AMD Ryzen 5 2400G vs Intel Core i7-2700K Comparison

# AMD Ryzen 5 2400G vs Intel Core i7-2700K

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G and Intel Core i7-2700K are processors from different eras, built for different purposes. The Ryzen 5 2400G is a Raven Ridge APU, pairing Zen CPU cores with a Radeon Vega 11 integrated GPU. The Core i7-2700K is a Sandy Bridge quad-core from Intel, a pure CPU with the HD 3000 graphics. The benchmark data in the database shows a clear overall winner, but the details reveal a more nuanced picture. Here is what the recorded performance actually says.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database has four direct benchmark comparisons between these two chips. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G wins all four. These are not narrow victories either, so let's break down the numbers.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2400G scores 846.5, while the Core i7-2700K manages 486. That is a 74.2% advantage for the AMD chip, its largest win in this suite. The gap is massive, and it reflects the architectural gulf between a modern 14nm Zen design and a 32nm Sandy Bridge part.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test tells a similar story, but with a different scale. The AMD processor scores 155.65, versus 68 for the Intel. The 128.9% lead here is even larger in proportional terms, showing the older Intel core is decisively behind even when the per-core clock is the focus.

Geekbench multi-core puts the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G at 3750, against the Core i7-2700K at 2294. That is a 63.5% advantage for the AMD part. The Ryzen chip is a true 8-thread part, and the benchmarks show it scales well, while the older Sandy Bridge part, despite its 8 threads, does not.

The single-core Geekbench result is another AMD win: 1003 versus 672, a 49.3% lead. This is the closest of the four tests, but the AMD architecture still holds a substantial per-thread edge. Single-core performance is the more relevant metric for everyday responsiveness, and the AMD chip does not disappoint.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results clearly favor AMD in every test, but the use-case story is more interesting.

Gaming and light gaming: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G includes the Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics. This is a far more capable integrated GPU than the Intel HD 3000. For a builder planning an entry-level gaming rig without a discrete GPU, the AMD chip is the better pick. The Intel HD 3000 is a basic integrated GPU that can handle general desktop use and very light titles, while the Vega 11 is designed for playable frame rates in a wider range of games. The data does not include gaming frame rates, but the integrated graphics capability is a key differentiator.

CPU-heavy productivity: The Intel Core i7-2700K remains a strong CPU for offline encoding and similar multi-core workloads, but the recorded results show it is behind. The AMD chip wins in raw multi-core compute.

Legacy or used platforms: The Intel chip has been End-of-Life for years, but it is an LGA1155, a socket that is widely available. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G uses the AM4 socket, which remains current. The Intel has no upgrade path, while the AMD AM4 platform does has a modern upgrade path.

Single-core responsiveness: Despite the Intel losing, the single-core Cinebench gap (128.9% lead for AMD) shows the AMD chip has a very large per-thread edge. The AMD chip is better here too.

Architecture Differences

The architectural contrast matters a lot in these results.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge. It is a 14nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 4.95 billion transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-2700K is Sandy Bridge, a 32nm Intel process, with 1.16 billion transistors on a 216 mm² die. The process node and transistor count differences are huge, and they explain the performance gap.

The AMD chip is an APU: it has 4 cores and 8 threads, and its integrated graphics are a Radeon RX Vega 11. The Intel offers 4 cores and 8 threads, with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics.

Cache configurations differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has a 96 KB (per core) L1, a 512 KB (per core) L2, and a 4 MB shared L3. The Intel Core i7-2700K has a 64 KB (per core) L1, a 256 KB (per core) L2, and an 8 MB shared L3. The AMD L3 cache is smaller, but the performance data shows it is not a limitation in the tested workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 46.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-2700K only supports DDR3 and a dual-channel bus, with 21.3 GB/s memory bandwidth. Different memory generations, so the platform dictates which RAM you must buy. For a new build, the DDR4 platform is the current-generation pick.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has a Gen 3 PCIe connection with 8 CPU lanes. The Intel Core i7-2700K has Gen 2, 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip has PCIe Gen 3, a newer and faster I/O interface.

Specification Differences

The data shows two different design targets.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 2400G | Intel Core i7-2700K |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon RX Vega 11 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Memory type | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2 |

| Process | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | 1,160 million |

| Socket | AM4 | LGA1155 |

| Release date | 2018 | 2011 |

| Launch MSRP | $169 | $332 |

The AMD is a 2018 product, the Intel is a 2011 product. Both are desktop market segments. The AMD has a higher TDP (65 W vs 95 W), the Intel uses a Socket 1155, the AMD uses the AM4. The Intel is a 32 nm Intel chip, the AMD is 14 nm GlobalFoundries.

The AMD part has 8 threads, base clock 3.60 GHz, boost 3.90 GHz. The Intel chip has 8 threads, base 3.50 GHz, boost 3.90 GHz. Both have an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is better for a basic office and web build?

The data suggests the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G. Its integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics is a stronger iGPU than Intel HD 3000, and the AMD multi-core performance is far ahead (74.2% in Cinebench multi). The Intel has a slight TDP tail of 95W, but for a basic desktop use the AMD is the data-backed pick.

Q: I already have a motherboard with an Intel 1155 socket. Is the Core i7-2700K a good pick?

The Intel Core i7-2700K uses the 1155 socket, and if you already have a board with that socket, it is a drop-in option. But this is an End-of-life part from 2011, and the architecture is much older (32nm). The database shows the multi-core results of the AMD are much higher.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G need a discrete graphics card?

No. For a typical office, browsing, and light gaming, the integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 is one of the strongest iGPUs in the database. The Intel HD 3000 is far behind it. If you plan to play modern titles at high settings, you will still want a discrete card, but for standard desktop usage the AMD Vega handles it.

Q: How do the memory support differences affect my motherboard choice?

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G requires DDR4 memory, while the Intel i7-2700K requires DDR3. This is a hard split: a motherboard for one does not accept the other type. If you are buying a new board today, the AMD DDR4 path is the current platform, the Intel DDR3 is an older, dead-end platform.

The Verdict

From the four-way benchmark sweep, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the better CPU. It wins 4 of the 4 head-to-head tests, and the wins are big: a 74.2% margin in Cinebench R15 multi, a 128.9% margin in Cinebench R15 single, a 63.5% margin in Geekbench multi, and a 49.3% margin in Geekbench single. The architectural differences are decisive: 14nm vs 32nm, DDR4 vs DDR3, PCIe Gen 3 vs Gen 2, and a much stronger integrated GPU.

The Intel Core i7-2700K is not a bad CPU, but it is a 2011 part with older DDR3 and PCIe 2.0. It is better suited for someone who already has an 1155 motherboard and wants a drop-in upgrade. If you build a new PC today, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the better pick. The benchmark data supports it, and the platform is more modern. For a new build, the AMD is the clear choice; for a legacy Intel 1155 user, the Intel is the only one that fits, but the data shows it is a lower-performing, older part.