AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Intel Core i5-14400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i5-14400, which takes 15 of the 19 benchmark comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX counters with four wins, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The most striking gap appears in Cinebench and PassMark physics testing. Across the entire Cinebench suite, the Intel chip posts a consistent 7.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14400 scores 21,315 against 19,850 for the Ryzen 9 5980HX. The single-core Cinebench R23 result follows the same pattern: 3,009 versus 2,802. This uniformity across R15, R20, and R23 suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a test-specific quirk.

PassMark physics delivers the largest percentage swing of the entire comparison. The i5-14400 records 1,396 points, which is 58.5% ahead of the Ryzen 9 5980HX's 881. Prime number finding also heavily favors Intel, with the i5-14400 scoring 80 versus 53, a 50.9% lead. Floating point math shows a 22.6% edge for Intel (61,549 against 50,223). These are substantial, workload-specific wins that point to different execution strengths.

Geekbench multicore is another notable Intel victory. The i5-14400 scores 9,807, which is 27% higher than the Ryzen 9 5980HX's 7,723. This is one of the larger margins in the dataset and suggests the Intel part scales better across all cores under this particular load.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX claims its largest win in data encryption. It scores 19,221 against Intel's 16,731, a 13% advantage. Integer math also goes AMD's way, with 89,772 versus 82,017, an 8.6% lead. Extended instructions favor AMD by 6.6% (21,209 against 19,816). In Geekbench single-core, the Ryzen 9 5980HX edges ahead by a narrow 1.3%, scoring 1,930 versus 1,905. These wins are concentrated in specific instruction-heavy and encryption workloads.

The closest contest in the entire dataset is PassMark random string sorting, where the i5-14400 wins by just 0.3% (32,346 versus 32,238). Data compression is nearly as tight, with Intel ahead by 1.4% (314,995 versus 310,694). In single-thread PassMark, Intel leads by 12.5%, scoring 3,741 versus 3,326.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14400 dominates rendering workloads. Every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, in both single and multicore variants, goes to Intel by the same 7.4% margin. This makes it the clear choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, and other heavily threaded creative tasks. The PassMark multithread score reinforces this, with Intel ahead by 7.4% (25,080 versus 23,356).

Physics simulation is overwhelmingly Intel territory. The 58.5% lead in PassMark physics is the single largest gap recorded between these two processors. Anyone running physics-heavy simulations or certain game physics calculations should favor the i5-14400. Prime number finding, often used as a proxy for raw integer throughput in scientific computing, also strongly favors Intel with its 50.9% advantage.

Floating point math and single-thread performance are additional Intel strengths. The 22.6% lead in floating point math and 12.5% lead in PassMark single-thread both indicate strong general-purpose performance. The i5-14400 also wins the Geekbench multicore test by 27%, further cementing its position for multitasking and parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX makes its stand in encryption and integer-heavy tasks. The 13% data encryption win is meaningful for anyone handling encrypted storage, VPN traffic, or secure communications. AMD's 8.6% integer math advantage suggests strong performance in database operations, financial calculations, and other integer-bound applications.

Extended instructions go to AMD by 6.6%, which can benefit workloads using SIMD instructions, media processing, and certain scientific computations. For single-threaded Geekbench, the Ryzen 9 5980HX takes a narrow lead, though the margin is slim enough that real-world differences would be hard to perceive.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-14400 is a desktop part built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh. It uses a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel itself. The die size measures 215 mm². The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is a mobile processor based on Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC. Its die is 180 mm² and contains 10,700 million transistors.

Core configurations differ significantly. The i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both use simultaneous multithreading, but Intel's extra two cores likely contribute to its multicore benchmark victories.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache. AMD offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a smaller 16 MB shared L3. The larger Intel L3 cache provides more room for shared data across the 10 cores.

Clock speeds favor AMD on paper. The Ryzen 9 5980HX has a 3.30 GHz base clock and a 4.80 GHz boost clock. The i5-14400 runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, Intel's benchmark results show higher scores in most tests, indicating architectural efficiency and core count advantages outweigh the clock deficit.

The TDP figures reflect their different market positions. The i5-14400 carries a 65 W TDP as a desktop processor, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX is rated at 45 W as a mobile part. The Intel chip uses Socket 1700, while AMD uses Socket FP6. The Ryzen 9 5980HX has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5-14400 does not.

Memory support differs substantially. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and it features ECC memory support. AMD is limited to DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and has no ECC support. The Ryzen 9 5980HX does list a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel part.

PCIe capabilities favor Intel. The i5-14400 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This gives Intel a significant advantage for high-bandwidth storage and GPU connectivity. Both chips include integrated graphics: Intel with UHD Graphics 730 and AMD with Radeon Vega 8.

The release dates place these chips in different eras. The i5-14400 launched on January 7, 2024, with a launch MSRP of $221. The Ryzen 9 5980HX arrived on January 11, 2021. Both remain in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How big is the performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The i5-14400 leads by 7.4% in both single-core and multicore Cinebench R23. The multicore scores are 21,315 for Intel and 19,850 for AMD. Single-core scores are 3,009 for Intel and 2,802 for AMD.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX win any benchmarks?

A: Yes. AMD wins data encryption by 13%, integer math by 8.6%, extended instructions by 6.6%, and Geekbench single-core by 1.3%.

Q: Which chip is better for physics simulations?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 is significantly better in PassMark physics, scoring 1,396 against AMD's 881, a 58.5% advantage.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The i5-14400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode with ECC support. The Ryzen 9 5980HX supports only DDR4 in dual-channel mode without ECC.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has a higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the i5-14400. The base clocks are 3.30 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i5-14400 is the stronger processor across the majority of tested workloads. It wins 15 of 19 comparisons, including every Cinebench test, the Geekbench multicore test, PassMark multithread, physics, floating point math, prime number finding, data compression, random string sorting, and single-thread PassMark.

The i5-14400 is the better choice for rendering, physics simulation, floating point math, and general multithreaded productivity. Its 7.4% advantage across all Cinebench versions indicates consistent rendering performance. The 58.5% physics lead and 27% Geekbench multicore advantage make it suitable for simulation and parallel processing tasks. The larger L3 cache (20 MB versus 16 MB) and PCIe Gen 5 support add further appeal for desktop builds.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX remains competitive in specific niches. Its 13% data encryption advantage makes it preferable for security-focused workloads. The 8.6% integer math win and 6.6% extended instructions advantage suit integer-heavy applications. Its 45 W TDP and mobile socket mean it belongs in laptops, where its power efficiency and unlocked multiplier may matter more than raw performance.

For desktop users building a system around a mid-range processor, the i5-14400 delivers superior performance in nearly every category the database records. For mobile users who need strong encryption throughput and integer processing, the Ryzen 9 5980HX holds its own, though the overall performance crown clearly belongs to Intel. The data shows a 7.4% average lead for Intel across the Cinebench suite and a 27% lead in Geekbench multicore, making the i5-14400 the recommended pick for most buyers who can accommodate a desktop socket.