AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS vs Intel Core i7-13650HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS and Intel Core i7-13650HX are both mobile processors aimed at performance laptops, but the benchmark data shows a decisive split between them. Across every head-to-head test recorded, the Intel Core i7-13650HX delivers the higher score, yet the two chips land in the same performance percentile overall, highlighting the AMD part's efficiency and the Intel part's raw throughput advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-13650HX wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The largest margin comes in multi-core rendering, where the Intel chip scores 24,580 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 13,220 for the Ryzen 5 8645HS, a 46.2% deficit for AMD. This pattern repeats in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where Intel posts 2,477 against AMD's 2,094, a 15.5% gap. Single-core performance also favors Intel, but the margins vary sharply by test generation. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 3,470 versus 1,714 for AMD, a 50.6% lead; in Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 349 to 270, a 22.6% advantage.

The PassMark suite shows a similar but less extreme pattern. The closest contest is PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 3,769 and AMD scores 3,653, a narrow 3.1% lead for Intel. That near-tie suggests the Ryzen 5 8645HS is competitive in lightly threaded workloads. The widest PassMark gap is in floating-point math, where Intel scores 75,643 versus 44,833 for AMD, a 40.7% difference. Integer math also favors Intel, with scores of 102,929 and 72,640 respectively, a 29.4% gap. Data compression is another strong Intel area: 383,943 versus 265,483, a 30.9% margin. Encryption, physics, and prime number finding all show Intel leads between 27.2% and 37.2%.

The smallest multi-threaded gap is in extended instructions, where Intel scores 23,146 and AMD scores 20,003, a 13.6% lead. PassMark multithread shows Intel ahead by 26.4%, with scores of 30,704 versus 22,586. Random string sorting favors Intel by 22.9%, with 41,162 versus 31,748. Overall, the data shows Intel's dominance grows with core count and multi-threaded load, while single-threaded performance is nearly a dead heat.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process node, with the Hawk Point codename and a die size of 178 mm². It integrates 25,000 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-13650HX is built on Raptor Lake architecture, using a 10 nm Intel process node with a larger 257 mm² die. Intel does not list a transistor count in the data.

Core configurations diverge sharply. AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel provides 14 cores and 20 threads. This explains the multi-core benchmark gaps. Cache hierarchies also differ: AMD gives each core 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel gives each core 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches and bigger shared L3 contribute to its higher throughput in cache-sensitive tests.

Memory support varies as well. AMD supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is provided. ECC memory is supported on the Intel chip but not on the AMD chip. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with AMD featuring the Radeon 760M and Intel featuring the UHD Graphics 710.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. AMD has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Intel has a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz but a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD part's higher base clock helps it in lighter loads, while Intel's higher core count and larger cache compensate in heavy multi-threaded tasks. The Intel chip also has an unlocked multiplier, while AMD's is locked.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-13650HX wins every benchmark category in this dataset, but the meaning of those wins differs by workload. In content creation and rendering, Intel's advantage is overwhelming. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 46.2% lead, which translates to substantially faster video exports or 3D rendering. The floating-point math gap of 40.7% reinforces this, as many scientific and engineering applications rely heavily on FPU throughput. Data compression, a common task in file archiving and database workloads, also favors Intel by 30.9%.

The Ryzen 5 8645HS's closest results come in single-threaded performance, where the 3.1% gap in PassMark single-thread is negligible in practice. For everyday responsiveness, web browsing, or office productivity, the two chips will feel similar. The AMD part's 5.00 GHz boost clock and 4.30 GHz base clock suggest it can sustain high clocks on fewer cores, which helps in lightly threaded applications. The Ryzen 5 8645HS also wins on power efficiency in a relative sense: its 45 W TDP is lower than Intel's 55 W TDP, and the data shows it achieves 83rd percentile performance while consuming less power budget.

For users who prioritize maximum multi-threaded throughput, the Intel Core i7-13650HX is the clear choice. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, and 24 MB of L3 cache make it suited for compiling code, running virtual machines, or batch-processing media. For users who favor a balanced mobile chip with strong single-core performance and a lower power envelope, the Ryzen 5 8645HS delivers competitive results in light workloads while trailing in heavy ones.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every physical and interface specification. AMD uses the AMD Socket FP8, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1964. AMD's process node is 4 nm from TSMC; Intel's is 10 nm from Intel's own foundry. Die size differs at 178 mm² for AMD versus 257 mm² for Intel. Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 25,000 million; Intel's is not provided.

Core and thread counts are the most consequential difference: 6 cores and 12 threads for AMD versus 14 cores and 20 threads for Intel. Base clocks differ significantly at 4.30 GHz for AMD versus 2.60 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are closer at 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. TDP also differs, with AMD at 45 W and Intel at 55 W.

Cache configurations are distinct at every level: AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3; Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support differs, with AMD limited to DDR5 and Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is listed only for AMD at 89.6 GB/s. ECC support is present on Intel but absent on AMD. PCIe generation differs, with AMD on Gen 4 and Intel on Gen 5, though both use 20 lanes. Integrated graphics models are different: Radeon 760M for AMD and UHD Graphics 710 for Intel. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier; AMD's is locked. Intel's launch MSRP was $485; no MSRP is listed for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-13650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How big is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: Intel scores 24,580 versus AMD's 13,220, giving Intel a 46.2% lead.

Q: Is the AMD chip competitive in single-threaded tasks?

A: Yes, in PassMark single-thread, Intel leads by only 3.1% (3,769 versus 3,653), but in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads by 50.6% (3,470 versus 1,714).

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: AMD supports only DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: AMD has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, slightly higher than Intel's 4.90 GHz, but AMD also has a much higher base clock at 4.30 GHz versus 2.60 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 83rd percentile against all CPUs, despite Intel's higher raw scores, because AMD's average benchmark score of 33,244 is nearly identical to Intel's 33,089.