AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core i5-12400F Comparison

Both the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and the Intel Core i5-12400F are 6-core, 12-thread desktop processors released in early 2022, but they deliver very different performance profiles. The recorded data shows the Intel chip wins 17 of 25 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD chip wins 8. Yet the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 posts a higher average benchmark score (19593 vs 19039) and dominates in Cinebench R23. The choice between them depends entirely on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-12400F takes its largest wins in 3DMark and Geekbench. In 3DMark max threads, Intel scores 5912 against AMD's 5411, a lead of 8.5%. The 16-thread test shows a similar gap: 5895 vs 5386, or 8.6%. Single-thread 3DMark also favors Intel, 909 vs 836, an 8% margin. Geekbench results are even more lopsided: Intel leads multicore by 15.8% (9472 vs 7976) and single-core by 11.9% (1964 vs 1730). PassMark single-thread performance is 12.2% higher on Intel (3481 vs 3058), and the physics test shows a 25.5% advantage (1202 vs 896). Floating-point math is 21.3% ahead (46759 vs 36815), and prime number finding is 22.2% ahead (72 vs 56).

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 counters with decisive wins in Cinebench R23. In the multicore test, AMD scores 16429 against Intel's 12380, a 32.7% lead. The single-core R23 result is even more striking: 2319 vs 1680, a 38% advantage. AMD also wins in PassMark data encryption by 27.2% (14851 vs 11679), integer math by 8.3% (65001 vs 59995), extended instructions by 8.9% (17236 vs 15834), random string sorting by 7.8% (24757 vs 22975), and data compression by 5.2% (245533 vs 233327). The only 3DMark test AMD wins is the 4-thread run, 3151 vs 3067, a 2.7% margin.

Notably, the Cinebench R23 results contradict the older Cinebench R15 and R20 tests, where Intel wins by small margins. In R15 multicore, Intel leads 1759 vs 1656 (5.9%), and in R20 multicore, 6980 vs 6900 (1.1%). This suggests the two processors respond very differently to the specific workload in R23.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly by application type. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins in Cinebench R23, which is a common rendering and 3D modeling benchmark, and it also wins in encryption, integer math, extended instruction sets, compression, and sorting. These are compute-heavy, integer-oriented tasks. The Intel Core i5-12400F wins in 3DMark, which simulates gaming workloads, and in Geekbench, which reflects general productivity. It also wins in single-threaded PassMark, physics simulation, floating-point math, and prime number generation. For users who prioritize gaming or everyday multitasking, Intel's results are stronger. For users who run rendering workloads or encryption-heavy processes, AMD's results are clearly superior.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 uses Zen 3, codenamed Cezanne, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake, codenamed Alder Lake-S, on Intel's 10 nm process, with a 163 mm² die (transistor count is not listed). Cache layouts differ: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support also diverges: AMD supports only DDR4, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe connectivity is another split: AMD offers PCIe Gen 3, while Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The sockets are different (AM4 vs LGA1700), and the base and boost clocks differ: AMD runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. Both have a 65 W TDP, but AMD has an unlocked multiplier while Intel's is locked. The AMD chip was released on April 3, 2022, with a launch MSRP of $159; the Intel chip was released on January 3, 2022, with a launch MSRP of $174.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 boosts to 4.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 supports only DDR4.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has 16 MB.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593, while the Intel Core i5-12400F has 19039.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-12400F does not.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 supports PCIe Gen 3.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear workload-based decision. The Intel Core i5-12400F wins the majority of head-to-head tests, especially in 3DMark, Geekbench, and single-threaded PassMark. That makes it the stronger choice for gaming and general productivity. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins decisively in Cinebench R23 and in encryption and integer-heavy tasks, making it the better option for rendering and compute workloads. The AMD chip also has a higher average benchmark score and an unlocked multiplier, while Intel offers newer PCIe and memory support. Users should select based on the specific applications they run.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i5-12400F |

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

| Series | 5000 series | Core 12th Gen |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Cezanne | Alder Lake-S |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 3 (Cezanne)) | Core i5 (Alder Lake-S) |

| Process node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 180 mm² | 163 mm² |

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

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 16 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Release date | 2022-04-03 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $159 | $174 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000000457 | SRL4WSRL5Z |

Both processors share 6 cores, 12 threads, a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory, no ECC support, no integrated graphics, a desktop market segment, active production status, and a 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs.