AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 15 head-to-head comparisons between the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX and the Intel Core i5-14490F. The AMD processor wins 14 of those comparisons, while the Intel part takes a single victory. The overall pattern is decisive, but the margin varies substantially across workloads.

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX appears in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 57,946 against 21,731 for the Intel Core i5-14490F, a delta of 166.7%. This workload benefits from the AMD processor’s wider execution resources and higher thread count. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a similar story: the AMD part scores 5,905 versus 2,318, a 154.7% advantage. Both results indicate that the Ryzen 9 9955HX scales far better under heavy parallel instruction streams.

PassMark integer math also favors the AMD chip heavily. The Ryzen 9 9955HX records 212,598, while the Core i5-14490F scores 87,844, a 142% difference. The data suggests the AMD processor sustains higher throughput per clock under integer-heavy code, likely due to its newer Zen 5 architecture and additional cores. PassMark find prime numbers shows a 135.2% lead for AMD, with scores of 287 and 122 respectively, reinforcing the same conclusion.

Data compression and encryption workloads further separate the two. The Ryzen 9 9955HX posts 731,998 in PassMark data compression versus 340,026 for the Intel chip, a 115.3% delta. In data encryption, the AMD part scores 37,330 against 18,225, a 104.8% lead. These are multi-threaded tasks where the AMD processor’s 16 cores and 32 threads provide a clear structural advantage over the Intel part’s 10 cores and 16 threads.

PassMark floating point math shows the AMD processor at 136,682 versus 66,558 for Intel, a 105.4% difference. Random string sorting follows at 118.7% in favor of AMD, with scores of 77,890 and 35,608. The multithread PassMark score for the AMD chip is 56,171 versus 28,662 for Intel, a 96% gap. Even PassMark physics, a less thread-saturated test, shows AMD ahead by 30%, with 2,720 versus 2,093.

Single-threaded results narrow the gap but still favor the AMD processor. In PassMark single thread, the Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 4,393 against 3,873 for the Intel Core i5-14490F, a 13.4% lead. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows a smaller 2.8% edge for AMD, with 336 versus 327. These numbers indicate that the AMD chip does not merely rely on core count; its per-core performance is also competitive.

The single Intel win comes in Cinebench R23 singlecore. Here the Core i5-14490F scores 3,247 versus 2,174 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, a delta of -33% from the AMD perspective. This is a substantial reversal. The Intel processor’s high boost clock of 5.00 GHz and Raptor Lake architecture deliver superior performance in this specific lightly threaded rendering test. Notably, this result conflicts with the PassMark single-thread data, which shows AMD ahead. The discrepancy likely stems from differences in how the two tests stress the CPU: Cinebench R23 singlecore may favor Intel’s higher sustained single-core frequency, while PassMark single thread exercises a broader instruction mix.

Cinebench R23 multicore, by contrast, goes decisively to AMD: 37,159 versus 23,000, a 61.6% lead. This is the most commonly cited multi-threaded rendering benchmark, and the margin confirms the AMD processor’s advantage when all cores are engaged.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX dominates across nearly every recorded workload category. Its wins span data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number computation, floating point math, integer math, multithreaded PassMark, physics simulation, random string sorting, and both PassMark single-thread variants. In rendering, it wins Cinebench R15 multicore and Cinebench R23 multicore by large margins. The AMD processor also wins Cinebench R15 singlecore, albeit narrowly.

The Intel Core i5-14490F wins only in Cinebench R23 singlecore. That single result indicates the Intel part holds an edge in a specific, lightly threaded rendering scenario. The 3,247 score represents a 33% advantage over the AMD chip in that test. For workloads that resemble Cinebench R23 singlecore, particularly single-threaded 3D rendering, the Intel processor may deliver higher performance.

Outside that narrow niche, the data does not identify any other workload where Intel comes out ahead. The AMD processor’s 16 cores and 32 threads give it a structural advantage in all multi-threaded tests, and its Zen 5 architecture keeps it competitive or ahead in single-threaded tests except for the one Cinebench R23 case.

The overall average benchmark score reflects this split. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX averages 91,199 across its recorded benchmarks, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core i5-14490F averages 38,149, placing it in the 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Xeon 654 at 90,717 (0.5% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 90,541 (0.7% lower), the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus at 93,785 (2.8% higher), and the Intel Xeon 6520P at 93,786 (2.8% higher). For the Intel Core i5-14490F, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T at 38,194 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i5-13600KF at 38,103 (0.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen 7 250 at 38,221 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-13600HX at 38,261 (0.3% higher).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX averages 91,199, while the Intel Core i5-14490F averages 38,149.

Q: How many head-to-head comparisons does the AMD processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins 14 of the 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-14490F wins one.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-14490F outperform the AMD processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F wins in Cinebench R23 singlecore, scoring 3,247 versus 2,174 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, a 33% advantage.

Q: What is the largest margin of victory in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX leads by 166.7%, scoring 57,946 versus 21,731.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 37,159, which is 61.6% higher than the Intel Core i5-14490F’s 23,000.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core i5-14490F sits in the 86th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several fundamental specifications. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part boosts to 5.40 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Intel part. Both have a base clock of 2.50 GHz.

The thermal design power (TDP) differs: the AMD processor is rated at 55 watts, while the Intel processor is rated at 65 watts. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor is unlocked, allowing multiplier adjustment, while the Intel processor is locked.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-14490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with dual-channel memory, but has no recorded bandwidth figure in the database. The AMD processor supports ECC memory; the Intel processor does not.

PCIe connectivity varies as well. The AMD processor offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Intel part has no integrated graphics (N/A). The market segments differ: the AMD processor is mobile, and the Intel processor is desktop.

The release dates differ by roughly a year. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX was released on 2025-01-05, while the Intel Core i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range, from the 9000 series. It uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC, with 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-R, from the Core 14th Gen series. It is manufactured on a 10 nm process node at Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². No transistor count is recorded in the database. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

The L1 cache per core is identical at 80 KB for both. The L2 cache per core differs: AMD uses 1 MB, while Intel uses 1.25 MB. The shared L3 cache differs significantly: AMD has 64 MB, while Intel has 24 MB. Neither processor has 3D V-Cache.

The AMD processor is part of the Ryzen 9 generation (Zen 5, Fire Range), while the Intel processor is part of the Core i5 generation (Raptor Lake Refresh). The AMD part’s transistor count and dual-die design reflect a more complex physical layout, while the Intel part uses a monolithic die.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX leads in 14 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with an average score of 91,199 versus 38,149 for the Intel Core i5-14490F. The AMD processor holds a 96th percentile ranking compared to the Intel processor’s 86th percentile.

The AMD processor’s advantage is most pronounced in multi-threaded workloads. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and a 55-watt TDP, allow it to deliver between 30% and 166.7% higher scores across the PassMark suite and Cinebench multicore tests. The single-thread PassMark results also favor AMD by 13.4%.

The Intel Core i5-14490F retains one meaningful advantage: Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it scores 33% higher than the AMD part. This indicates that for applications dominated by a single rendering thread, the Intel processor may offer superior performance. However, the database does not show any other workload where Intel leads.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is the stronger choice based on the recorded measurements. For users whose primary workload aligns with Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Intel Core i5-14490F shows a specific edge. The overall dataset, however, favors the AMD processor by a wide margin.