Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 3550H

Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 3550H Performance Spectrum

Core i5-9400H

4 / 8

7,794

+1.3%

7,696

0.0%

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

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 i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 3550H 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 i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 3550H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-9400H

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 3550H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $182 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 3550H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.

Ryzen 5 3550H

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-9400H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,696 vs 7,794).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-9400H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-9400H better than Ryzen 5 3550H?

Yes. Core i5-9400H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-9400H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9400H is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i5-9400H is the better buy right now. Core i5-9400H comes in at an unclear MSRP at $182 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (42.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i5-9400H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 3550H Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-9400H

The Core i5-9400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,794 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 3550H

The Ryzen 5 3550H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,696 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-9400H and Ryzen 5 3550H share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-9400H versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3550H — a 15% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-9400H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3550H uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400H scores 7,794 against the Ryzen 5 3550H's 7,696 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i5-9400H. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9400H vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3550H.

Feature	Core i5-9400H	Ryzen 5 3550H
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+16%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+19%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	14 nm	12 nm-14%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020)
PassMark	7,794+1%	7,696
Geekbench 6 Single	1,341	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9400H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3550H uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9400H	Ryzen 5 3550H
Socket	BGA1440	FP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9400H) / not specified (Ryzen 5 3550H). The Core i5-9400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 3550H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.