AMD Ryzen 7 3700U vs Intel Core i5-2400S Comparison

# Intel Core i5-2400S vs AMD Ryzen 7 3700U

The Intel Core i5-2400S and AMD Ryzen 7 3700U occupy the same overall performance tier, with both processors averaging a benchmark score of 968 and landing in the 26th percentile among all CPUs. However, this statistical parity masks a fundamental generational and architectural divide. The i5-2400S is a desktop part from the Sandy Bridge era, while the Ryzen 7 3700U is a modern mobile processor built on Zen+. The data reveals that the Ryzen 7 3700U wins every head-to-head benchmark in the comparison, yet the two chips remain near-perfect equals in aggregate metrics due to the specific workloads tested.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is stark in terms of raw benchmark victories. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U claims all three head-to-head benchmark wins available in the data, with zero wins for the Intel Core i5-2400S. The Ryzen 7 3700U dominates in multi-threaded workloads, where its 8 threads versus 4 threads provide a substantial advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672 against the i5-2400S’s 262, a 61% margin. Similarly, in Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen 7 3700U posts 2377 versus 1709, a 28.1% lead.

The Intel Core i5-2400S does not win any benchmark category, but its competitive position is not entirely without merit. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz is higher than the Ryzen 7 3700U’s 2.30 GHz, though the Ryzen part’s 4.00 GHz boost clock far exceeds the Intel’s 3.30 GHz ceiling. In single-core performance, the gap narrows considerably. The Geekbench single-core results show the Ryzen 7 3700U ahead by 13% (682 versus 593), but the i5-2400S counters with a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 154, a result the Ryzen 7 3700U does not have a matching entry for in the data.

The Ryzen 7 3700U’s advantage is most pronounced in sustained multi-threaded rendering, where its simultaneous multithreading (SMT) allows it to process twice as many threads. The i5-2400S, lacking SMT, is limited to 4 threads and falls behind significantly in any workload that scales with thread count. For users running single-threaded legacy applications, the i5-2400S remains closer in performance, but it cannot match the Ryzen 7 3700U’s versatility.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent vastly different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The Intel Core i5-2400S is built on a 32 nm process by Intel and uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, released in January 2011. It features 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, by contrast, is fabricated on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, using the Zen+ architecture under the Picasso codename, and packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The transistor count difference is dramatic—the Ryzen 7 3700U contains over four times as many transistors as the i5-2400S, despite having a slightly smaller die.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. Both processors have 4 physical cores, but the i5-2400S supports only 4 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700U supports 8 threads through SMT. This effectively doubles the Ryzen 7 3700U’s parallel processing capacity. Cache hierarchies also diverge: the i5-2400S has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 3700U offers 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part’s larger L3 cache is notable, but the Ryzen 7 3700U compensates with larger per-core caches.

Memory support separates the two further. The i5-2400S uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus, while the Ryzen 7 3700U supports DDR4, also dual-channel. Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe interfaces differ as well: the i5-2400S provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Ryzen 7 3700U offers PCIe Gen 3 without specifying lane count. Integrated graphics also differ, with the i5-2400S featuring Intel HD 2000 and the Ryzen 7 3700U equipped with Radeon Vega 10.

Power and market positioning are fundamentally different. The i5-2400S has a 65 W TDP and targets the desktop segment, while the Ryzen 7 3700U is a 15 W mobile processor. This power disparity is critical: the Ryzen 7 3700U delivers superior benchmark performance at less than a quarter of the TDP. The i5-2400S is end-of-life, while the Ryzen 7 3700U remains active production. The Ryzen 7 3700U also belongs to the 3000 series, whereas the i5-2400S’s series is unspecified.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a clear sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U across all three tests where both processors have results. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672 against the i5-2400S’s 262. This represents a 61% delta, meaning the Intel part scores 61% lower than the AMD part. This is the most extreme difference in the comparison and reflects the Ryzen 7 3700U’s thread advantage in a heavily multi-threaded render workload.

In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen 7 3700U continues its dominance with a score of 2377 versus 1709 for the i5-2400S, a 28.1% delta. While still a decisive win, this margin is less than half the Cinebench R15 gap, suggesting that the Geekbench workload is less sensitive to thread count or that the i5-2400S’s higher base clock helps narrow the gap. The Ryzen 7 3700U’s 4.00 GHz boost clock and 8 threads still carry it to a comfortable victory.

The closest contest is in Geekbench single-core, where the Ryzen 7 3700U scores 682 and the i5-2400S scores 593, a 13% delta. This is the only head-to-head test where the Intel part comes within striking distance. The i5-2400S’s 3.30 GHz boost clock is substantially lower than the Ryzen 7 3700U’s 4.00 GHz, yet the older Sandy Bridge architecture still manages to remain competitive in this single-threaded test. Cinebench R20 and R23 results exist for the i5-2400S (1092 multi-core, 154 single-core, 2601 multi-core, 367 single-core), but the Ryzen 7 3700U has no corresponding results in the data, so these cannot be compared directly.

The aggregate average benchmark score is 968 for both processors, with a delta of 0.1% between them. This near-identical average is striking given the Ryzen 7 3700U’s clean sweep in direct comparisons. The explanation lies in the benchmark mix: the i5-2400S has seven benchmark entries, including higher-scoring Cinebench R23 results, while the Ryzen 7 3700U has only four entries. The averaging process therefore weights the Intel part’s scores differently, pulling its average up despite losing every head-to-head test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2400S has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores, but the Ryzen 7 3700U supports simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700U leads by 61% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (672 versus 262) and by 28.1% in Geekbench multi-core (2377 versus 1709).

Q: Are these processors in the same performance tier?

A: Yes, both have an average benchmark score of 968 and a percentile rank of 26 among all CPUs. The Ryzen 7 3700U is 0.1% above the i5-2400S in average score.

Q: What manufacturing nodes do these chips use?

A: The i5-2400S uses Intel’s 32 nm process, while the Ryzen 7 3700U uses GlobalFoundries’ 12 nm process.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-2400S has a 65 W TDP, while the Ryzen 7 3700U has a 15 W TDP. The Ryzen 7 3700U delivers higher benchmark scores at a much lower power envelope.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700U wins Geekbench single-core by 13% (682 versus 593). The i5-2400S posts a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 154, but no comparable R20 result exists for the Ryzen 7 3700U.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U in nearly every scenario. It wins all three head-to-head benchmarks, offers twice the thread count, uses more advanced 12 nm manufacturing, and does so at a 15 W TDP versus 65 W. The performance margins are decisive: 61% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 28.1% in Geekbench multi-core, and 13% in Geekbench single-core. For any workload that leverages multiple threads, the Ryzen 7 3700U is categorically superior.

The Intel Core i5-2400S retains a narrow relevance in specific contexts. Its higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz provides a marginal advantage in lightly threaded tasks that do not boost well. Its larger 6 MB L3 cache versus 4 MB could benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads. And its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2601 is a strong result for a 2011 desktop processor. However, the i5-2400S is end-of-life, uses outdated DDR3 memory, and lacks SMT, which severely limits its multi-threaded ceiling.

The Ryzen 7 3700U is the better choice for mobile users, given its active production status and 15 W TDP. It delivers superior performance across the board while consuming far less power. The i5-2400S’s only advantage is its desktop socket and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, which may suit legacy system builders with existing Socket 1155 motherboards. But for anyone choosing between these two processors today, the benchmark data is unambiguous: the Ryzen 7 3700U wins decisively in every measured category, despite the two chips’ identical average scores.