AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two desktop processors is decisively one-sided. Across the eleven recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i5-14490F wins every single matchup, giving it a clean 11-0 sweep over the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G. There is no workload category in the measured data where the AMD part takes the lead, which makes the use-case discussion straightforward: Intel dominates across the entire test suite.

The most pronounced gaps appear in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. The Intel part leads by 29.2% in the PassMark multithread score, 34.7% in floating point math, and 27.5% in integer math. These are the kinds of results that matter for rendering, scientific computation, and heavy productivity tasks. The AMD processor still delivers respectable absolute numbers, but it trails by roughly a quarter to a third in these categories.

For single-threaded performance, the margin shrinks dramatically. The PassMark single-thread score for the Intel chip is 3873 against 3829 for the AMD chip, a delta of only 1.1%. This means in lightly threaded applications, such as everyday desktop responsiveness or older software that relies on one core, the two processors are effectively tied. The AMD part is not competitive in the majority of workloads, but it is not embarrassed in single-core scenarios.

The Intel processor also wins decisively in memory-adjacent and encryption tasks. Data compression shows a 25.5% lead for Intel, data encryption shows a 33.5% lead, and random string sorting shows a 23% lead. These tasks often benefit from higher core counts and larger caches, both of which favor the Intel design. The AMD part does post a credible extended instructions score (18697 versus 21731 for Intel), but even here the 14% gap is substantial.

For users who prioritize raw multi-core throughput, the choice is clear from the data. For users who only care about single-thread performance, the difference is negligible. For everything else measured, Intel holds a meaningful advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI PRO 400 generation built on a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake-R codename, part of the Core 14th Gen series built on a 10 nm process from Intel. The process node difference is substantial, with AMD using the more advanced manufacturing technology, though the benchmark results show that Intel compensates through other design choices.

Core configuration differs significantly. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel chip has 10 cores and 16 threads. This four-core and four-thread advantage for Intel is the single largest architectural factor explaining the multi-threaded benchmark gaps. The AMD chip clocks at 2.00 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, while the Intel chip clocks at 2.50 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. Intel holds the frequency advantage at both ends, which contributes to its single-thread performance lead.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 per core and 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel L3 cache is six times larger, which helps in data-heavy workloads like compression and sorting. The Intel die size is listed at 215 mm², while the AMD die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory support differs. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. PCIe capabilities also differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 10 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are another split. The AMD chip includes a Radeon 840M iGPU, while the Intel chip has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A). This means the AMD processor can drive a display without a discrete GPU, while the Intel part requires one. Both chips are socketed for desktop use, with AMD on Socket AM5 and Intel on Socket 1700. Neither is multiplier-unlocked, and both are listed as active production parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the entire comparison is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Intel chip scores 122 against the AMD chip's 55, a 54.9% lead. This is an extreme outlier and suggests the Intel architecture handles integer-heavy algorithmic loops with far greater efficiency. The physics test shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 2093 against AMD's 999, a 52.3% lead. Both of these tests are heavily compute-bound and reward the combination of higher clocks and more cores.

Data encryption shows a 33.5% margin, with Intel at 18225 and AMD at 12111. Floating point math shows Intel at 66558 against AMD's 43494, a 34.7% lead. Integer math shows Intel at 87844 against AMD's 63707, a 27.5% lead. These three results together paint a picture of consistent superiority in arithmetic-heavy workloads. The multithread score of 28662 for Intel against 20285 for AMD, a 29.2% gap, confirms that the advantage scales with core count.

Data compression shows Intel at 340026 against AMD's 253484, a 25.5% lead. Random string sorting shows Intel at 35608 against AMD's 27407, a 23% lead. Extended instructions show Intel at 21731 against AMD's 18697, a 14% lead. These memory-heavy tasks benefit from the Intel L3 cache capacity and higher core count.

The single-thread test is the closest result. Intel scores 3873 against AMD's 3829, a margin of only 1.1%. This is the only test where the two processors are within striking distance of each other. For users whose workloads are dominated by single-threaded applications, the choice between these two parts is nearly a wash. For every other measured workload, the Intel processor delivers a clear and often sizable win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Intel processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G has 4 MB of L3 cache, making the Intel cache six times larger.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD processor supports DDR5 only, while the Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G includes a Radeon 840M integrated GPU, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel processor wins by a narrow margin, scoring 3873 versus 3829 in the PassMark single-thread test, a difference of 1.1%.

Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel processor scores 122 against the AMD processor's 55, a lead of 54.9%.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear winner in the Intel Core i5-14490F. It wins all eleven head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from a narrow 1.1% in single-thread performance to a dominant 54.9% in find prime numbers. The Intel processor offers more cores, higher clocks, and a much larger L3 cache, and the benchmark results reflect those advantages across every workload category.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G is not without merits. It uses a more advanced 4 nm process, supports ECC memory, includes integrated graphics, and offers comparable single-thread performance to the Intel chip within 1.1%. For users who need a display output without a discrete GPU or who require ECC memory support, the AMD part has specific functionality that the Intel part lacks. However, for raw computational performance, the database records no workload where the AMD chip wins.

The Intel processor also holds the advantage in platform features with PCIe Gen 5 support and 16 CPU lanes against AMD's Gen 4 with 10 lanes. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which gives users more platform flexibility. The AMD chip is limited to DDR5.

Users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, large cache capacity, or memory flexibility should choose the Intel Core i5-14490F based on the measured data. Users who need integrated graphics, ECC memory support, or a more modern manufacturing process should consider the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G, accepting that it will trail in almost every benchmark category. The head-to-head results are unambiguous: Intel wins decisively in computational performance, while AMD offers specific feature advantages that may matter in niche use cases.