIe lane counts diverge as well, with Intel offering 16 lanes versus AMD’s 8 lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniformity of the AMD advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 732 against Intel’s 667, a delta of -8.9% (negative meaning Intel trails). Single-core R15 shows 103 versus 94, a -8.7% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, multi-core is 3051 against 2781 (-8.8%), and single-core is 430 versus 392 (-8.8%). The latest test, Cinebench R23, shows 7266 versus 6622 in multi-core (-8.9%) and 1025 versus 934 in single-core (-8.9%).

Every single test lands within a 0.2 percentage-point range of the others. That is remarkable consistency. It suggests the performance difference is not workload-dependent—it is a flat multiplier, likely driven by the AMD chip’s higher base clock. The Intel part’s boost clock of 3.80 GHz is only 0.10 GHz below AMD’s 3.90 GHz, yet the base clocks differ by 1.30 GHz. In short, sustained all-core workloads will push the Intel chip to its 3.80 GHz boost, but if it ever drops below that, the AMD chip maintains a massive raw clock advantage. The data does not include Geekbench results for the AMD part, so we cannot compare across that suite, but the Intel-only Geekbench scores (4168 multi-core, 1207 single-core) give a reference point for its absolute capability.

The average benchmark scores confirm the near-tie: Intel’s average is 2108, AMD’s is 2101, a delta of 0.3% in Intel’s favor. Yet that average is skewed by the Intel part having two Geekbench scores that are not matched by AMD. When looking only at the six shared Cinebench tests, AMD wins every one. The nearest rivals list for the Intel part includes the AMD chip with a deltaPct of 0.3%, meaning Intel is 0.3% ahead of AMD in average score. For AMD, the Intel chip is listed with a deltaPct of -0.3%, meaning AMD trails Intel by 0.3% in average. This is a statistical dead heat overall, but a clean sweep for AMD in the tests where both have data.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision based on platform and workload. If the task is raw compute in a desktop environment, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G is the pick: it wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests by roughly 8.8% and offers ECC memory support, an unlocked multiplier, and higher memory bandwidth. It is an active production part, meaning it is still available, and its 65W TDP is reasonable for a desktop socket.

If the task is mobile computing, the Intel Core i5-8259U is the only viable option in this comparison—the AMD chip is a desktop part on Socket AM4, so it simply cannot fit in a laptop. The Intel chip’s 28W TDP and Intel BGA 1526 socket are designed for ultraportables. Its 16 PCIe lanes, versus AMD’s 8, give it more expansion headroom for a mobile platform. The Intel chip trails in every recorded benchmark, but it does so while consuming less than half the power (28W versus 65W) and fitting into a mobile form factor. The data cannot tell us which is “better” overall because they serve different physical markets; it can only show that AMD is faster in pure compute, while Intel is more efficient and portable.

For a desktop user who can choose either, the AMD part wins on performance, ECC support, and overclocking. For a laptop buyer, the Intel part is the only choice, and its performance deficit is the price of mobility. The percentile ranking for both is 46, meaning they sit in the same tier of all CPUs, but the head-to-head data shows that tier is not evenly matched within itself.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests: R15 (732 vs 667), R20 (3051 vs 2781), and R23 (7266 vs 6622), with deltas of -8.9%, -8.8%, and -8.9% respectively.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head data, the Intel Core i5-8259U has zero wins across six tests. Its only advantage is in average benchmark score (2108 vs 2101), which is driven by Geekbench results that the AMD chip does not have.

Q: What is the TDP difference and why does it matter?

A: The Intel chip has a 28W TDP, while the AMD chip has a 65W TDP. This means Intel consumes less than half the power of AMD, making it suitable for mobile devices, while AMD’s higher power budget enables its higher clock speeds.

Q: Can the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-8259U does not. This makes the AMD part more suitable for workstation or server-like reliability use cases.

Q: How do their cache configurations compare?

A: The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3. The AMD chip has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core but only 4 MB shared L3. AMD compensates with higher memory bandwidth: 46.9 GB/s versus Intel’s 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors the same generation?

A: Both were released in 2018, with Intel launching on April 4 and AMD on May 9. Intel’s architecture is Coffee Lake-U, while AMD’s is Zen (Raven Ridge). Both use a 14nm process node.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8259U | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G |

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

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-U | Raven Ridge |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 210 mm² |

| Transistors | Not specified | 4,950 million |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Plus 655 | Radeon RX Vega 11 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2018-04-04 | 2018-05-09 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $320 | Not specified |