60

Core i5-14400F Processor

Raptor Lake Refresh · 10C/16T · LGA 1700

$199

MSRP

45

Ryzen 5 5500 Processor

Zen 3 · 6C/12T · AM4

$129

MSRP

Our verdict

The Core i5-14400F Processor takes the performance lead with a 33% higher overall score, driven by its 10 shader cores, 20 MB of memory, and 4,700 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 21% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the Core i5-14400F Processor tells a compelling value story. At $199 versus the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor's $129 price tag, it costs $70 less while delivering performance that's only 33% behind. Its 20 MB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the Core i5-14400F Processor is the smarter purchase. The Ryzen 5 5500 Processor only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

Core i5-14400F Processor

33% faster overall

Best value for money

Core i5-14400F Processor

4% better value per dollar

Core i5-14400F Processor best for

Power efficiency

33% faster overall

Memory

Max memory
128 GB
128 GB
Memory type
DDR5-4800
DDR4-3200
Memory channels
2
2

Performance

Cores
10
6
Threads
16
12
Base clock
2,500 MHz
3,600 MHz
Boost clock
4,700 MHz
4,200 MHz
L2 cache
9.5 MB
3 MB
L3 cache
20 MB
16 MB
Process
10 nm
7 nm
Transistors
N/A
N/A

platform

Socket
LGA 1700
AM4
PCIe
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 3.0
PCIe lanes
20
24
Integrated graphics
None
None

Power

TDP
65W
65W
Max turbo power
148W
76W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
290 fps
235 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
125 fps
105 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
105 fps
88 fps
Spider-Man 2
115 fps
95 fps
Starfield
78 fps
65 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
105 seconds
145 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
720 pts
480 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
10,200 pts
7,200 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
205 seconds
270 seconds
7-Zip Compression
65,000 MIPS
45,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
72 seconds
95 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
105 pts
78 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
2,400 pts
1,650 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i5-14400F Processor worth $70 more than the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor?

It depends on your needs. The Core i5-14400F Processor scores 60 overall vs 45 for the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the Core i5-14400F Processor or Ryzen 5 5500 Processor?

The Core i5-14400F Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The Core i5-14400F Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor handle 4K gaming?

The Ryzen 5 5500 Processor can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the Core i5-14400F Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the Core i5-14400F Processor or Ryzen 5 5500 Processor?

Choose the Ryzen 5 5500 Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the Core i5-14400F Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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