AMD Ryzen 5 240 vs Intel Core i5-13450HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i5-13450HX dominates the multi-core and compute-heavy workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 takes a narrower set of single-threaded and efficiency-oriented tests.

Starting with the most lopsided victory, the Intel part wins PassMark physics by a massive 41.9% (1504 vs 1060). This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set and signals a substantial advantage in simulated physical interactions, a workload that often scales with core count and cache topology. Floating point math follows a similar pattern, with Intel ahead by 36.4% (61776 vs 45301). These two results alone establish the i5-13450HX as the clear choice for number-crunching tasks.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 16797 against AMD's 13013, a 29.1% advantage. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a smaller but still decisive 20.5% lead (2503 vs 2078). The pattern is consistent: when all cores are active, the 10-core, 16-thread Intel design outmuscles the 6-core, 12-thread AMD part.

Data compression is another Intel win, with a 14.2% edge (305990 vs 267963). Integer math follows at 13.7% (83209 vs 73189). Prime number finding, a test sensitive to branch prediction and integer throughput, goes to Intel by 18.6% (83 vs 70). Even data encryption, often a memory-bandwidth-bound task, favors Intel by 4.9% (16632 vs 15849). The multithread PassMark aggregate shows Intel ahead by 10.7% (25084 vs 22658).

The narrowest Intel victory is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-13450HX scores 1746 versus 1742 for the Ryzen 5 240, a 0.2% margin that is essentially a statistical tie. This is notable because AMD wins the other single-thread metrics, but this particular render test slightly favors Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240's wins are concentrated in single-threaded and specialized instruction workloads. PassMark single-thread goes to AMD by 3.3% (3675 vs 3553). The extended instructions test, which measures SIMD and AVX-class workloads, shows AMD ahead by 5.5% (20201 vs 19083). Random string sorting is a narrow AMD win at 1.4% (32385 vs 31940). Cinebench R15 single-core is the largest AMD victory at 8.1% (270 vs 248).

The win tally is 10 for Intel and 5 for AMD. However, the magnitude of Intel's wins is generally larger. Intel's average winning margin across its victories is roughly 19%, while AMD's average winning margin is about 4.3%. This means the Intel chip doesn't just win more tests, it wins them by wider margins, making it the more decisive performer in the overall benchmark suite.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for users who prioritize raw throughput. The Intel Core i5-13450HX is the faster processor in the majority of recorded workloads. Its 29.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 41.9% lead in PassMark physics indicate a substantial performance tier gap for rendering, simulation, and parallel computation. The Intel chip also holds a 0.2% edge in Cinebench R23 single-core, meaning it isn't purely a multi-core brute; it can match AMD in at least one important single-threaded render test.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 is not without merit. It wins the PassMark single-thread test by 3.3%, the extended instructions test by 5.5%, and Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.1%. For users whose primary workloads are single-threaded productivity, legacy software, or specific SIMD-optimized applications, the AMD chip offers measurable advantages. Its random string sorting win, while small at 1.4%, suggests slightly better efficiency in certain data manipulation tasks.

The overall average benchmark score tells a similar story. The Intel part averages 34333 points, while the AMD part averages 33542. Both land at the 84th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same broad performance bracket. But the Intel chip's average is 2.4% higher, and it wins 10 of 15 head-to-head comparisons. For a laptop buyer who wants maximum compute performance from these two options, the Intel Core i5-13450HX is the data-backed recommendation. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 is the choice only if single-threaded speed or specific instruction extensions are the dominant requirement and the multi-core deficit is acceptable.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13450HX wins in the following categories based on the head-to-head results:

• Multi-core rendering: Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core, with leads of 20.5% and 29.1% respectively.
• Physics simulation: PassMark physics, 41.9% ahead.
• Floating point math: 36.4% ahead.
• Data compression and encryption: 14.2% and 4.9% ahead respectively.
• Integer math and prime finding: 13.7% and 18.6% ahead.
• Aggregate multithread throughput: 10.7% ahead in PassMark multithread.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 wins in these categories:

• Single-threaded legacy rendering: Cinebench R15 single-core, 8.1% ahead.
• Single-threaded overall: PassMark single-thread, 3.3% ahead.
• Extended instruction sets: 5.5% ahead in PassMark extended instructions.
• String sorting: 1.4% ahead in random string sorting.

The use-case split is clear. The Intel chip is for creators, engineers, and analysts running parallel workloads: video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific computing, batch data processing. The AMD chip is for users running mostly single-threaded applications, legacy code that doesn't scale, or specific SIMD-heavy tools where the 5.5% extended instructions advantage matters. The AMD chip also has a lower TDP of 45 watts versus Intel's 55 watts, which may influence thermal design in thin laptops, though the benchmark data does not directly measure power efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX is consistently faster. It leads by 20.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and by 29.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. In PassMark multithread, the lead is 10.7%.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 240 win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread by 3.3% (3675 vs 3553) and Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.1% (270 vs 248). However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip wins by a narrow 0.2% (1746 vs 1742).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark physics, where the Intel chip scores 1504 versus 1060 for AMD, a 41.9% advantage. The second largest is floating point math at 36.4% (61776 vs 45301).

Q: How do these processors compare to other CPUs in the database?

A: Both sit at the 84th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel chip's average benchmark score is 34333, placing it 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350. The AMD chip averages 33542, which is 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This core advantage is the primary reason for Intel's multi-core dominance.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both are listed as Active production status. The Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03, and the AMD chip was released on 2025-01-05.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-13450HX is built on Raptor Lake architecture using Intel's 10 nm process node, with a die size of 257 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 240 uses Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process, with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors.

Core configuration is the most significant differentiator. Intel pairs 10 cores with 16 threads, while AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads. This 4-core, 4-thread advantage for Intel directly explains its multi-core benchmark wins. Clock speeds favor AMD: the Ryzen 5 240 has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel part runs at 2.40 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The higher AMD clocks contribute to its single-thread wins.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L3 and per-core L2 likely help in the multi-core and physics tests.

Memory support is a generational split. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. The AMD part has a specified memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for Intel. ECC memory is supported on the Intel chip but not on the AMD chip. PCIe generation also differs: Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ significantly. Intel uses UHD Graphics 710, a basic iGPU. AMD uses Radeon 760M, which is positioned as a more capable integrated solution, though the benchmark data does not include GPU tests. The AMD chip draws a lower 45 W TDP versus Intel's 55 W, which could affect sustained performance in thin chassis.

The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $326. The AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP and a locked multiplier. Both use different sockets: Intel BGA 1964 for the Intel chip and AMD Socket FP8 for the AMD chip. The Intel processor is part of the Core 13th Gen series, while the AMD chip is a Ryzen 5 in the Zen 4 (Hawk Point) generation.