Core i5-9400T vs Ryzen 5 7520C

Core i5-9400T vs Ryzen 5 7520C Performance Spectrum

Core i5-9400T

6 / 6

8,180

+0.9%

8,104

0.0%

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 i5-9400T vs Ryzen 5 7520C 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 i5-9400T vs Ryzen 5 7520C: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-9400T

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (9 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 7520C needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7520C across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $182 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 7520C mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7520C moves to FT6 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 7520C

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,104 vs 8,180).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 9 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-9400T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7520C better than Core i5-9400T?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 7520C is ahead with a 16.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9400T pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark. Core i5-9400T also has the bigger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9400T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 7520C is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-9400T is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 7520C comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $182 MSRP, and it still gives you a 16.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-9400T is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.9% better PassMark. Core i5-9400T is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (44.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 7520C makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-9400T vs Ryzen 5 7520C Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-9400T

The Core i5-9400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,180 points. Launch price was $182.

Ryzen 5 7520C

The Ryzen 5 7520C is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 May 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 8,104 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-9400T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7520C offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-9400T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-9400T versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7520C — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7520C (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-9400T uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7520C uses Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400T scores 8,180 against the Ryzen 5 7520C's 8,104 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-9400T. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400T vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7520C.

Feature	Core i5-9400T	Ryzen 5 7520C
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.3 GHz+26%
Base Clock	1.8 GHz	2.8 GHz+56%
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)+125%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	6 nm-57%
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023)
PassMark	8,180	8,104

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9400T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 7520C uses FT6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9400T	Ryzen 5 7520C
Socket	LGA1151	FT6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9400T) / not specified (Ryzen 5 7520C). The Core i5-9400T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 7520C requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400T targets Desktop.