AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS vs Intel Core i5-14400F Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record splits cleanly between these two processors, with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS taking 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-14400F holds four wins. The Intel part wins specifically in Cinebench R23 single-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, and PassMark physics. The AMD part dominates the remaining workload categories, including Geekbench, PassMark integer math, data encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, and single-thread tests.

Looking at the workload split, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS appears better suited to throughput-oriented tasks that stress the entire processor. Its wins in PassMark integer math (103,044 vs 81,524), data compression (365,352 vs 315,521), and multithread (30,098 vs 25,470) indicate a consistent edge in compute-heavy applications. The Intel Core i5-14400F counters with a decisive victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,645 vs 16,713), a 29.5% margin that suggests its hybrid core arrangement excels in rendering-style workloads.

The single-core picture is mixed. The AMD part wins PassMark single-thread (3,878 vs 3,701) and Geekbench single-core (2,144 vs 2,058), but the Intel part wins Cinebench R15 single-core (307 vs 283) and Cinebench R23 single-core (3,055 vs 1,790). That last result, a 70.7% advantage, is the single largest margin in either direction across the entire comparison. It suggests the Intel chip has a significant clock-for-clock advantage in at least one rendering benchmark, while the AMD chip holds narrower leads in other single-thread tests.

For users prioritizing rendering performance, the Intel Core i5-14400F is the clear choice based on Cinebench R23 results. For users prioritizing general compute, encryption, compression, or integer-heavy tasks, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS shows a broader advantage. The data does not show one processor winning everywhere; instead, it shows complementary strengths that depend heavily on the specific application.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-14400F uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support 16 threads, but the core counts differ, which affects how each processor handles parallel workloads.

Cache configurations also differ. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip carries more cache at every level, which may explain its strong Cinebench R23 multi-core showing despite fewer total threads than the AMD chip's higher clock speeds.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The Intel Core i5-14400F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The AMD chip starts higher and boosts higher, yet the Intel chip wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a wide margin. This suggests the Intel chip's additional cores and larger cache matter more than raw clock speed in that specific workload.

Power and platform characteristics diverge sharply. The Intel part has a TDP of 65 watts and uses Intel Socket 1700, while the AMD part has a TDP of 35 watts and uses AMD Socket FP8. The AMD chip is a mobile processor with integrated Radeon 780M graphics, while the Intel chip has no integrated graphics. The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel chip offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the AMD chip offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Both support ECC memory.

The AMD chip is built on a 4 nm process with 25,000 million transistors and a 178 mm² die size, while the Intel chip uses a 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die size. The smaller process node gives the AMD chip a transistor density advantage, though the Intel chip's larger die still delivers competitive performance in several benchmarks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest Intel win comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core i5-14400F scores 3,055 against the Ryzen 9 7940HS's 1,790, a 70.7% advantage. This is an outlier compared to other single-thread tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel part wins by 8.5% (307 vs 283). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part wins by 29.5% (21,645 vs 16,713). In PassMark physics, the Intel part wins by 5% (1,523 vs 1,450).

The AMD chip counters with several substantial wins. PassMark extended instructions shows the largest AMD margin: 27,480 vs 19,937, a 27.4% difference. PassMark random string sorting follows at 42,386 vs 32,680, a 22.9% gap. PassMark data encryption shows 21,777 vs 16,949, a 22.2% difference. PassMark integer math reaches 103,044 vs 81,524, a 20.9% margin. PassMark multithread lands at 30,098 vs 25,470, a 15.4% difference.

Geekbench results favor the AMD chip but with smaller margins. Geekbench multi-core shows 12,724 vs 11,268, an 11.4% AMD advantage. Geekbench single-core shows 2,144 vs 2,058, a 4% AMD edge. PassMark data compression shows 365,352 vs 315,521, a 13.6% AMD win. PassMark floating point math is close: 62,897 vs 61,319, only a 2.5% AMD advantage. PassMark find prime numbers shows 92 vs 86, a 6.5% AMD win. PassMark single-thread shows 3,878 vs 3,701, a 4.6% AMD edge.

The pattern is clear. The Intel chip wins rendering-heavy workloads decisively, especially in Cinebench R23. The AMD chip wins most other categories, often by double-digit margins. The two PassMark single-thread results are identical at 3,701 and 3,878 respectively, confirming the AMD part's modest but consistent single-thread advantage outside of Cinebench.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-14400F wins 4.

Q: Why does the Intel Core i5-14400F win Cinebench R23 multi-core by such a large margin?

A: The Intel part scores 21,645 vs 16,713, a 29.5% advantage. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 20 MB of L3 cache, compared to 8 cores and 16 MB on the AMD chip, which likely contributes to this result.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS faster in single-thread tests?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The AMD chip wins PassMark single-thread (3,878 vs 3,701), Geekbench single-core (2,144 vs 2,058), and Cinebench R15 single-core is an Intel win (307 vs 283). Cinebench R23 single-core goes to Intel by a huge 70.7% margin (3,055 vs 1,790).

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD chip is designed for mobile platforms, while the Intel chip targets desktop sockets.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14400F and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS includes Radeon 780M integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-14400F has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports different picks depending on the workload. For Cinebench rendering tasks, the Intel Core i5-14400F is the stronger option, with a 29.5% multi-core advantage and a 70.7% single-core advantage in R23. For almost everything else in the benchmark set, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS leads, often by double digits.

Users who run rendering engines like those modeled by Cinebench R23 should favor the Intel part. Its 10-core, 20 MB L3 configuration appears well suited to that workload. Users who run broader compute tasks, such as integer math, encryption, compression, or extended instruction workloads, should favor the AMD part. The AMD chip also offers integrated graphics and a 35 watt TDP, making it suitable for systems where power efficiency matters.

The overall standings reflect the split: the Intel part sits at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, while the AMD part sits at the 82nd percentile. Their average benchmark scores are close, with the Intel chip at 32,279 and the AMD chip at 31,593. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% higher), Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% higher), and Intel Core i7-12800H (0.5% lower). The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core i5-13500 (0.3% higher), Intel Core Ultra 5 225H (0.3% higher), and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX (0.3% higher).

The choice comes down to workload profile. Rendering favors Intel. General compute favors AMD. The data does not support a single universal winner.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14400F | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Phoenix |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 178 mm² |

| Transistors | Not specified | 25,000 million |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Radeon 780M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | Not specified |

| Launch MSRP | $196 | Not specified |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SRN3RSRN47 | 100-000000954(FP7r2), 100-000000963(FP7), 100-000001128(FP8) |