Core i5-11400H vs Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Intel

Core i5-11400H

6 Cores12 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2021

Popular choices:

Ryzen 9 7950X3D
VS
AMD

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

16 Cores32 Thrd120 WWMax: 5.7 GHz2023

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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.

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 i5-11400H

2021

Why buy it

  • Draws 35W instead of 120W, a 85W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7950X3D across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,150 vs 38,581).
  • Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 7950X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +86.0% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.
  • 40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $699 MSRP, while Core i5-11400H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 242.9% higher power demand at 120W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7950X3D better than Core i5-11400H?
Yes. Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 86.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 373.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 308.4% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 86.0% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 12 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the better fit. You are getting 373.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 7950X3D is at an unclear MSRP at $699 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 86.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (89.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?
Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 12 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
1080p
low187 FPS291 FPS
medium154 FPS265 FPS
high127 FPS219 FPS
ultra104 FPS186 FPS
1440p
low151 FPS275 FPS
medium120 FPS227 FPS
high98 FPS177 FPS
ultra80 FPS156 FPS
4K
low85 FPS190 FPS
medium73 FPS156 FPS
high58 FPS120 FPS
ultra45 FPS107 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
1080p
low382 FPS734 FPS
medium310 FPS627 FPS
high275 FPS465 FPS
ultra237 FPS393 FPS
1440p
low341 FPS602 FPS
medium279 FPS536 FPS
high254 FPS413 FPS
ultra218 FPS326 FPS
4K
low282 FPS338 FPS
medium236 FPS305 FPS
high216 FPS268 FPS
ultra182 FPS229 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
1080p
low382 FPS1025 FPS
medium382 FPS1122 FPS
high382 FPS1062 FPS
ultra382 FPS875 FPS
1440p
low382 FPS936 FPS
medium382 FPS845 FPS
high382 FPS775 FPS
ultra382 FPS656 FPS
4K
low382 FPS574 FPS
medium378 FPS498 FPS
high325 FPS447 FPS
ultra256 FPS378 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
1080p
low382 FPS1082 FPS
medium382 FPS973 FPS
high382 FPS854 FPS
ultra382 FPS766 FPS
1440p
low382 FPS853 FPS
medium382 FPS751 FPS
high382 FPS659 FPS
ultra382 FPS569 FPS
4K
low382 FPS623 FPS
medium382 FPS555 FPS
high382 FPS493 FPS
ultra382 FPS426 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11400H and Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Intel

Core i5-11400H

The Core i5-11400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,262 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,323 points. Launch price was $699.

Processing Power

The Core i5-11400H packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-11400H versus 5.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D (base: 2.7 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i5-11400H uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11400H scores 15,262 against the Ryzen 9 7950X3D's 62,323 — a 121.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,150 vs 38,581 (130.2% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,900 vs 2,926, a 42.5% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,500 vs 19,643 (100.5% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11400H vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

FeatureCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock
4.5 GHz
5.7 GHz+27%
Base Clock
2.7 GHz
4.2 GHz+56%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
128 MB (total)+967%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
10 nm SuperFin
5 nm, 6 nm-50%
Architecture
Tiger Lake-H (2021)
Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark
15,262
62,323+308%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,150
38,581+373%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,900
2,926+54%
Geekbench 6 Multi
6,500
19,643+202%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11400H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-11400H versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-11400H) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 7950X3D) — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i5-11400H) and AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650 (Ryzen 9 7950X3D).

FeatureCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
Socket
FCBGA1787
AM5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
28+40%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7950X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11400H) vs true (Ryzen 9 7950X3D). Both include integrated graphics UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU (Core i5-11400H) and Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 9 7950X3D) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11400H targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-11400H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H; Ryzen 9 7950X3D rivals Core i9-13900K.

FeatureCore i5-11400HRyzen 9 7950X3D
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU
Radeon Graphics
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
true
Target Use
Gaming Laptop