AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS vs Intel Core i5-14400 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14400 and AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS represent two distinct philosophies in processor design: a desktop-focused hybrid architecture against a mobile-optimized monolithic chip. While both sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, their benchmark profiles reveal a clear performance hierarchy, with the Intel part taking 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The data shows a decisive victory for the desktop chip in most workloads, though the AMD processor demonstrates specific strengths that merit attention.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation occurs in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-14400 scores 21,315 against the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS's 11,515. That is an 85.1% delta, the largest margin in the entire test suite. The single-core R23 result is even more lopsided in relative terms: Intel's 3,009 score beats AMD's 1,514 by 98.7%. These results indicate that the Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS is not merely slower in these tests, but operates in a different performance class entirely for sustained multi-threaded rendering and burst single-thread workloads.

The Cinebench R15 tests follow the same pattern, though with smaller gaps. Intel leads multi-core 2,148 to 1,913, a 12.3% advantage, and single-core 303 to 239, a 26.8% margin. This consistency across Cinebench versions suggests the 14400's advantage scales with workload length, growing from R15 to R23 as the test duration increases.

Geekbench results are more nuanced. The multi-core score favors Intel at 9,807 versus 8,756, a 12% lead. However, the single-core Geekbench scores are nearly identical: 1,905 for Intel versus 1,903 for AMD, a delta of just 0.1%. This near-tie indicates that for single-threaded integer and floating-point tasks measured by Geekbench, the two processors are effectively equivalent, despite the larger Cinebench R23 single-core gap.

In Passmark workloads, Intel wins 10 of 12 categories. The largest Passmark victory for Intel is in find_prime_numbers, where the 80 score against AMD's 56 represents a 42.9% advantage. Physics also favors Intel significantly, 1,396 to 1,043, a 33.8% delta. Floating point math goes Intel's way at 61,549 versus 48,096, a 28% lead. Data compression shows Intel ahead 314,995 to 282,624, an 11.5% margin. Multi-threaded Passmark scores place Intel at 25,080 against 22,775, a 10.1% lead, while single-thread Passmark has Intel at 3,741 versus 3,400, a 10% edge.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS claims only two wins, both in Passmark. The first is data encryption, where AMD scores 17,837 against Intel's 16,731, a 6.2% advantage. The second is integer math, where AMD's 88,124 beats Intel's 82,017 by 6.9%. Both wins are narrow but repeatable, suggesting architectural strengths in these specific instruction patterns. The extended instructions test goes to Intel narrowly, 19,816 to 18,897, a 4.9% delta, while random string sorting favors Intel 32,346 to 29,350, a 10.2% margin.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is visible in the core counts and process nodes. The Intel Core i5-14400 uses a hybrid configuration with 10 cores and 16 threads, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS offers 8 cores and 16 threads on TSMC's 6 nm node with a die size of 208 mm². The Intel chip has more physical cores, but both present the same thread count to the operating system.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3. The larger per-core L2 in the Intel design likely contributes to its advantage in latency-sensitive workloads, while the overall larger L3 pool gives the 14400 more room for shared data.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The AMD chip has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus Intel's 2.50 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. Despite these clock advantages, the Intel part wins most benchmarks, indicating that IPC differences and the hybrid core arrangement more than compensate for the lower frequencies.

The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip is DDR5-only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD lists a specific memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, which the Intel entry does not specify. Intel supports ECC memory; AMD does not. PCIe capabilities differ as well: Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part integrates UHD Graphics 730, while AMD includes Radeon 680M graphics. Market positioning is distinct: Intel is a desktop part on Socket 1700, while AMD is a mobile part on Socket FP7. The Intel launch MSRP is $221; AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Both processors have locked multipliers and are in active production, with Intel released in January 2024 and AMD in April 2022.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 leads in most single-thread tests, but the margin varies. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3,009 against AMD's 1,514, a 98.7% advantage. However, in Geekbench single-core, the scores are nearly tied at 1,905 for Intel and 1,903 for AMD, a 0.1% delta. Passmark single-thread favors Intel 3,741 to 3,400, a 10% lead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded rendering workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 dominates in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 21,315 versus 11,515 for the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS, an 85.1% delta. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel leads 2,148 to 1,913, a 12.3% margin. Geekbench multi-core shows Intel ahead 9,807 to 8,756, a 12% advantage.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD processor beats the Intel chip?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS wins two Passmark tests: data encryption (17,837 versus 16,731, a 6.2% advantage) and integer math (88,124 versus 82,017, a 6.9% lead). These are the only two head-to-head benchmarks where AMD emerges victorious.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both present 16 threads to the operating system, but the Intel chip has two additional physical cores.

Q: How do the cache sizes differ between the two processors?

A: Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches and a larger shared L3 pool.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory and which does not?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS does not support ECC memory. This makes the Intel part suitable for error-sensitive workloads, assuming the corresponding platform supports it.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-14400 is the stronger processor in nearly every measurable category. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, with the largest margins appearing in multi-threaded Cinebench workloads where the 85.1% R23 delta demonstrates a massive performance gap. For users running CPU-heavy desktop applications, rendering tasks, or physics simulations, the 14400 is the clear choice based on scores alone. Its 10 physical cores and larger cache hierarchy give it a structural advantage that AMD's higher clock speeds cannot overcome.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS has a narrower appeal. Its two wins in data encryption and integer math suggest it handles specific instruction patterns efficiently, but these are isolated victories. The chip's 35-watt TDP against Intel's 65-watt TDP indicates a power efficiency profile that suits mobile environments, and its higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz and 4.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz and 4.70 GHz) are notable for a mobile part. However, for performance-per-clock and absolute throughput, the data places it behind the Intel desktop chip.

The choice depends heavily on platform. The Intel Core i5-14400 requires a desktop Socket 1700 motherboard and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, along with ECC. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS is a mobile processor on Socket FP7 with DDR5-only support and no ECC. Users selecting a desktop workstation should favor Intel based on the benchmark scores. Users constrained to a mobile platform have only the AMD option in this comparison, and its benchmark results are competitive in single-thread Geekbench and specific Passmark tests, though far behind in multi-threaded rendering.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following specification fields:

• Cores: Intel 10, AMD 8
• Base Clock: Intel 2.50 GHz, AMD 3.30 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.70 GHz, AMD 4.90 GHz
• TDP: Intel 65 W, AMD 35 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1700, AMD Socket FP7
• Architecture: Intel Raptor Lake, AMD Zen 3+
• Codename: Intel Raptor Lake-R, AMD Rembrandt
• Process Node: Intel 10 nm, AMD 6 nm
• Foundry: Intel, TSMC
• Die Size: Intel 215 mm², AMD 208 mm²
• L1 Cache: Intel 80 KB (per core), AMD 64 KB (per core)
• L2 Cache: Intel 1.25 MB (per core), AMD 512 KB (per core)
• L3 Cache: Intel 20 MB (shared), AMD 16 MB (shared)
• Memory Support: Intel DDR4, DDR5; AMD DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD 76.8 GB/s, Intel not specified
• ECC Memory: Intel true, AMD false
• PCIe: Intel Gen 5, 16 Lanes; AMD Gen 4, 20 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 730, AMD Radeon 680M
• Market Segment: Intel Desktop, AMD Mobile
• Release Date: Intel 2024-01-07, AMD 2022-04-18
• Launch MSRP: Intel $221, AMD not listed
• Part Number: Intel SRN3QSRN46, AMD 100-000000541100-000000563