AMD Ryzen 7 8840U vs Intel Core i5-13400 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13400 and AMD Ryzen 7 8840U represent two distinct philosophies in processor design: one is a desktop-focused powerhouse built for sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the other is a mobile-efficient part optimized for a balance of performance and power draw. Benchmark data reveals a clear split, with the Intel chip dominating heavily threaded tasks and the AMD chip countering in specific single-thread and integer workloads. The i5-13400 records 15 benchmark wins against the Ryzen 7 8840U’s 8 wins, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant gap between these two processors appears in multi-threaded tests, where the Intel Core i5-13400’s hybrid core design delivers substantial leads. In the 3DMark 16-thread test, the i5-13400 scores 7315 against the Ryzen’s 5691, a 28.5% advantage. The 3DMark max-thread test shows an almost identical story: 7310 versus 5677, a 28.8% lead. This pattern holds in Geekbench multicore, where Intel wins by 27.9% (12289 vs 9610), and in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the margin is 23% (15953 vs 12972). The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows a smaller but still decisive 16.5% advantage (2358 vs 2024).

The i5-13400 also dominates in floating-point math, scoring 58786 in Passmark’s test against the Ryzen’s 48820, a 20.4% margin. Data compression favors Intel as well, with a 12.7% lead (301481 vs 267525). Even in 8-thread workloads, the Intel chip maintains a 14.2% advantage (5592 vs 4896), suggesting its core arrangement scales efficiently up to that point.

The Ryzen 7 8840U’s wins are narrower but concentrated in areas that matter for specific use cases. In Passmark integer math, the AMD chip reverses the trend with a 9.4% win, scoring 85740 versus Intel’s 77721. The Ryzen also takes Passmark random string sorting by 4.1%, and Passmark find prime numbers by 5.1%. Single-thread performance is a near tie: in Passmark single-thread, the Ryzen edges out a 0.1% win (3543 vs 3538), and in 3DMark single-thread it leads by 2% (979 vs 959). Cinebench R15 single-core gives AMD its largest single-thread victory at 3.4% (266 vs 257).

Interestingly, the i5-13400 wins the more modern Cinebench R23 single-core test by 4.9% (1786 vs 1703) and Geekbench single-core by 7.2% (2112 vs 1970). The data shows that in legacy single-thread tests, AMD holds a slight edge, but in newer, more demanding single-thread workloads, Intel pulls ahead. Passmark data encryption is nearly a wash, with AMD winning by just 1.2% (16072 vs 15880). The 2-thread and 4-thread 3DMark tests are similarly close, with Intel winning by 1.1% and 5.2%, respectively.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split explains these results. The Intel Core i5-13400 is built on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry, using the Raptor Lake architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, providing flexibility for desktop builders. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and carries a 65 W TDP, reflecting its desktop orientation. The i5-13400 includes UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is a radically different design. Manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process, it uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its cache is smaller across the board: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen supports only DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, but it lists a specific memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It uses the AMD Socket FP8, has a remarkably low 28 W TDP, and integrates the more powerful Radeon 780M graphics. The chip also packs 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the Intel part’s die size is 215 mm² with transistor count not listed.

The 8840U’s PCIe implementation is Gen 4 with 20 lanes, which is a generation behind Intel’s Gen 5 support. The i5-13400 was released on January 3, 2023, while the Ryzen 7 8840U followed nearly a year later on December 5, 2023. Both are currently marked as Active in production. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC memory support. The Intel processor carries a launch MSRP of $221; the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP. The 8840U’s transistor count of 25,000 million is notable, but the Intel chip’s transistor count is not provided in the data.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-13400 is the superior processor for multi-threaded desktop workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is optimized for a different context. The i5-13400 wins 15 of 23 head-to-head benchmarks, with decisive margins in 3DMark 16-thread (28.5%), Geekbench multicore (27.9%), and Cinebench R23 multicore (23%). Its average benchmark score of 24280 places it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, just 0.3% behind its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1360P, which scores 24344. The Ryzen 7 8840U’s average score of 23982 also lands in the 76th percentile, but its nearest rival delta shows a 0.4% deficit to the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G, which scores 24089.

For users prioritizing raw multi-core throughput for rendering, compilation, or heavy multitasking, the i5-13400 is the clear choice. Its 23% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 27.9% lead in Geekbench multicore are substantial enough to notice in real-world workloads. The Ryzen 7 8840U, however, offers a compelling counterpoint for mobile applications. Its 28 W TDP versus Intel’s 65 W TDP suggests significantly better power efficiency, which is critical for laptop battery life. The Ryzen also wins in Passmark integer math by 9.4%, which can benefit certain productivity tasks.

The single-thread picture is mixed. The Ryzen wins legacy tests like Cinebench R15 single-core by 3.4% and Passmark single-thread by 0.1%, but the Intel chip dominates newer tests like Geekbench single-core (7.2%) and Cinebench R23 single-core (4.9%). This suggests that for modern single-threaded applications, the Intel chip has the edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-13400’s boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 scores 15953 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 23% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U’s score of 12972.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel’s foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i5-13400 nor the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has a significantly lower TDP of 28 W.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13400 is the definitive winner in heavily threaded desktop applications. Its 28.5% lead in 3DMark 16-thread and 28.8% lead in 3DMark max-thread indicate strong scaling across all available cores. The 23% margin in Cinebench R23 multicore makes it a better choice for 3D rendering and video encoding. The 27.9% lead in Geekbench multicore suggests it will handle virtualization and database workloads more effectively. The 20.4% advantage in Passmark floating-point math points to superiority in scientific computing and financial modeling tasks. For data compression workloads, the 12.7% edge means faster file archiving and backup operations. The i5-13400 also wins in Passmark extended instructions by 2.7%, which can benefit SIMD-heavy applications.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U’s wins are fewer but strategically placed. Its 9.4% lead in Passmark integer math suggests better performance in tasks like cryptography, hash calculations, and certain types of code compilation that rely on integer arithmetic. The 4.1% win in random string sorting indicates faster database sorting and text processing. The 5.1% advantage in find prime numbers, while niche, shows the Zen 4 architecture’s efficiency in certain algorithmic workloads. The Ryzen’s narrow 0.1% win in Passmark single-thread and 2% win in 3DMark single-thread, combined with its 3.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, show it holds its own in legacy single-threaded applications. The 1.2% win in data encryption is marginal but hints at better security-related performance.

The most important contextual factor is the 28 W TDP versus 65 W TDP. The Ryzen 7 8840U is designed for mobile platforms where thermal headroom is limited, while the i5-13400 is a desktop part that can leverage larger cooling solutions. For a laptop user, the Ryzen’s wins in integer math and its dramatically lower power draw make it the sensible option. For a desktop user with adequate cooling, the Intel chip’s overwhelming multi-threaded advantage makes it the clear pick. The data shows two well-matched processors that serve entirely different market segments, with the Intel chip winning raw performance and the AMD chip winning efficiency and specific integer workloads.