Core i5-7400 vs Ryzen 3 2300U

Core i5-7400 vs Ryzen 3 2300U Performance Spectrum

Core i5-7400

4 / 4

5,477

0.0%

5,484

+0.1%

Athlon X4 830

Athlon X4 880K

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

FX-8140

Ryzen 7 5700

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-7400 vs Ryzen 3 2300U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-7400 vs Ryzen 3 2300U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-7400

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 3 2300U needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Ryzen 3 2300U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,477 vs 5,484).
❌Launch MSRP is still $294 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 2300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.

Ryzen 3 2300U

2018

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-7400 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-7400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-7400.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 2300U better than Core i5-7400?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-7400 is ahead with a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 2300U pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark. Core i5-7400 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 2300U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 3 2300U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Ryzen 3 2300U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $294 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. Core i5-7400 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2017 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (18.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 3 2300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-7400 vs Ryzen 3 2300U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-7400

The Core i5-7400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,477 points. Launch price was $182.

Ryzen 3 2300U

The Ryzen 3 2300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,484 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-7400 and Ryzen 3 2300U share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7400 versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 2300U — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-7400 (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-7400 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 2300U uses Raven Ridge (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7400 scores 5,477 against the Ryzen 3 2300U's 5,484 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 3 2300U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7400 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 2300U.

Feature	Core i5-7400	Ryzen 3 2300U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+3%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+50%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Raven Ridge (2017−2019)
PassMark	5,477	5,484
Cinebench R23 Multi	3,359	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,215	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,517	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-7400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 2300U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-7400	Ryzen 3 2300U
Socket	LGA1151	FP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7400) / not specified (Ryzen 3 2300U). The Core i5-7400 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 3 2300U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7400 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-7400 rivals Ryzen 3 3300X.