AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i5-13500H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13500H and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X represent two different eras and market segments, yet their benchmark data places them in a surprisingly close overall battle. The i5-13500H is a mobile-first Raptor Lake part, while the Ryzen 5 3600X is a desktop Zen 2 chip from 2019. Despite the generational gap, the data shows a clear split in workload dominance, with the Intel chip winning 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, but the AMD chip taking the most demanding single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking victory for the Intel Core i5-13500H comes in PassMark floating point math, where it scores 52,123 versus the Ryzen 5 3600X’s 29,339. That is a 77.7% advantage, the largest delta in the entire dataset. This suggests the i5-13500H’s hybrid architecture and higher core count are exceptionally well-suited to floating-point workloads, which are common in scientific computing and certain rendering tasks.

Similarly, in PassMark integer math, the i5-13500H posts 72,724 against 49,934, a 45.6% lead. The Intel part also dominates Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 2,304 versus 1,555 — a 48.2% margin that highlights the advantage of having 12 cores and 16 threads over the Ryzen’s 6 cores and 12 threads. This pattern continues in PassMark multi-thread, where Intel leads 21,366 to 18,154, a 17.7% difference, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with 7,464 versus 6,480, a 15.2% edge.

Single-thread performance also favors Intel in the PassMark suite. The i5-13500H scores 3,397 in PassMark single-thread, beating the Ryzen’s 2,649 by 28.2%. This is consistent with the Cinebench R15 single-core result, where Intel wins 249 to 219, a 13.7% gap, and Cinebench R20 single-core, where Intel leads 1,053 to 914, also a 15.2% margin. The Intel chip also wins PassMark physics by 8.7%, data compression by 13.5%, and data encryption by 4.8%.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X fights back in the most modern Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 15,430 versus Intel’s 14,081, an 8.7% reversal. More surprisingly, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen wins decisively with 2,178 against 1,775, an 18.5% margin. This suggests that while the i5-13500H excels in older Cinebench versions and PassMark’s integer-heavy workloads, the Ryzen’s higher sustained clock speeds and desktop power envelope give it an edge in the newer, more complex Cinebench R23 renderer.

The AMD chip also wins PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 110 versus 74, a 32.7% lead — a workload that appears to favor the Ryzen’s lower-latency cache structure. The only other AMD win is a narrow one in PassMark extended instructions, where it leads 14,773 to 14,872, a 0.7% margin that is effectively a tie.

Overall, the data paints a picture of Intel winning 14 benchmarks with an average margin that skews heavily toward the floating-point and integer math tests, while AMD wins 3 benchmarks, two of which are in the Cinebench R23 suite. For users running legacy Cinebench versions or PassMark’s math-oriented tests, the i5-13500H is clearly superior. For those using Cinebench R23 as their primary metric, the Ryzen’s results are more compelling.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500H has an average benchmark score of 22,468, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X’s 21,992. Both sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X wins this test with a score of 15,430, while the Intel Core i5-13500H scores 14,081. This gives AMD an 8.7% advantage in this specific workload.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark floating point math, where the Intel Core i5-13500H scores 52,123 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X’s 29,339, a 77.7% difference in Intel’s favor.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13500H faster in single-threaded PassMark tests?

A: Yes, the Intel chip scores 3,397 in PassMark single-thread, beating the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X’s 2,649 by 28.2%. The same margin applies to the duplicate PassMark singlethread test.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X win any benchmarks decisively?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 18.5% (2,178 vs 1,775) and PassMark find prime numbers by 32.7% (110 vs 74). It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 8.7%.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare to these chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500H’s closest rival is the Intel Core i7-1270P, which has an average score of 22,502, a 0.2% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-11700F, with a score of 21,988, showing a 0% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and for different platforms. The Intel Core i5-13500H uses Raptor Lake-H, fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process, and features 12 cores and 16 threads. This is a hybrid design, though the fact pack does not specify the exact P-core/E-core split. It has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip supports a wide range of memory types, including DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, all in a dual-channel configuration. It also includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, making it a complete SoC for mobile use.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, in contrast, is a Zen 2 desktop part built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with 6 cores and 12 threads. It has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Its memory support is limited to DDR4, also in dual-channel, but the fact pack provides a specific memory bandwidth figure of 51.2 GB/s. The Ryzen has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. It uses the AMD Socket AM4 and supports PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1744 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

The process node difference is notable: 10 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD. The Ryzen’s transistor count is listed at 3,800 million on a 74 mm² die, while the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not provided. The Ryzen also has a significantly higher TDP at 95 watts versus the Intel’s 45 watts, reflecting its desktop-oriented power delivery and cooling requirements. The Intel chip is unlocked multiplier-free (multiplierUnlocked: false), while the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload. The Intel Core i5-13500H is the clear winner in the majority of tests, taking 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons. It excels in math-heavy workloads, with a 77.7% lead in floating point, a 45.6% lead in integer math, and a 48.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. It also wins all PassMark single-thread tests by 28.2%, making it the better choice for general productivity, data compression, and encryption tasks. Its average benchmark score of 22,468 is also higher than the Ryzen’s 21,992.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is not without merit. Its Cinebench R23 results are superior: an 8.7% lead in multi-core and an 18.5% lead in single-core. This suggests that for users who rely on the latest Cinebench version as their primary benchmark, the Ryzen will deliver better performance. The Ryzen also wins PassMark find prime numbers by 32.7%, a significant margin for that specific test. Its larger 32 MB L3 cache and desktop power envelope likely contribute to these wins.

For a mobile user, the Intel i5-13500H is the only realistic choice, given its integrated graphics and lower 45 watt TDP. For a desktop user who already has a discrete GPU and prioritizes Cinebench R23 performance, the Ryzen 5 3600X offers a compelling alternative despite being older. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific recommendation. The Intel chip is the better all-rounder in the PassMark suite, while the AMD chip dominates the most modern Cinebench renderer.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i5-13500H and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X differ on nearly every core specification. The Intel chip has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock is 2.60 GHz for Intel and 3.80 GHz for AMD; the boost clock is 4.70 GHz for Intel and 4.40 GHz for AMD. The Intel TDP is 45 watts, the AMD is 95 watts.

The cache layouts are distinct: Intel uses 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core, with 18 MB shared L3; AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, with 32 MB shared L3. The Intel chip supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X memory, while AMD supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory, but only AMD specifies a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1744, AMD uses Socket AM4. The process and foundry differ, with Intel on 10 nm and AMD on 7 nm from TSMC. AMD lists 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die; Intel provides no such data. PCIe support differs, with Intel offering Gen 5 (8 lanes) and AMD offering Gen 4. The Intel chip includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units; the AMD chip has none. The Intel part is not multiplier-unlocked, while the AMD part is unlocked. The Ryzen 5 3600X has a launch MSRP of $249; the Intel chip has no listed MSRP.