AMD Ryzen 7 2700 vs Intel Core i5-9400 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two clear territories. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 dominates in almost every recorded multi-core and single-core Cinebench test, while the Intel Core i5-9400 secures a notable victory in Geekbench single-core performance.

Looking at the head-to-head results, the Ryzen 7 2700 wins three out of four recorded benchmarks. Its strongest showing comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1551 against the i5-9400's 668, a massive 132.2% advantage. This is the kind of result that defines a workload category: heavily threaded rendering, compilation, and content creation tasks will strongly favor the AMD part. The Ryzen 7 2700 also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 71.3% (161 vs 94) and Geekbench multi-core by 25.9% (6475 vs 5141).

The Intel Core i5-9400's sole win is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1389 versus the Ryzen 7 2700's 1094, a 21.2% lead. This indicates that in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive applications that rely on raw per-core speed, the Intel part pulls ahead. However, the magnitude of that win is far smaller than the AMD's multi-core advantage in Cinebench R15.

The average benchmark scores place the Ryzen 7 2700 at 2320 overall, with the i5-9400 at 2254. The AMD part sits in the 48th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 47th percentile. The nearest rivals for each processor confirm their tier: the Ryzen 7 2700 trades blows with the Intel Xeon E-2134 (delta 0%), the Intel Core i7-8809G (0.6% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-10400H (0.7% ahead), while trailing the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 by 1.2%. The i5-9400 is within 0.4% of the Intel Core i3-10305 and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-1068NG7.

In summary, the Ryzen 7 2700 is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads and even the Cinebench single-core test, while the i5-9400 only takes the crown in Geekbench's single-core test. The data does not show any other recorded workload where Intel leads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 is built on the Zen architecture (specifically Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) using a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Core i5-9400, by contrast, uses the Coffee Lake architecture (Coffee Lake Refresh) on Intel's 14 nm process. It offers 6 cores and 6 threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and the same 4.10 GHz boost clock. Both processors carry a 65 W TDP.

The Ryzen 7 2700 carries a larger cache hierarchy: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The i5-9400 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's extra cores, threads, and L3 cache explain its dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, with dual-channel buses. The AMD processor's recorded memory bandwidth is 46.9 GB/s, slightly higher than the Intel's 42.7 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Ryzen 7 2700 has an unlocked multiplier, making it a candidate for overclocking, while the i5-9400 is locked. The Intel part includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics in the recorded data. The Ryzen 7 2700 uses AMD Socket AM4, while the i5-9400 uses Intel Socket 1151.

The production status differs: the Ryzen 7 2700 is listed as active, while the i5-9400 is end-of-life. The AMD part launched in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $299. The Intel part launched in October 2018 with no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 is the superior processor for the majority of workloads. It wins three of four head-to-head tests, with a particularly overwhelming lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (132.2% ahead) and a strong 71.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. Its Geekbench multi-core advantage of 25.9% further cements its position for threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i5-9400 should be selected only if the target workload is dominated by Geekbench single-core performance, where it leads by 21.2%. That scenario applies to lightly threaded applications where per-core speed is the sole constraint. However, the i5-9400's single-core win does not extend to Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD part actually wins by a large margin.

For anyone building a system for rendering, video encoding, software compilation, or any multi-threaded productivity, the Ryzen 7 2700 is the clear choice from the data. The i5-9400 might be considered for legacy single-threaded applications that specifically benefit from its Geekbench single-core score, but even that edge is confined to one test.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this: 2320 for the AMD versus 2254 for the Intel. The Ryzen 7 2700's percentile ranking (48th) is only one point above the i5-9400's (47th), but the head-to-head deltas are decisive.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 1551 versus the Intel Core i5-9400's 668, a 132.2% advantage. It also wins Geekbench multi-core with 6475 versus 5141, a 25.9% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-9400 beat the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in Geekbench single-core, the i5-9400 scores 1389 against the Ryzen 7 2700's 1094, a 21.2% advantage. This is the only recorded test where Intel wins.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 7 2700 has an average benchmark score of 2320, while the i5-9400 averages 2254. The AMD part ranks in the 48th percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel part ranks in the 47th.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Do both processors have the same boost clock?

A: Yes, both have a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Their base clocks differ: the Ryzen 7 2700 runs at 3.20 GHz, and the i5-9400 at 2.90 GHz.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 includes UHD 630 integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has no integrated graphics in the recorded data.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-9400 is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in this comparison is in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The Ryzen 7 2700 scores 1551, while the i5-9400 scores 668. That delta of 132.2% is not a marginal improvement; it is a doubling of performance in this specific render test. With 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads, the AMD part's threaded advantage is fully expressed here.

Cinebench R15 single-core shows another surprising result. The Ryzen 7 2700 scores 161, and the i5-9400 scores 94, giving AMD a 71.3% lead. This contradicts the typical expectation that Intel leads in single-threaded tests, and it is a significant point for anyone assuming the i5-9400 would win all single-core workloads.

Geekbench multi-core continues the AMD trend: 6475 for the Ryzen 7 2700 versus 5141 for the i5-9400, a 25.9% difference. While not as dramatic as Cinebench, it confirms the multi-threaded story across a different benchmark suite.

The only Intel win is Geekbench single-core, where the i5-9400 scores 1389 against 1094 for the Ryzen 7 2700, a 21.2% gap. This is a clean victory, but it is the sole bright spot for Intel. Interestingly, the i5-9400 also has Cinebench R20 and R23 scores recorded (2784 multi-core, 392 single-core in R20; 6629 multi-core, 935 single-core in R23), but the Ryzen 7 2700 has no recorded scores for those tests, so no direct comparison can be made.

The weighted interpretation of these results is that the Ryzen 7 2700 is the better processor for any workload that can use more than one thread, and it even wins in Cinebench R15 single-core. The i5-9400's Geekbench single-core win suggests it may have an edge in certain per-core-limited scenarios, but the magnitude of AMD's multi-core wins dwarfs that advantage. The overall benchmark averages (2320 vs 2254) align with the head-to-head outcome, with the Ryzen 7 2700 holding a 2.9% average advantage across all recorded tests.