AMD Ryzen 7 2700X vs Intel Core i5-13500HX Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core i5-13500HX wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, taking all 13 recorded matchups. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X records zero wins across the shared test suite. The Intel part leads by margins ranging from 12.1% in data encryption to 58.2% in prime number finding. For any workload represented in these measurements, the Intel Core i5-13500HX is the stronger performer. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, despite its desktop pedigree and unlocked multiplier, cannot match the mobile Intel chip in any measured category. The data suggests that users prioritizing raw performance in these specific tests should select the Intel Core i5-13500HX. The AMD part remains relevant only for those constrained by socket compatibility or specific platform requirements, but not for performance leadership.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory for the Intel Core i5-13500HX comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where it scores 98 against the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X's 41, a delta of 58.2%. This workload, which stresses integer arithmetic and cache efficiency, shows the Intel architecture's advantage in sustained computational throughput. Floating point math tells a similar story: Intel scores 70,885 versus AMD's 32,563, a 54.1% deficit for the Ryzen part. The extended instructions test also heavily favors Intel, with scores of 20,200 versus 10,155, a 49.7% gap. These three tests alone demonstrate that the Intel part is roughly twice as fast in certain computational categories.

In multi-core rendering, the Cinebench R15 multicore test shows Intel at 2,863 points versus AMD's 1,762, a 38.5% lead. The single-core variant shows Intel ahead by 30.3%, scoring 252 versus 175.7. This pattern of Intel leading in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads persists across the entire suite. The passmark_multithread test shows Intel at 27,753 versus AMD's 17,468, a 37.1% margin. Integer math favors Intel at 96,195 versus 63,485, a 34% difference. Even the closest contest, data encryption, shows Intel ahead at 19,267 versus 16,929, a 12.1% margin.

The data compression test shows Intel at 331,896 versus AMD's 266,134, a 19.8% lead. Random string sorting shows Intel at 36,373 versus 30,563, a 16% advantage. Physics simulation, as measured by passmark_physics, shows Intel at 1,634 versus AMD's 792, a 51.5% deficit for the Ryzen part. The single-thread tests, reported as both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread with identical scores of 3,582 for Intel and 2,417 for AMD, show a 32.5% Intel advantage. Across all thirteen shared benchmarks, not a single measurement favors the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and generations. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) refresh, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-13500HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-HX, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a larger 257 mm² die. These process differences explain part of the performance gap, as the newer Intel node offers better transistor density and efficiency.

Core configuration differs dramatically. The AMD part offers 8 cores and 16 threads, all based on the same Zen cores. The Intel part offers 14 cores and 20 threads, using a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores common to Raptor Lake designs. This core count advantage explains the Intel lead in heavily threaded workloads like Cinebench R15 multicore, where the additional threads contribute to the 38.5% margin. Cache structures also differ: AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger L2 and L3 caches on the Intel part likely contribute to its dominance in cache-sensitive tests like prime number finding and extended instructions.

The memory and I/O capabilities reflect their different market positions. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also in dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure recorded. PCIe support differs significantly: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The Intel part also includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD part has none listed. ECC memory support also differs, with the Intel part supporting ECC while the AMD part does not.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals several key differences beyond the benchmark scores. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X runs at a base clock of 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 4.35 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-13500HX runs at a lower base of 2.50 GHz but boosts higher to 4.70 GHz. Despite the lower base clock, the Intel part achieves higher performance across all tests, indicating that boost behavior and architectural efficiency overcome the base clock deficit.

Thermal design power differs substantially: the AMD part is rated at 105 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 55 watts. This is notable because the Intel part delivers significantly higher performance while being rated for nearly half the power draw. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1964, reflecting the desktop versus mobile market segments. The AMD part is classified as Desktop, while the Intel part is classified as Mobile.

Release dates are separated by nearly five years: the AMD part launched on April 18, 2018, while the Intel part launched on January 3, 2023. The launch MSRP for the AMD part is $329, while the Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $326. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, though the Intel part's BGA socket makes overclocking less practical in a mobile context. The AMD part lists a transistor count of 4,800 million, while the Intel part does not report this figure. Both list their process nodes and foundries, with AMD using GlobalFoundries and Intel using its own fabs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in the database?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500HX wins all 13 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. The AMD part records zero wins.

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

A: The largest gap is in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the Intel Core i5-13500HX scores 98 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X's 41, a 58.2% difference.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-13500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, giving it a substantial advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X supports only DDR4 memory. The Intel Core i5-13500HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X is rated at 105 watts, while the Intel Core i5-13500HX is rated at 55 watts. The Intel part delivers higher performance while being rated for lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500HX has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X's boost clock of 4.35 GHz. The AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.70 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13500HX wins in every measured category, making the use-case split straightforward. For multi-threaded productivity workloads, the Intel part leads Cinebench R15 multicore by 38.5% and passmark_multithread by 37.1%. For single-threaded responsiveness, it leads Cinebench R15 singlecore by 30.3% and passmark_single_thread by 32.5%. For scientific and mathematical workloads, it leads floating point math by 54.1% and prime number finding by 58.2%. For encryption and compression tasks, it leads data encryption by 12.1% and data compression by 19.8%. For physics simulation, it leads by 51.5%. The Intel part is the pick for any workload represented in these benchmarks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, despite losing every head-to-head test, still holds relevance in specific contexts based on its platform characteristics rather than its performance. It uses the AMD Socket AM4, which is a desktop platform with a long upgrade path. It has an unlocked multiplier, making it suitable for overclocking within that socket. Its 105-watt TDP suggests it is designed for desktop cooling solutions rather than mobile thermal constraints. The 16 MB of shared L3 cache and 46.9 GB/s memory bandwidth were competitive at its 2018 launch, but the data shows they no longer match the Intel part's capabilities. For users building on the AM4 platform who cannot switch sockets, the Ryzen 7 2700X remains a functional choice, but the benchmark evidence offers no performance scenario where it outpaces the Intel Core i5-13500HX.