Intel Core i5-14400 vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

The Intel Core i5-14400 is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 1%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.

Intel Core i5-14400 wins — about 1% faster for gaming
Specification Intel Core i5-14400 AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Gaming score 74/100 73/100
Tier B B
Manufacturer Intel AMD
Cores 10 12
Threads 16 24
Base clock 2.5 GHz 3.7 GHz
Boost clock 4.7 GHz 4.8 GHz
Power draw (TDP) 65 W 105 W
Release year 2024 2020

Which should you buy?

For gaming specifically, the Intel Core i5-14400 is the better buy — it holds a 1% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has more cores (12 vs 10), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The Intel Core i5-14400 runs 40W cooler, meaning a cheaper cooler and less case heat. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.