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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-8500T

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 1400 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 1400.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 1400 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,730 vs 7,731).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.3 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $23 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Delivers 13.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 40.3 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-8500T.

Core i5-8500T

2018

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 1400 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 1400.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $23 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Delivers 13.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 40.3 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 1400 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,730 vs 7,731).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.3 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-8500T.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 1400 better than Core i5-8500T?

Yes. Ryzen 5 1400 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 6.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 1400 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 1400 is the better fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 1400 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 1400 is $23 cheaper on MSRP at $169 MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 13.6% better value on MSRP (45.7 vs 40.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-8500T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-8500T Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 1400 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	171 FPS	170 FPS
medium	139 FPS	148 FPS
high	111 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	141 FPS
medium	118 FPS	118 FPS
high	93 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	65 FPS
medium	60 FPS	58 FPS
high	47 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-8500T Open Ryzen 5 1400

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	120 FPS	168 FPS
medium	105 FPS	148 FPS
high	99 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	105 FPS
1440p
low	106 FPS	146 FPS
medium	92 FPS	129 FPS
high	87 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	114 FPS
medium	81 FPS	103 FPS
high	72 FPS	80 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	58 FPS

Open Core i5-8500T Open Ryzen 5 1400

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	193 FPS	193 FPS
medium	193 FPS	193 FPS
high	193 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	193 FPS	193 FPS
medium	193 FPS	193 FPS
high	193 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	193 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	193 FPS
medium	193 FPS	193 FPS
high	183 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	181 FPS

Open Core i5-8500T Open Ryzen 5 1400

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
1080p
low	193 FPS	193 FPS
medium	193 FPS	193 FPS
high	193 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	193 FPS	193 FPS
medium	193 FPS	193 FPS
high	193 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	193 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	193 FPS
medium	193 FPS	193 FPS
high	193 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i5-8500T Open Ryzen 5 1400

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-8500T and Ryzen 5 1400

Core i5-8500T

The Core i5-8500T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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. Passmark benchmark score: 7,730 points. Launch price was $192.

Ryzen 5 1400

The Ryzen 5 1400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,731 points. Launch price was $169.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-8500T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1400 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-8500T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-8500T versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1400 — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-8500T (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-8500T uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1400 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8500T scores 7,730 against the Ryzen 5 1400's 7,731 — a 0% lead for the Ryzen 5 1400. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500T vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1400.

Feature	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+3%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.2 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)+13%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	7,730	7,731
Geekbench 6 Single	1,192	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8500T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 1400 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-8500T) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 1400) — the Ryzen 5 1400 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H310,B360,H370,Z370,Z390,B365 (Core i5-8500T) and AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 1400).

Feature	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8500T) / not specified (Ryzen 5 1400). The Core i5-8500T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 1400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8500T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8500T rivals Ryzen 3 2200G.

Feature	Core i5-8500T	Ryzen 5 1400
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Low Power Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-8500T launched at $192 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 1400 debuted at $169. On MSRP ($192 vs $169), the Ryzen 5 1400 is $23 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-8500T delivers 40.3 pts/$ vs 45.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1400 — making the Ryzen 5 1400 the 12.8% better value option.