AMD EPYC 4245P vs Intel Core i9-13905H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-13905H and the AMD EPYC 4245P occupy distinct corners of the processor market: one is a 45 W mobile part for high-end laptops, the other a 65 W server/workstation chip on a desktop socket. The data shows the EPYC 4245P wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the Core i9-13905H takes 5. The overall benchmark averages are close, with the Intel part scoring 40313 against the AMD part's 39215, a 2.8% gap in favor of Intel, yet the distribution of wins reveals fundamentally different strengths. The Core i9-13905H dominates in floating-point math and integer math, while the EPYC 4245P leads heavily in single-threaded workloads and newer Cinebench multi-core tests. Neither processor is a clear overall victor; the choice depends entirely on the workload profile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13905H wins in classic compute-dense operations. Its 26.7% lead in PassMark floating-point math (73434 vs 57965) is the single largest Intel victory. It also wins integer math by 6.9% (101716 vs 95120), data compression by 4.4% (354330 vs 339408), and data encryption by 10.8% (20464 vs 18466). These four wins plus a 6.5% margin in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2857 vs 2682) define Intel's strengths: raw arithmetic throughput and legacy render tests where its 14 cores and 20 threads provide a numerical advantage.

The AMD EPYC 4245P wins every single-threaded test and all the newer Cinebench multi-core tests. Its single-core lead is massive: 34.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (378 vs 246), 46.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (3757 vs 2020), and 19.1% in PassMark single-thread (4575 vs 3703). In multi-core, the EPYC wins Cinebench R20 by 5.1% (11179 vs 10605) and Cinebench R23 by 24.7% (26618 vs 20034), despite having only 6 cores and 12 threads. It also wins PassMark physics by 22.1% (2637 vs 2054), extended instructions by 19.8% (26547 vs 21297), prime number finding by 36.8% (193 vs 122), random string sorting by 6.2% (39916 vs 37460), and PassMark multithread by 4.1% (31063 vs 29779).

The workload split is clear: Intel leads in math-heavy, memory-latency-tolerant tasks. AMD leads in instruction-level parallelism, branch-heavy workloads, and modern render engines. The EPYC's 32 MB shared L3 cache versus Intel's 24 MB shared L3 likely helps in the random string sorting and encryption tests, where cache capacity matters more than core count.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-13905H uses Raptor Lake-H architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 257 mm². It packs 14 cores (likely a mix of performance and efficiency cores) and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support covers both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but it lacks ECC support. The integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units makes it a complete mobile solution. It uses Intel BGA 1744 socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard.

The AMD EPYC 4245P uses Zen 5 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, with a far smaller die at 70.6 mm² and 8,315 million transistors. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.90 GHz, and the same 5.40 GHz boost clock. Its cache layout differs: 80 KB L1 per core, but only 1 MB L2 per core, with a larger 32 MB shared L3. It supports only DDR5 over dual-channel, with a rated memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it does support ECC memory, a critical feature for server workloads. It includes Radeon Graphics for basic display output. It uses AMD Socket AM5, the standard desktop socket, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes, versus Intel's 8 lanes. The EPYC is a server/workstation part, while the Intel is a mobile part. The EPYC's smaller process node and larger L3 cache, combined with ECC support, explain its single-threaded dominance and better scaling in modern multi-core tests.

The TDP difference is notable: the Intel part is rated at 45 W, the AMD at 65 W. The EPYC's higher base clock (3.90 GHz vs 2.60 GHz) is a direct consequence of this higher power budget, and the boost clocks are identical at 5.40 GHz. The EPYC's 4 nm process allows it to achieve comparable performance per watt despite the higher TDP, but the Intel part is designed for thin-and-light laptops where 45 W is a strict limit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-test margin is the Cinebench R23 single-core result: the AMD EPYC 4245P scores 3757 against the Intel's 2020, a 46.2% advantage. This is the clearest statement of architectural superiority in per-thread performance. The EPYC's 5.40 GHz boost clock on a 4 nm Zen 5 core, with a 32 MB L3, allows it to sustain much higher single-thread throughput than the Intel's 14-core design, which must share power across more active cores.

The second-largest margin is the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the EPYC scores 193 versus 122, a 36.8% lead. This test is heavily dependent on integer division and branch prediction, both areas where Zen 5 is known to excel. The EPYC's lead in extended instructions (19.8%) and physics (22.1%) further confirms its advantage in instruction-level parallelism.

The Intel Core i9-13905H's best result is the PassMark floating-point math test, where it scores 73434 versus 57965, a 26.7% lead. This is a significant margin, suggesting the Intel's 14 cores provide more aggregate FPU throughput than the EPYC's 6 cores, even though each individual EPYC core is faster. The Intel also wins integer math by 6.9% (101716 vs 95120), showing that in pure ALU work, more cores can overcome slower per-core speed.

The Cinebench multi-core results are particularly interesting. In R15, Intel wins by 6.5% (2857 vs 2682), but in R20, AMD wins by 5.1% (11179 vs 10605), and in R23, AMD wins by 24.7% (26618 vs 20034). This trend suggests that newer Cinebench versions scale better with the EPYC's higher IPC and larger cache, rather than raw core count. The R15 test is older and may not stress memory bandwidth as much, allowing Intel's 20 threads to dominate. The R23 test is more cache-sensitive, and the EPYC's 32 MB L3 provides a decisive advantage.

In PassMark multithread, the EPYC wins by 4.1% (31063 vs 29779), despite having only 12 threads versus Intel's 20. This is a clear sign that the EPYC's per-thread performance is so much higher that it compensates for the 40% thread-count disadvantage. The random string sorting test, which is memory-bandwidth and cache-sensitive, goes to the EPYC by 6.2% (39916 vs 37460), further confirming the cache advantage.

The Verdict

The data does not support a single winner across all workloads. The AMD EPYC 4245P is the superior choice for single-threaded applications, modern render engines (Cinebench R20 and R23), physics simulations, and any workload that benefits from a large L3 cache or ECC memory support. Its 46.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 24.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core make it the clear pick for software development, 3D modeling, or server-side tasks where each thread's efficiency matters more than total thread count.

The Intel Core i9-13905H is the better option for floating-point-heavy workloads, data encryption, and legacy multi-threaded tests like Cinebench R15. Its 26.7% lead in floating-point math and 10.8% lead in data encryption are substantial. It also offers integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, making it a complete solution for a mobile workstation without a discrete GPU. The 45 W TDP allows it to fit in thinner laptops, while the EPYC's 65 W TDP requires a desktop or workstation chassis.

For users who need ECC memory, the EPYC is the only choice, since the Intel part does not support it. For users who need a mobile processor with a soldered socket and integrated graphics, the Intel is the only option. The EPYC's 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 8 lanes also matters for expandability in server contexts. The EPYC's launch MSRP is $239, while the Intel's launch MSRP is $697, but that price difference should not be the deciding factor, as these parts serve different markets. The benchmark data shows a clear workload split, and the correct choice depends on which set of tests matches the intended use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The AMD EPYC 4245P. It wins all single-threaded tests, with a 46.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (3757 vs 2020) and a 19.1% lead in PassMark single-thread (4575 vs 3703).

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-13905H win any multi-core tests?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 6.5% (2857 vs 2682). However, the EPYC wins R20 and R23 multi-core by 5.1% and 24.7%, respectively.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 4245P supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-13905H does not have ECC support.

Q: What is the cache size difference?

A: The Intel Core i9-13905H has 24 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD EPYC 4245P has 32 MB shared L3. The L2 cache also differs: Intel has 2 MB per core, AMD has 1 MB per core.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13905H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD EPYC 4245P has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 4245P has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i9-13905H's 2.60 GHz. Both have the same boost clock of 5.40 GHz.