AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core i5-13600 Comparison

This comparison examines two very different processors: the Intel Core i5-13600, a desktop part from the Raptor Lake generation, and the AMD Ryzen 7 170, a mobile-focused chip based on the Zen 3+ architecture. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between the two, but the underlying design philosophies explain why that gap exists and what it means for prospective users.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-13600 wins in every single head-to-head benchmark recorded. Across 11 distinct tests, the Intel part claims victory in all of them, leaving the AMD Ryzen 7 170 with zero wins. This is not a situation where one chip excels in certain workloads while the other takes others; the Intel processor is simply faster across the board.

However, the nature of the wins matters. The largest margins come in heavily multithreaded and specialized workloads. The Intel chip dominates in prime number finding, physics calculations, and multithreaded performance, where its core count and thread count advantage becomes decisive. Meanwhile, the AMD chip’s best relative showing comes in single-threaded tasks, where the gap narrows considerably. This suggests that while the AMD part loses every race, it is least far behind in lightly threaded scenarios, which may matter for certain desktop or mobile use cases.

For a user running compression, encryption, or extended instruction workloads, the Intel Core i5-13600 is the clear choice. For those who primarily need single-thread responsiveness, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 is more competitive, though still slower. The data does not indicate any workload where the AMD chip is preferable on raw performance alone.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design schools. The Intel Core i5-13600 is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-S codename, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node. It features a hybrid design with 14 cores and 20 threads, which implies a mix of performance and efficiency cores. The AMD Ryzen 7 170, by contrast, uses the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename, built on TSMC’s 6 nm process. It is a more traditional 8-core, 16-thread design.

The cache hierarchies also differ substantially. Intel equips the i5-13600 with an 80 KB L1 cache per core, a 1.25 MB L2 cache per core, and a shared 24 MB L3 cache. AMD’s Ryzen 7 170 uses a smaller 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The larger Intel caches help explain its advantage in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption, where more data can be kept close to the cores.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD part only supports DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Intel part. The PCIe support also differs: Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present on both, but the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 770 while the AMD chip uses Radeon 680M.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in the `passmark_find_prime_numbers` test, where the Intel Core i5-13600 scores 109 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 170’s 49. That is a 122.4% advantage for Intel, the largest margin in any test. This workload is heavily dependent on integer arithmetic and efficient loop handling, areas where Intel’s higher boost clock and larger cache appear to pay off significantly.

Physics calculations tell a similar story. In `passmark_physics`, the Intel chip scores 1782 against AMD’s 890, a 100.2% delta. This test often scales with core count and memory bandwidth, and Intel’s 14-core, 20-thread configuration with 24 MB of L3 cache gives it a massive edge over AMD’s 8-core, 16-thread part with 16 MB of cache.

Floating-point math is another area of notable separation. The Intel i5-13600 posts 81892 in `passmark_floating_point_math`, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 manages only 44979, a 82.1% difference. This suggests the Intel part has a more capable floating-point pipeline, likely benefiting from its newer architecture and higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus AMD’s 4.75 GHz.

Multithreaded performance shows a 52.8% gap, with Intel scoring 31725 to AMD’s 20760 in `passmark_multithread`. This is directly attributable to the core and thread count difference: 14 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part simply has more resources to throw at parallel workloads.

Even in single-threaded tests, where the gap is smallest, Intel still wins decisively. The `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread` tests both show Intel at 4049 versus AMD’s 3128, a 29.4% advantage. This is a significant gap even for light workloads, indicating that Intel’s per-core performance is substantially higher, not just its aggregate throughput.

Data compression and encryption follow the pattern. Intel leads in `passmark_data_compression` with 383972 versus 265920, a 44.4% delta, and in `passmark_data_encryption` with 22182 versus 16078, a 38% delta. The extended instructions test shows a 27.3% lead for Intel, while random string sorting shows a 51.2% advantage. The integer math test rounds out the set with a 39.3% lead for Intel.

Specification Differences

The core specifications highlight how different these processors are. The Intel Core i5-13600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for Intel and 3.20 GHz for AMD, but boost clocks reverse the order: 5.00 GHz for Intel versus 4.75 GHz for AMD. The Intel chip has a higher thermal design power (TDP) of 65 watts, while the AMD part is rated at a much lower 35 watts, reflecting its mobile orientation.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1700, AMD uses Socket FP7. The process nodes differ as well, with Intel on 10 nm and AMD on 6 nm. The die sizes are similar, with Intel at 215 mm² and AMD at 210 mm², but the foundries are different: Intel and TSMC respectively. The memory support differs, as noted, with Intel offering DDR4 and DDR5 while AMD is DDR5-only. The integrated graphics differ, and the PCIe generations are different (Gen 5 for Intel, Gen 4 for AMD).

Other notable differences include the release dates. The Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03, while the AMD chip has a release date of 2025-09-30. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $255, while the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers, meaning they cannot be overclocked by changing the multiplier. The part numbers differ: SRMBS for Intel, 100-000000989 for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

A: In the `passmark_find_prime_numbers` test, the Intel chip scores 109 versus AMD’s 49, a 122.4% advantage for Intel.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 wins?

A: No. Across all 11 head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-13600 wins every test. The `winsA` field shows 11 wins for Intel and 0 for AMD.

Q: Which processor supports more memory types?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 only supports DDR5.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel chip boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD chip boosts to 4.75 GHz. The Intel part has a higher boost clock.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD chip is rated for lower power consumption.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the Intel Core i5-13600 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. Its 11-0 win record, combined with margins ranging from 27.3% to 122.4%, demonstrates overwhelming performance dominance over the AMD Ryzen 7 170. The Intel chip’s larger core count, bigger caches, and higher boost clock translate into measurable wins across compression, encryption, math, physics, and single-threaded tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does have a notable advantage in power efficiency, with its 35-watt TDP versus Intel’s 65-watt TDP. That makes it a more suitable choice for mobile or low-power applications where battery life and thermal output matter more than raw performance. Its smaller die size and newer 6 nm process node also suggest better power-per-watt characteristics, though the benchmark data does not include power consumption measurements.

For a desktop user who prioritizes performance, the Intel Core i5-13600 is the clear pick. Its 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44240, places it just behind the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44309, -0.2%) and Intel Core i9-13950HX (44342, -0.2%). The AMD Ryzen 7 170 also sits in the 88th percentile with an average score of 43689, but it trails its nearest rivals more noticeably, with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 showing a 0% delta and the AMD Ryzen 7 260 showing a -0.1% delta.

The verdict depends on the use case. For desktop workloads where performance is the sole criterion, the Intel Core i5-13600 wins without qualification. For mobile or low-power scenarios where the 35-watt TDP and integrated Radeon 680M graphics are advantageous, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a place, but it will consistently deliver lower performance in every benchmark category. The data does not support any scenario where the AMD chip outperforms the Intel chip in computational tasks.