AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X as the dominant processor in this comparison, winning three of the four shared benchmark tests. The Ryzen 9 9950X delivers a 246.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 125.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, reflecting its substantially larger core and thread configuration. The Intel Core i5-14401E secures one win in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it outperforms the AMD part by 14.1%. The AMD processor also holds a 33.3% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core, meaning the Intel part’s single-core victory is isolated to one test. The overall average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy: the Ryzen 9 9950X records an average of 74,640, while the Core i5-14401E averages 5,253. The AMD part sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, whereas the Intel part sits at the 60th percentile.

The Ryzen 9 9950X is the clear choice for workloads that scale across cores, as its multi-core margins are extreme. The Core i5-14401E is the better pick only where a single specific test, Cinebench R23 single-core, matters more than everything else, and where the platform constraints of a 65W TDP and locked multiplier are acceptable. The data does not support a broader case for the Intel part beyond that narrow scenario.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X leads by 246.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and by 125.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14401E win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14401E wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2,564, which is 14.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X score of 2,202.

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has a locked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X boosts to 5.70 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the Intel Core i5-14401E.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, built on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process by Intel. The manufacturing process difference is significant: the AMD chip integrates 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die layout with each die measuring 70.6 mm², for a combined die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel chip uses a monolithic 215 mm² die, with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Both processors have the same per-core L1 cache at 80 KB per core, but their L2 and L3 configurations diverge. The AMD part provides 1 MB of L2 per core and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part provides 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor’s larger L3 pool is consistent with its role as a high-core-count flagship, while the Intel part’s smaller shared cache aligns with its six-core design.

Memory controller differences also separate the two. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD part offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Core i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD processor is part of the 9000 series and is classified as a Ryzen 9 generation part, while the Intel processor belongs to Core 14th Gen and the Core i5 generation. The AMD part is fabricated by TSMC, while the Intel part is fabricated by Intel. Both are listed as active production desktop parts.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most immediate differentiators. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X provides 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14401E provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 4.30 GHz for the AMD part versus 2.50 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks also differ, with the AMD part reaching 5.70 GHz and the Intel part reaching 4.70 GHz.

Thermal design power is another major division. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has a 170W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-14401E has a 65W TDP. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel processor does not. The AMD part’s launch MSRP is $649, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Intel part.

Cache specifications differ across L2 and L3. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 1 MB of L2 per core and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The memory support differs: the AMD part is DDR5-only, while the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD part records 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth; no bandwidth figure exists for the Intel part. PCIe lane counts differ, with 24 lanes on the AMD part versus 16 lanes on the Intel part, both Gen 5 and CPU-only.

Release dates are close but not identical. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X was released on 2024-08-14, while the Intel Core i5-14401E was released on 2024-06-30. The part numbers are distinct: 100-000001277 for the AMD processor and Q49JSRNJS for the Intel processor. The AMD processor’s percentile ranking among all CPUs is 94, compared to 60 for the Intel processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The shared benchmark suite contains four tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins three, while the Intel Core i5-14401E wins one.

The largest margin belongs to Cinebench R15 multi-core. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X scores 6,335 against 1,830 for the Intel Core i5-14401E, a 246.2% advantage. This is the widest gap in the entire comparison and directly reflects the 16-core versus 6-core difference. The Intel part’s score here places it near its nearest recorded rivals, the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 with an average score of 5,259 and the Intel Core i7-11700B with an average score of 5,241, but those are average scores rather than direct test comparisons.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a similarly decisive result. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X scores 40,924, while the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18,161, giving the AMD part a 125.3% lead. The AMD processor’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 with an average score of 74,761 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 with an average score of 75,488, both of which are within 1.1% of the Ryzen 9 9950X’s average score of 74,640. The Intel Core i5-14401E’s nearest rivals are markedly lower, including the Intel Core i9-10850K at 5,240 and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 5,210.

Single-core results are closer. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X scores 344 versus 258 for the Intel part, a 33.3% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i5-14401E reverses the outcome, scoring 2,564 against 2,202, a 14.1% lead. The Intel part’s single-core win is the only benchmark in the shared suite where it outperforms the AMD part, and the margin is smaller than the AMD part’s multi-core leads.

The average benchmark scores place the two processors in different strata. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X records an average benchmark score of 74,640, while the Intel Core i5-14401E records 5,253. The AMD part’s percentile rank of 94 versus the Intel part’s rank of 60 quantifies the overall performance gap. The head-to-head win count is 3 to 1 in favor of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, and the magnitude of its victories in multi-core tests dwarfs the Intel part’s single-test win.