AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X records an average benchmark score of 74640, while the Intel Core i5-14490F records 38149. The AMD part sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, compared to the 86th percentile for the Intel part.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded Cinebench performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with a score of 3247, which is 32.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X's score of 2202. However, in the older Cinebench R15 single-core test, the AMD part leads with 344 versus 327, a 5.2% advantage.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD processor also has a higher base clock of 4.30 GHz and boost clock of 5.70 GHz, compared to 2.50 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost on the Intel part.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-14490F does not. Both processors use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD part supports DDR5 only, whereas the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor hold in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i5-14490F wins only one, the Cinebench R23 single-core test.

Q: What is the process node and foundry for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14490F is built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD chip uses a dual-die design with a combined die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel chip uses a single 215 mm² die.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits cleanly between single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel Core i5-14490F takes the sole win in Cinebench R23 single-core, posting 3247 against 2202 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, a 32.2% margin. That result indicates the Intel part holds an edge in lightly threaded tasks that depend heavily on single-core speed in that specific benchmark.

Every other recorded benchmark favors the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X. The multi-core wins are decisive: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 40924 for AMD versus 23000 for Intel, a 77.9% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core widens further, with AMD at 6335 and Intel at 2318, a 173.3% difference. PassMark multi-thread follows the same pattern, 66030 versus 28662, a 130.4% advantage.

The AMD part also dominates in specialized workloads. PassMark extended instructions show 71564 against 21731, a 229.3% lead, the largest single delta in the dataset. PassMark integer math favors AMD by 175.6%, floating-point math by 139%, and prime number finding by 182.8%. Data compression and encryption also go to AMD with 163.7% and 143.4% margins respectively. Even the single-threaded PassMark test goes to AMD, 4737 versus 3873, a 22.3% lead, which contrasts with the Cinebench R23 single-core result and shows benchmark-specific behavior.

Users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or data processing should look at the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X. Users who need the highest Cinebench R23 single-core score in this pairing would favor the Intel Core i5-14490F, but that is the only recorded scenario where the Intel part comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, and belongs to the Ryzen 9 9000 series. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 16,630 million transistors spread across two 70.6 mm² dies. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-R, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen series. It is built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a single 215 mm² die.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Both CPUs use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor therefore offers substantially more total L3 cache, which benefits workloads with large working sets.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 only, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but the database does not record a memory bandwidth figure for it. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe lane counts differ as well. The AMD processor provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip also includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking. The Intel Core i5-14490F has a locked multiplier. Sockets are different: AMD uses Socket AM5, Intel uses Socket 1700. The AMD part was released on 2024-08-14, while the Intel part was released on 2023-12-31.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i5-14490F |

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

| Cores | 16 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 170 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 215 mm² |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | Not recorded |

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

| L3 cache | 64 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | N/A |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $649 | Not recorded |

| Release date | 2024-08-14 | 2023-12-31 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 71564 against 21731 for the Intel Core i5-14490F, a 229.3% delta. This indicates a massive advantage in workloads that exercise advanced instruction sets. PassMark integer math follows with 242097 versus 87844, a 175.6% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 6335 versus 2318, a 173.3% delta, nearly matching the integer math margin.

PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD by 165%, with scores of 94368 and 35608. Data compression favors AMD at 896544 versus 340026, a 163.7% delta. Prime number finding shows AMD at 345 and Intel at 122, a 182.8% lead. Floating-point math gives AMD a 139% advantage with 159063 versus 66558. Data encryption goes to AMD by 143.4%, 44366 versus 18225. PassMark multi-thread shows AMD ahead by 130.4%, 66030 versus 28662.

PassMark physics favors AMD by 56.7%, with 3279 versus 2093. PassMark single-thread and single-thread duplicate tests both show AMD at 4737 versus Intel at 3873, a 22.3% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core goes to AMD by a narrow 5.2%, 344 versus 327. The only Intel win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 3247 against AMD's 2202, a 32.2% margin in Intel's favor.

The Cinebench R23 single-core result stands as an outlier relative to the other single-thread tests. PassMark single-thread shows AMD ahead by 22.3%, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows AMD ahead by 5.2%. The Intel part's R23 single-core win does not carry over to the other single-thread measurements in the database.

The Verdict

The data points strongly toward the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X for almost every workload category. It wins 14 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all multi-core tests and most single-thread tests. Its average benchmark score of 74640 places it at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, compared to 38149 and the 86th percentile for the Intel Core i5-14490F. The AMD part also offers more cores, more threads, higher clocks, a larger L3 cache, ECC support, more PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, and an unlocked multiplier.

The Intel Core i5-14490F claims only the Cinebench R23 single-core test, with a 32.2% advantage. That result is meaningful for users whose primary workload is that specific benchmark or similar lightly threaded tasks that mirror its behavior. The Intel part also runs at a much lower TDP of 65 W versus 170 W, which may matter for systems with limited cooling or power budgets. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing flexibility in platform choices.

For multi-core rendering, data processing, encryption, compression, and general compute-heavy tasks, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is the clear choice based on recorded measurements. For a user who prioritizes Cinebench R23 single-core performance above all other metrics, the Intel Core i5-14490F has a demonstrated edge. The overall benchmark record, however, shows a dominant performance gap in favor of the AMD processor across nearly every test in the database.