Intel Core i5-8400 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-8400 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600 tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing, rendering. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like SuperPi, RealBench, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, VeraCrypt, Blender, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, MATLAB, WPrime, AIDA64, 7zip, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Apex Legends
Fallout 76
Rainbow Six Siege
Death Stranding
Grand Theft Auto V
Red Dead Redemption 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Fortnite
Overwatch
Valorant
Halo Infinite
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Last Man Standing
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Valheim
Borderlands 3
Cyberpunk 2077
DOOM: Eternal
Watch Dogs Legion

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-8400.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-8400

52%

Ryzen 5 3600

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 3600 is 5% better than Core i5-8400. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-8400

53%

Ryzen 5 3600

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx, Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.5	94.7
Valorant	106.3	107.6
Cyberpunk 2077	59.5	60.3
Apex Legends	99.9	101.2
Call of Duty Warzone	79.7	80.7
Overwatch	86.1	87.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.3	74.3
DOOM Eternal	53.1	53.8
Warzone	82.9	83.9
Assassin's Creed	89.3	90.4
Valheim	88.2	89.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-8400

56%

Ryzen 5 3600

63%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Ryzen 5 3600 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-8400 since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-8400	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	161
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	954	1578
Cinbench 20 Single-core	411	472
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2291	3689
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1023	1253
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	5457	9412

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-8400	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Single-Core	2442	2611
Multi-Core	9262	17872

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-8400	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Single-Core	1106	1238
Multi-Core	5408	6578

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-8400	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Announcement date	October 01, 2017	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	AM4
Core name	Coffee Lake	Matisse
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	8	3
Turbo Frequency	4 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.8 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	6	6
Threads	6	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	2470 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache		384KB
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	9 MB	32MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000031 100-100000031BOX 100-100000031MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 3600 is 22% better than Core i5-8400 in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-8400 is better: 7
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is better: 29
Although it should be realized that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-8400 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-8400 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3600 specs and review.