AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data is unambiguous on this pairing: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G takes every benchmark win across all six head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-5950HQ does not secure a single victory in the database’s comparison set. That is a clean sweep, but the margin tells the real story.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G wins by roughly 10% in every test, whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 732 against Intel’s 656, a delta of 10.4%. In single-core R15, it is 103 versus 92, a 10.7% gap. The pattern holds across R20 and R23: every delta lands between 10.2% and 10.7%. There is no workload category where the Intel part pulls ahead, even by a small amount.

That consistency is important. Some CPUs trade blows, winning single-core but losing multi-core, or vice versa. Here, the AMD processor’s advantage is uniform, which simplifies the use-case analysis. If you are compiling code, rendering frames, or running a single-threaded simulation, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G is the faster part in every scenario the database records.

Looking at broader percentiles, the Intel i7-5950HQ sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G sits at the 46th percentile. Despite that near-identical percentile ranking, the head-to-head results favor AMD by a consistent margin. The Intel part’s average benchmark score is 2158, and the AMD part’s average is 2101. That 57-point gap in the overall average is small, but the head-to-head deltas show a different picture because the two chips are measured against the same workloads in direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split here is stark. The Intel Core i7-5950HQ uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-H, built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, also on a 14 nm process but produced at GlobalFoundries. Both are 14 nm parts, but the underlying designs are generations apart in philosophy.

Intel’s die is 182 mm², while AMD’s is 210 mm². AMD’s chip packs 4,950 million transistors, a figure Intel does not report in the database. The larger die and transistor count reflect the integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics on the AMD side, which is a much more substantial iGPU than Intel’s Iris Pro Graphics 6200. That GPU difference is a major architectural story, even though the CPU benchmarks do not directly measure it.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. AMD gives each core more private cache, while Intel offers a larger pool of shared L3. For workloads that hit the shared cache heavily, Intel’s 6 MB could matter. For per-core working sets, AMD’s larger L1 and L2 are better suited.

Memory support is another major divider. Intel uses DDR3 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. AMD uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. That is a 17 GB/s advantage for AMD, which helps explain some of the multi-core performance gap. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory; the Intel chip does not. On the PCIe front, Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while AMD offers Gen 3 with only 8 CPU lanes. That is a real trade-off if you plan to run multiple PCIe devices.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1364 (a mobile soldered package), AMD uses Socket AM4 (a desktop socket). That alone defines their market segments. The Intel chip is a mobile part, the AMD chip is a desktop part. Their production statuses reflect that: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparisons in the database are all Cinebench tests, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G wins every one. The biggest single victory is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD scores 103 against Intel’s 92, a delta of 10.7%. That is also the largest percentage gap in the entire set. It is telling that the AMD part wins single-core by the largest margin, because that is traditionally Intel’s strength. The Zen architecture’s higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz) and higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.80 GHz) likely drive that advantage.

In multi-core workloads, the margins are nearly identical. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows AMD at 732 versus Intel’s 656, a 10.4% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 3051 versus 2736, a 10.3% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 7266 versus 6516, also a 10.3% lead. The consistency is remarkable: the AMD part maintains roughly the same advantage regardless of the Cinebench version or workload type.

Single-core results follow the same script. Cinebench R20 single-core: AMD 430, Intel 386, delta 10.2%. Cinebench R23 single-core: AMD 1025, Intel 920, delta 10.2%. The AMD part’s advantage does not shrink in single-threaded tests, which suggests the architectural efficiency of Zen, plus the clock speed difference, is enough to overcome Intel’s older Broadwell design.

The only benchmark where Intel has a recorded score and AMD does not is Geekbench. The Intel i7-5950HQ scores 4601 multi-core and 1353 single-core in Geekbench, but the database has no Geekbench entry for the Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G. That makes the head-to-head comparison incomplete for that test, but the six Cinebench results are consistent and comprehensive enough to establish the performance hierarchy.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification in the database, but the most consequential gaps are clock speed, memory bandwidth, and socket.

The AMD chip runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts to 3.90 GHz. The Intel chip runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. AMD’s base clock is 0.7 GHz higher, and its boost clock is 0.1 GHz higher. That clock advantage is a direct contributor to the single-core wins.

Memory bandwidth favors AMD by a wide margin: 46.9 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s. That is a 57% advantage for the Ryzen part. Combined with DDR4 support versus DDR3, the AMD platform is better equipped for memory-heavy workloads. Intel’s memory bus is dual-channel, AMD’s is also dual-channel, but the memory type difference is decisive.

TDP is where Intel fights back. The i7-5950HQ has a 47 W TDP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G has a 65 W TDP. That 18 W difference is significant for a mobile part. Intel designed for a thinner laptop chassis; AMD designed for a desktop with more cooling headroom. The Intel chip’s lower TDP makes it more suitable for compact systems, even if it sacrifices performance.

Other differences: Intel has 16 PCIe lanes (Gen 3), AMD has 8 (Gen 3). Intel’s L3 cache is 6 MB, AMD’s is 4 MB. Intel’s L1 is 64 KB per core, AMD’s is 96 KB. Intel’s L2 is 256 KB per core, AMD’s is 512 KB. Intel uses a BGA 1364 socket, AMD uses AM4. Intel’s integrated graphics are Iris Pro Graphics 6200, AMD’s are Radeon RX Vega 11. Intel does not support ECC, AMD does. Intel’s multiplier is locked, AMD’s is unlocked. Intel’s market segment is mobile, AMD’s is desktop. Intel was released in June 2015, AMD in May 2018. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $623; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 732 to Intel’s 656 in R15, 3051 to 2736 in R20, and 7266 to 6516 in R23. The margin is approximately 10% in each case.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark in this comparison?

A: No. The database records six head-to-head benchmarks, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G wins all six. The Intel i7-5950HQ has a Geekbench score (4601 multi-core, 1353 single-core), but no Geekbench score is recorded for the AMD part, so that is not a head-to-head result.

Q: Why does the AMD chip have a higher single-core score despite being from a different architecture?

A: The AMD part has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.80 GHz). The clock advantage, combined with the Zen architecture’s efficiency, results in a 10.2% to 10.7% lead in all single-core tests.

Q: Is the Intel chip better for a laptop?

A: The Intel i7-5950HQ has a 47 W TDP and uses the mobile BGA 1364 socket, making it a mobile part. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G has a 65 W TDP and uses the desktop AM4 socket. For a thin laptop chassis, the Intel chip’s lower TDP is more appropriate.

Q: Does the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G supports ECC memory, while the Intel i7-5950HQ does not. The AMD part also supports DDR4, while the Intel part is limited to DDR3.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel i7-5950HQ has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G has 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). Intel provides twice the CPU-attached PCIe bandwidth for expansion.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for raw CPU performance: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G is the faster processor in every recorded head-to-head benchmark. It wins by a consistent 10% margin across single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, a gap that is too large to ignore if your priority is compute throughput. The higher clocks, larger per-core cache, and faster DDR4 memory bandwidth all contribute to this result.

However, the Intel i7-5950HQ is not without a role. Its 47 W TDP and mobile socket make it the only viable option for a thin-and-light laptop, where the AMD part’s 65 W TDP and desktop AM4 socket would not fit. If you are building or upgrading a desktop system, the AMD part is the better performer and is still actively produced. If you are constrained to a mobile platform with a BGA 1364 socket, the Intel chip is the one that fits, and its 16 PCIe lanes offer more expansion capability.

The AMD part also brings a much stronger integrated GPU (Radeon RX Vega 11 versus Iris Pro Graphics 6200), though the database does not include GPU benchmarks for either. For a compact desktop build without a discrete GPU, the AMD chip is the better bet. For a laptop that must stay cool and efficient, Intel’s lower TDP wins by default.

The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: pick the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G for performance, pick the Intel i7-5950HQ only if the socket and power envelope force your hand. The AMD part is faster, newer, and more flexible (unlocked multiplier, ECC support, active production). The Intel part is an end-of-life mobile chip with a higher launch MSRP and no benchmark wins in this comparison.