AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS vs Intel Core i9-13900H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall advantage for the Intel Core i9-13900H, which wins 15 of the 17 direct comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS. The Intel part is particularly dominant in heavily threaded workloads, while the AMD chip claims two notable victories in the Cinebench sequence.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i9-13900H scores 2666.5 against 1824 for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS, a 46.2% advantage. The margin narrows in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel leads 9676 to 7603, a 27.3% gap. However, the pattern reverses in Cinebench R23 multicore: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS scores 18104 versus 17471 for Intel, a 3.5% lead. This is the only multicore workload where AMD comes out ahead, and the margin is modest compared to Intel’s larger wins elsewhere.

Single-core results split along similar lines. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 279 to 257, an 8.6% edge. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the gap widens to 27.2% in Intel’s favor, 1365 versus 1073. But in Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD takes a substantial 23.1% lead, scoring 2555 against 1964.5 for Intel. The PassMark single-thread results tell a different story: Intel scores 3754 versus 3561 for AMD, a 5.4% advantage, and the same figures appear for the singlethread variant of the test.

The PassMark suite strongly favors Intel across most categories. In floating point math, Intel scores 69611 against 43019 for AMD, a 61.8% advantage. Physics shows the largest gap of any test: Intel scores 1745, AMD 1043, a 67.3% lead. Prime number finding favors Intel 104 to 71, a 46.5% edge. Integer math goes to Intel by 39.1%, 97159 to 69839. Data compression favors Intel by 32.5%, 326425 to 246446. Data encryption goes to Intel by 26.8%, 18974 to 14962. Multithreaded PassMark scoring favors Intel by 28.9%, 27673 to 21465. Random string sorting favors Intel by 17.9%, 35637 to 30235. Extended instructions are closer, with Intel ahead by 4.4%, 19330 to 18507.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect the broader picture: the Intel Core i9-13900H averages 28886 across all recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS averages 28478. Both chips sit in the 80th percentile or higher among all CPUs in the database, with Intel at the 81st percentile and AMD at the 80th.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i9-13900H is the stronger performer in the majority of measured workloads. Its 15 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons include several with margins above 40%, particularly in physics, floating point math, prime number finding, and Cinebench R15 multicore. Buyers choosing Intel should expect consistently higher throughput in compute-heavy tasks that scale across cores, as well as a clear edge in encryption, compression, and integer operations.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS wins only two comparisons, but those wins are meaningful in their own right. The 23.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and the 3.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore suggest that AMD’s Zen 4 architecture, running at a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz, delivers strong results in the most recent Cinebench version. For users whose primary workload is Cinebench R23 rendering, the AMD chip is the better choice.

The overall benchmark averages are close, with Intel ahead by about 1.4% in the aggregate. That narrow overall margin, combined with the split nature of the wins, means the decision depends on workload mix. For general productivity, math, encryption, and physics simulations, the Intel part wins clearly. For Cinebench R23 rendering and single-threaded R23 performance, the AMD part is superior.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-13900H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS uses Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on TSMC’s 4 nm node. The process difference is substantial: AMD’s 4 nm node is more advanced than Intel’s 10 nm node, which helps explain the AMD chip’s efficiency characteristics, though the data provided does not include direct power consumption measurements.

The Intel part integrates a larger physical design. Its die size is listed at 257 mm², while the AMD chip measures 178 mm². The transistor count for Intel is not recorded in the database, but AMD reports 25,000 million transistors for the Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel Core i9-13900H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS has smaller per-core caches: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither chip supports 3D V-Cache.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel pairs the CPU with Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while AMD uses the Radeon 760M. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip, so no performance comparison can be made from the recorded data.

Memory support differs. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. AMD supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, and reports a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel’s memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

PCI Express support varies. Intel provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. This means Intel has a newer PCIe generation but fewer CPU-attached lanes, while AMD offers more lanes at the previous generation.

ECC memory support is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-13900H does not. This makes the AMD chip more suitable for workstation or reliability-focused use cases where memory error correction is required.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is limited on both parts by design.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious specification gap. The Intel Core i9-13900H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel’s higher core count is a major factor in its multicore benchmark wins, especially in the PassMark suite where the gap frequently exceeds 25%.

Clock speeds differ in both directions. Intel has a higher boost clock at 5.40 GHz, while AMD has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz. Intel’s base clock is 2.60 GHz. The higher AMD base clock helps explain the AMD chip’s strong Cinebench R23 single-core result, as the chip maintains a higher frequency at lower thread counts.

Thermal design power differs substantially. Intel is rated at 45 W, while AMD is rated at 28 W. This suggests the AMD chip is designed for more power-constrained mobile systems, though the database does not include measured power consumption to confirm real-world behavior.

Sockets differ: Intel uses BGA 1744, while AMD uses Socket FP7. These are not interchangeable, so the choice of processor dictates the platform.

Release dates differ by roughly 15 months. Intel launched on January 3, 2023, while AMD launched on April 15, 2024. Both parts remain active in production.

The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $617. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Part numbers also differ: Intel lists SRMJ4, while AMD lists two part numbers, 100-000001354 (FP7r2) and 100-000001382 (FP7), reflecting the two socket variants.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS wins both Cinebench R23 tests. It scores 18104 in multicore versus 17471 for Intel, a 3.5% lead, and 2555 in single-core versus 1964.5 for Intel, a 23.1% lead.

Q: Which processor is better for encryption workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900H scores 18974 in PassMark data encryption, compared to 14962 for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS, a 26.8% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-13900H does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the thermal design power of the Intel part?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900H has a thermal design power of 45 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900H boosts up to 5.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS boosts up to 4.90 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13900H wins across the broadest range of workloads. Its largest advantages appear in physics, where it leads by 67.3%, floating point math by 61.8%, and prime number finding by 46.5%. These are compute-heavy, highly parallel tasks that benefit from the Intel part’s 14 cores and 20 threads. The same explanation applies to its wins in integer math, data compression, and encryption, where the margins range from 26.8% to 39.1%. Users running simulations, scientific calculations, or large-scale data processing pipelines should favor the Intel chip. Cinebench R15 and R20 results also go to Intel, with multicore margins of 46.2% and 27.3% respectively, reinforcing the Intel part’s strength in older rendering workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS wins specifically in Cinebench R23 multicore and R23 single-core. The 23.1% single-core lead and 3.4% multicore lead suggests the Zen 4 architecture, combined with the higher 3.50 GHz base clock, excels in that rendering engine. The PassMark single-thread tests show Intel ahead by only 5.4%, so the AMD chip is competitive in lightly threaded work in general, just not at the same level in the PassMark single-thread test. The AMD chip is also the only option with ECC memory support, making it the better fit for reliability-focused systems despite its lower core count.

In terms of overall standing, both processors rank near each other in the database: Intel at the 81st percentile, AMD at the 80th. The average benchmark scores are close, 28886 for Intel versus 28478 for AMD. The Intel part is the safer choice for users who want consistent performance across a wide mix of workloads, while the AMD part is the specialized choice for Cinebench R23 rendering and ECC-capable systems. The 45 W versus 28 W thermal design power difference also indicates the AMD chip is better suited for thinner, lower-power mobile designs, while the Intel chip targets higher-performance laptops that can sustain higher power draw.