AMD Ryzen 7 4700G vs Intel Core i5-13500TE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13500TE and AMD Ryzen 7 4700G are both desktop processors aimed at similar performance tiers, yet they achieve their results through fundamentally different design philosophies. The data reveals a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the Intel part across all six Cinebench tests, while the AMD chip counters with a lower power draw, a more advanced process node, and a higher base clock. This comparison is less about a knockout blow and more about examining how architectural choices from two generations manifest in nearly identical final scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500TE has an average benchmark score of 5002, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G scores 4949. This places the Intel part slightly ahead in the aggregate, with its nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G at a 0% delta.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-13500TE scores 17294, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G scores 17111. This results in a delta of 1.1% in favor of the Intel chip, indicating a very close contest in heavily threaded workloads.

Q: Do the two processors support the same types of memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-13500TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G is limited to DDR4. The AMD chip does have a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel part.

Q: What are the differences in their physical configurations?

A: The Intel chip features 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. They also use different sockets: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5-13500TE and AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen 7 4700G.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G is built on a 7 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core i5-13500TE uses Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip also has a die size of 156 mm², compared to the Intel's 215 mm².

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G wins?

A: According to the head-to-head data, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G does not win any of the six Cinebench benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-13500TE wins all six, with deltas ranging from 1.1% to 1.2%.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two chips is significant, representing distinct eras and design goals from Intel and AMD. The Intel Core i5-13500TE is a Raptor Lake-S part built on Intel's 10 nm process, featuring a hybrid architecture that combines performance and efficiency cores. This is reflected in its 14 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that allows for a high core count while maintaining a 35 W TDP. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G, by contrast, is a Zen 2 part codenamed Renoir, fabricated by TSMC on a more advanced 7 nm process. It is a monolithic 8-core, 16-thread design with a 65 W TDP.

These fundamental differences extend to the memory and I/O subsystems. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility for platform choice, and provides PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The AMD processor is restricted to DDR4 and uses PCIe Gen 3. This places the Intel platform on a more modern connectivity standard. The cache hierarchy also differs considerably: the Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, alongside a large 24 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's per-core cache is smaller at 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2, and its total L3 is just 8 MB. The Intel part’s larger cache and hybrid core layout are designed to boost both single-thread and multi-thread performance, while the AMD chip’s design is more straightforward and relies on its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the Intel’s 1.30 GHz to maintain responsiveness. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the AMD part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a picture of near-total dominance for the Intel Core i5-13500TE, but the margins are remarkably slim. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the most demanding workload listed, the Intel chip scores 17294 against the AMD's 17111, a 1.1% advantage. This is a surprisingly small gap given that the Intel part has 14 cores versus the AMD's 8, but the AMD's higher clock speeds and the efficiency of its 7 nm process clearly help it compete. The single-core results tell a similar story, with the Intel taking Cinebench R23 single-core at 2441 versus 2415, another 1.1% win.

The pattern holds across the older Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel scores 7263 to the AMD's 7186 (1.1% delta), and in R20 single-core, it wins 1025 to 1014 (1.1% delta). The Cinebench R15 results are slightly more favorable for Intel, with a 1.2% delta in single-core (246 vs 243) and a 1.1% delta in multi-core (1743 vs 1724). The data shows that while Intel wins all six head-to-head matchups, the average difference is just over one percent. This suggests that for most real-world applications, the subjective performance difference would be difficult to perceive without a frame counter. The Intel chip’s win is consistent, but it is not a decisive victory in terms of raw output.

Specification Differences

A direct comparison of the specification sheets reveals several key distinctions beyond the core counts and clocks. The most prominent difference is in power consumption, where the Intel Core i5-13500TE has a TDP of 35 W, a significant reduction from the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G's 65 W. This makes the Intel part substantially more power-efficient on paper, a critical factor for compact or thermally constrained systems.

The platforms diverge completely. The Intel chip uses the LGA 1700 socket and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip uses the AM4 socket and is limited to DDR4. The Intel part also features PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, whereas the AMD part is on PCIe Gen 3. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Intel featuring UHD Graphics 770 and the AMD featuring Radeon Vega 8. The AMD chip has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz compared to the Intel's 1.30 GHz, though the Intel's boost clock is slightly higher at 4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. Finally, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel Core i5-13500TE is locked. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $235, while no launch MSRP is listed for the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-13500TE is the winner in every measured category. It holds the advantage in all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three versions of the benchmark. This makes it the superior choice for any workload that relies on raw CPU rendering performance, such as video encoding, 3D modeling, or software compilation. Its 14-core configuration, despite the lower TDP, provides enough parallel throughput to edge out the AMD part.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G, while losing the benchmark war, has its own strengths that are not captured by the Cinebench suite. Its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz suggests it may feel more responsive in lightly threaded tasks or everyday desktop use, where the Intel chip might downclock more aggressively to save power. The AMD chip's unlocked multiplier also makes it the better candidate for enthusiasts who wish to overclock, a feature the locked Intel chip does not offer. Furthermore, its older AM4 platform and DDR4-only support could be seen as a more mature and potentially less complex ecosystem, though the Intel part's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 offers more future-proofing.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear, albeit narrow, verdict: the Intel Core i5-13500TE is the better performer. It wins every single benchmark comparison and does so while drawing 30 W less power according to TDP specifications. For a user seeking maximum multi-threaded and single-threaded compute power in a desktop environment, the Intel chip is the logical choice, provided they are on a platform that supports its LGA 1700 socket and can take advantage of its DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 capabilities. The 1.1% performance deltas are small, but they are consistent and always in Intel's favor.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G is not without merit, but its appeal lies outside the Cinebench numbers. Its higher base clock and unlocked multiplier make it an appealing option for tinkerers or those building a system where the ability to overclock is paramount. However, for a straightforward performance comparison, the AMD chip cannot match the Intel part. The Intel Core i5-13500TE is the superior product based on the available benchmark data, offering more cores, more threads, a larger cache, and a lower TDP, all while producing slightly higher scores. The choice for a new build should favor the Intel processor unless specific requirements like overclocking support or a preference for the AM4 platform override the performance data.