AMD Ryzen 5 8400F vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 7 253PQE wins every single head-to-head test in the database. Across 17 comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F fails to secure a single victory. This is not a close contest with split results. The Intel part dominates both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, and the margins are often substantial.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F holds its narrowest deficit in single-threaded PassMark testing, where the Intel part leads by 16%. In every other test, the gap widens significantly. The largest disparities appear in compute-heavy integer and floating-point workloads: the Intel processor is 56.8% faster in prime number finding and 56.1% faster in floating-point math. The physics test shows a 55.2% advantage for Intel. Data compression favors Intel by 40.9%, and multithreaded PassMark scores are 41.5% higher on the Intel side.

Looking at the broader database rankings, the two chips sit in different performance tiers entirely. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F lands in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25005. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (delta of 0.2%) and the Intel Core i7-13620H (delta of 0.4%). The Intel Core 7 253PQE, by contrast, reaches the 91st percentile with an average score of 55919, placing it alongside the Intel Core i9-14900HX (delta of -0.2%) and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 (delta of -0.6%). The difference in average score between the two reviewed chips is roughly 30914 points, which is more than double the AMD part's total average.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries, nodes, and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. It integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 7 253PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. No transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel chip.

Core counts differ substantially. The AMD part offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part provides 10 cores and 20 threads. Clock behavior also differs. The AMD chip has a 4.20 GHz base clock and a 4.70 GHz boost clock. The Intel chip starts lower at 3.50 GHz base but boosts much higher to 5.70 GHz, a full 1 GHz above the AMD boost. This explains part of the Intel single-thread advantage.

Cache configurations follow different patterns. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip therefore carries roughly double the L3 capacity of the AMD chip, which helps in data-heavy workloads.

Platform support diverges significantly. The AMD chip uses the AM5 socket, supports dual-channel DDR5 memory only, and offers 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The Intel chip uses the LGA 1700 socket, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and delivers 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It steps up to PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Intel part also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics at all. ECC memory support is present on the Intel chip but absent on the AMD chip.

Power and overclocking differ as well. The AMD chip has a 65 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip has a 125 W TDP and a locked multiplier. Production status is active for both. Release dates are far apart: the AMD chip arrived on 2024-03-31, while the Intel chip is slated for 2026-03-08.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results tell a consistent story. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core 7 253PQE scores 31390 against 20851 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, a 33.6% gap. The single-core R23 result shows 4431 against 2943, also a 33.6% gap. The pattern holds across older Cinebench versions. In R20 multicore, Intel scores 13183 versus 8757; in R20 single-core, 1861 versus 1236. R15 multicore shows 3163 versus 2101, and R15 single-core shows 446 versus 296. Every Cinebench delta is identical at -33.6%, indicating a consistent scaling relationship between the two chips across render workloads.

PassMark results show more variation in the margins. The single-thread test is the closest contest: Intel leads 4389 to 3685, a 16% gap. Data encryption shows Intel ahead 25515 to 16646, a 34.8% gap. Random string sorting favors Intel 54222 to 34604, a 36.2% gap. The extended instructions test gives Intel 32390 against 22175, a 31.5% gap. Integer math swings heavily toward Intel at 137795 versus 74021, a 46.3% gap. Data compression shows 487335 versus 288158, a 40.9% gap. Multithreaded PassMark gives 41656 versus 24389, a 41.5% gap.

The largest deltas appear in specialized compute workloads. Floating-point math favors Intel 105279 to 46217, a 56.1% gap. Physics favors Intel 2970 to 1332, a 55.2% gap. Prime number finding favors Intel 206 to 89, a 56.8% gap. These three tests represent the biggest swings in the entire comparison, all exceeding 55%. The consistent theme is that the Intel chip scales much better with parallel work and raw arithmetic throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE has an average benchmark score of 55919, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F scores 25005. The Intel part also ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs versus the 77th percentile for the AMD chip.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F does not.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core 7 253PQE includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE boosts to 5.70 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F. The AMD chip has a higher base clock at 4.20 GHz versus 3.50 GHz for the Intel chip.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize raw performance. The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks and delivers an average score more than double that of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F. It dominates in multi-threaded workloads by a consistent 33.6% across all Cinebench versions, and it widens that lead to over 55% in floating-point math, physics, and prime number tests. The Intel chip also carries advantages in platform features: ECC memory support, integrated graphics, both DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. The launch MSRP is $409.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is the lower-power option at 65 W TDP versus 125 W for the Intel part, and it has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Its launch MSRP is $170. It sits in the 77th percentile of all CPUs and competes with parts like the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and Intel Core i7-13620H, both within 0.4% of its average score. For users building on the AM5 platform with DDR5 and PCIe Gen 4, it remains a functional desktop chip, but the benchmark data shows it cannot match the Intel Core 7 253PQE in any measured workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8400F | Intel Core 7 253PQE |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Phoenix | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 33 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $170 | $409 |

| Release date | 2024-03-31 | 2026-03-08 |