Intel Core i5-9400F vs AMD Ryzen 3 4100

The Intel Core i5-9400F is a desktop processor (Coffee Lake S Refresh) introduced in the first quarter of 2019 for solid gaming and everyday PCs without integrated graphics.

Manufactured using a 14 nm process, it has six physical cores and six threads. It supports PCIe 3.0, achieves 43 GB/s memory bandwidth, and offers 9 MB of Level 3 Cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 (Renoir Zen 2) was released to retail in the second quarter of 2022, designed for budget-conscious users and entry-level gaming.

This 7 nm processor offers four physical cores and eight threads thanks to Simultaneous Multithreading. It supports PCIe 3.0, achieves 51 GB/s memory bandwidth, and features 2 MB of Level 2 Cache as well as 4 MB of Level 3 Cache. In single-core performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 shows significantly higher performance (over 10 percent) than the Intel Core i5-9400F.

The multi-core performance is comparable for both processors. For gaming, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 can often enable higher frame rates in modern titles thanks to its better single-core performance. Both CPUs have a thermal design power (TDP) of 65W. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 benefits from the more efficient 7 nm manufacturing process, which means higher energy efficiency at the same TDP.

The price-performance ratio depends on market availability, but the newer AMD Ryzen 3 4100 often offers better value due to its architecture and single-core performance. In summary, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 offers a more modern architecture and higher efficiency, while the Intel Core i5-9400F offers a proven platform.

For new purchases, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is the more advantageous choice.