AMD Ryzen 7 3700X vs Intel Core i5-13450HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13450HX and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X are separated by less than 1% in average benchmark score, but they achieve that parity through very different designs and performance profiles. The Intel part, a mobile Raptor Lake-HX chip, wins the majority of head-to-head tests with decisive margins in floating-point math and single-threaded work. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, a desktop Zen 2 chip, counters with wins in encryption and prime-number finding. The data shows that the Intel chip is the stronger all-around performer for most workloads, but the AMD chip remains competitive in specific tasks where its architecture excels. Both processors sit at the 84th percentile among all CPUs, making them equivalent in overall standing.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-13450HX is the pick for users who prioritize raw compute throughput, particularly in multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded responsiveness. It leads the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X in 9 of the 13 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with its largest advantage being a 58.4% lead in floating-point math (61776 vs 39005). It also takes single-thread performance by 33.8% (3553 vs 2656), which translates to snappier everyday application behavior. The Intel chip wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 19.6% (2503 vs 2092) and singlecore by 21.6% (248 vs 204), making it the clear choice for content creation and CPU-heavy productivity.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is the better option only in a narrow set of workloads. It wins data encryption by 12% (18900 vs 16632) and prime-number finding by 16.2% (99 vs 83). These are scientific and security-oriented tasks where the Zen 2 architecture shows an edge. However, the AMD chip loses badly in floating-point math and integer math (25.3% behind at 66399 vs 83209), so its overall performance is dragged down. For a desktop user with an AM4 motherboard already in hand, the 3700X remains a serviceable choice, but the Intel i5-13450HX offers better performance in more areas.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (34333 vs 34260, a 0.2% delta), but that hides the distribution of wins. The Intel chip wins by large margins in key tests, while the AMD chip wins by smaller margins in fewer tests. A user should choose the i5-13450HX for most workloads, and the 3700X only if encryption or prime-number computation is a primary use case.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-13450HX is built on a 10 nm process by Intel, using the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is built on a 7 nm process by TSMC, using the Zen 2 architecture with the Matisse codename. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel chip has more cores, but the AMD chip has a higher base clock by 1.20 GHz.

The cache layouts differ significantly. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. The AMD chip has 12 MB more L3 cache, which can help in certain memory-heavy workloads, but the Intel chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4. The AMD chip has a stated memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip has no bandwidth figure listed. The Intel chip supports ECC memory, while the AMD chip does not. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes. The Intel chip has integrated UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics. The Intel chip is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1964, while the AMD chip is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4.

The Intel chip has a TDP of 55 watts, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD chip has a smaller die size at 74 mm², compared to the Intel chip's 257 mm², and uses 3,800 million transistors, while the Intel chip has no transistor count listed. Both chips have an unlocked multiplier, but the Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03, while the AMD chip was released on 2019-07-06.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Intel Core i5-13450HX is in floating-point math, where it scores 61776 against the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X's 39005, a 58.4% advantage. This is a massive gap that suggests the Intel architecture is far more efficient at heavy numerical computation. The Intel chip also wins integer math by 25.3% (83209 vs 66399), which covers general arithmetic operations in many applications. In single-thread performance, the Intel chip leads by 33.8% (3553 vs 2656), a crucial metric for older software and lightly-threaded games.

In Cinebench R15, the Intel chip wins multicore by 19.6% (2503 vs 2092) and singlecore by 21.6% (248 vs 204). These are standard rendering benchmarks, so the Intel chip is the better choice for 3D modeling and video rendering. The Intel chip also wins multithread performance in PassMark by 11.7% (25084 vs 22458) and physics by 27.3% (1504 vs 1181). Data compression goes to the Intel chip by a smaller 3.2% margin (305990 vs 296379).

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X wins four tests, but by smaller margins. The largest is data encryption, where it scores 18900 against 16632, a 12% advantage. Prime-number finding goes to the AMD chip by 16.2% (99 vs 83), a notable result for cryptographic workloads. The AMD chip also wins extended instructions by 0.8% (19241 vs 19083) and random string sorting by 0.6% (32131 vs 31940), both very narrow margins.

The pattern is clear: the Intel chip wins by large margins in math and rendering, while the AMD chip wins by small margins in specialized tasks. The Intel chip's wins are more impactful for general performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX leads by 33.8% in PassMark single-thread scores (3553 vs 2656) and by 21.6% in Cinebench R15 singlecore (248 vs 204).

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X better at any compute task?

A: Yes, it wins data encryption by 12% (18900 vs 16632) and prime-number finding by 16.2% (99 vs 83), along with narrow wins in extended instructions and random string sorting.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel chip has an average score of 34333, while the AMD chip has 34260, a 0.2% difference in favor of the Intel chip.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-13450HX supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13450HX wins in every major compute category that matters for general use. Its 58.4% lead in floating-point math makes it the clear choice for scientific computing, financial modeling, and any workload that relies on heavy numerical analysis. The 25.3% lead in integer math covers database operations, compression, and general application logic. The 33.8% lead in single-thread performance means faster boot times, quicker application launches, and better responsiveness in older software that uses one core.

For content creation, the Intel chip wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 19.6% and singlecore by 21.6%, so it is the better processor for video editing, 3D rendering, and photo processing. The 27.3% lead in physics simulations also makes it more suitable for engineering and scientific simulation software. The 11.7% lead in multithread performance reinforces this, showing that the Intel chip scales better across its 10 cores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X wins in encryption and prime-number finding, which are specific to cryptography, security, and number theory research. The 12% lead in data encryption and 16.2% lead in prime numbers are meaningful for users who run encryption algorithms or conduct mathematical research. The narrow 0.8% win in extended instructions and 0.6% win in random string sorting are negligible in practice, but they show the Zen 2 architecture has slight advantages in certain instruction-heavy tasks.

For a desktop user with an existing AM4 motherboard, the 3700X is a drop-in upgrade that still holds its own in most everyday tasks. However, the data shows that the Intel i5-13450HX is the better performer in the vast majority of benchmarks, making it the superior choice for new builds, especially mobile systems where its 55-watt TDP and integrated graphics are assets.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i5-13450HX and AMD Ryzen 7 3700X differ in several key specifications. The Intel chip has 10 cores, while the AMD chip has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the AMD chip has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel chip has a 55-watt TDP, while the AMD chip has a 65-watt TDP.

The Intel chip uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the AMD chip uses a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Intel chip has a die size of 257 mm², while the AMD chip has a die size of 74 mm² and 3,800 million transistors. The Intel chip has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 cache per core, with 20 MB shared L3, while the AMD chip has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 32 MB L3.

The Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4. The AMD chip has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip has none listed. The Intel chip supports ECC memory, while the AMD chip does not. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes. The Intel chip has integrated UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD chip has none. The Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1964, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4. The Intel chip is a mobile part, while the AMD chip is a desktop part. Both chips have an unlocked multiplier, but the Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03, while the AMD chip was released on 2019-07-06.