AMD Ryzen 7 4800H vs Intel Core i5-13500H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13500H and AMD Ryzen 7 4800H are two mobile processors aimed at performance laptops, but they come from different eras of design. The Intel part is a 12-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake-H chip, while the AMD is an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 2 part. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Intel processor wins 16 of the 21 head-to-head tests, while the AMD takes 5. The Intel chip’s wins are often by wide margins, particularly in single-thread and floating-point workloads, but the AMD Ryzen holds its own in specific data-processing tasks where its architecture proves more efficient. Both CPUs sit at the 75th percentile in the database, meaning they are statistically comparable in overall standing, yet the nature of their performance differs significantly depending on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13500H is the dominant choice for general processing, especially in tasks that rely on single-core speed or heavy mathematical computation. Its single-thread score of 3397 in Passmark is 30.8% higher than the AMD’s 2597, and that advantage carries into 3DMark single-thread results where it leads by 34.1%. For users running applications that are not perfectly multi-threaded, such as typical office work, web browsing, or many creative apps, the Intel chip will feel noticeably snappier. The Cinebench R23 single-core result reinforces this, with the Intel scoring 1775 against the AMD’s 1253.5, a 41.6% gap. This makes the i5-13500H the better pick for anyone whose daily driver depends on responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks.

The Intel part also wins in multi-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 14081 versus 11135.5 for the AMD, a 26.5% advantage. The 3DMark 16-thread test shows a narrower lead of 3.8%, but the Intel still comes out ahead. The Passmark multithread score of 21366 is 17.3% higher than the AMD’s 18222. For content creators who render video or export large projects, the i5-13500H is the stronger option.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H wins in a smaller but distinct set of tasks. It leads in Passmark data compression (269334 versus 254661, a 5.4% edge), data encryption (15530 versus 14938, a 3.8% edge), extended instructions (17035 versus 14872, a 12.7% edge), and random string sorting (29181 versus 27955, a 4.2% edge). It also wins the 3DMark 8-thread test, scoring 4789 against the Intel’s 4550, a 5% advantage. These wins suggest the AMD chip has a particular strength in workloads that involve data shuffling, compression, and cryptographic operations, where its Zen 2 architecture and memory subsystem work to its benefit.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-13500H is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H, and uses a 10 nm process from Intel. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. It supports a wide range of memory types, including DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, all in dual-channel mode. Its PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU, and it features Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The socket is Intel BGA 1744.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H uses Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename and is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its cache is smaller: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The memory support is limited to DDR4 and LPDDR4, but the database records a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Intel chip. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3 and integrates Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. It fits into AMD Socket FP6. The AMD chip also has a recorded transistor count of 9,800 million and a die size of 156 mm², while those figures are not available for the Intel part.

The most consequential architectural differences are the core counts and the process nodes. The Intel chip has 12 cores versus 8 for the AMD, which helps in heavily threaded workloads. The Intel also has a much larger L3 cache at 18 MB versus 8 MB. However, the AMD chip is on a smaller 7 nm process, which historically contributes to efficiency, though the database does not provide wattage or power draw figures beyond the 45 W TDP shared by both. The memory support is another differentiator: the Intel part can use newer DDR5 and LPDDR5 modules, while the AMD is restricted to DDR4 and LPDDR4.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500H is clearly ahead. It scores 3397 in Passmark single-thread, 30.8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H’s 2597. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel scores 1775 against the AMD’s 1253.5, a 41.6% lead.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 4800H better for multi-core rendering?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-13500H wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 14081 versus 11135.5 for the AMD, a 26.5% edge. The Passmark multithread score of 21366 is also higher than the AMD’s 18222.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H beats Intel?

A: Yes, the AMD wins in Passmark data compression (269334, a 5.4% lead over the Intel’s 254661), data encryption (15530, 3.8% higher), extended instructions (17035, 12.7% higher), random string sorting (29181, 4.2% higher), and 3DMark 8-thread (4789, a 5% edge over the Intel’s 4550).

Q: How do the two compare in 3DMark tests?

A: The Intel wins 3DMark 2-thread by 32.8%, 4-thread by 23.6%, 16-thread by 3.8%, and max-thread by 5.5%. The AMD wins 3DMark 8-thread by 5%, but loses single-thread by 34.1%.

Q: Which chip supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500H supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H supports only DDR4 and LPDDR4.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every core specification except TDP, where the Intel is 45 W and the AMD is 45 W, matching. The Intel has 12 cores; the AMD has 8 cores. Threads are 16 for both. The base clock differs, with the Intel at 2.60 GHz and the AMD at 2.90 GHz. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz for the Intel and 4.20 GHz for the AMD. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core for the Intel and 64 KB per core for the AMD. L2 is 2 MB per core for the Intel and 512 KB per core for the AMD. L3 is 18 MB shared for the Intel and 8 MB shared for the AMD. The process nodes are 10 nm for the Intel and 7 nm for the AMD. The foundries are Intel and TSMC, respectively. The Intel supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes; the AMD uses PCIe Gen 3. Memory support is broader on the Intel, which accepts DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, while the AMD only supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. The integrated graphics differ: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the Intel versus Radeon Graphics 448SP on the AMD. The sockets are Intel BGA 1744 and AMD Socket FP6. The AMD has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; no such figure is listed for the Intel. The AMD also has recorded transistor and die size data, which the Intel lacks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core i5-13500H comes in Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 74 against the AMD’s 33, a 124.2% advantage. This is a mathematics-heavy workload that clearly favors the Intel architecture. The Intel also wins Passmark physics by 71%, scoring 1289 versus 754. Floating-point math shows a 39.7% edge for Intel, with a score of 52123 against 37312. Integer math is closer but still favors Intel by 13.6%, at 72724 versus 63999.

In Cinebench, the Intel chip dominates both single and multi-core. The R15 multi-core score is 2304 versus 1854, a 24.3% edge. The R15 single-core score is 249 versus 188, a 32.4% edge. The R23 multi-core score is 14081 versus 11135.5, a 26.5% edge, and the R23 single-core score is 1775 versus 1253.5, a 41.6% edge. These results indicate that the Intel chip has a substantial generational advantage in both lightly and heavily threaded rendering tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H’s largest win is in Passmark extended instructions, where it scores 17035 against the Intel’s 14872, a 12.7% advantage. It also wins data compression (269334 versus 254661, 5.4%), data encryption (15530 versus 14938, 3.8%), and random string sorting (29181 versus 27955, 4.2%). The 3DMark 8-thread test is the only 3DMark win for AMD, with a score of 4789 versus 4550, a 5% edge. These wins are consistent and point to a specific strength in data manipulation and certain algorithmic tasks.

The 3DMark suite otherwise belongs to Intel. The 2-thread test shows a 32.8% lead, the 4-thread test a 23.6% lead, the 16-thread test a 3.8% lead, and the max-thread test a 5.5% lead. The single-thread test is a 34.1% win for Intel. The Passmark multithread test goes to Intel by 17.3%, and the single-thread test by 30.8%.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i5-13500H if your work involves rendering, video editing, or any application where single-thread speed and high multi-core throughput matter. The data shows it is ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 26.5% and in single-core by 41.6%. It also leads in Passmark multithread by 17.3% and in floating-point math by 39.7%. For general productivity, the Intel chip’s 30.8% lead in Passmark single-thread performance means everyday tasks will feel faster. Its 12 cores and 18 MB of L3 cache give it a structural advantage in most compute-heavy scenarios.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H if your workload is specifically centered on data compression, encryption, or extended instruction sets. The AMD wins data compression by 5.4%, data encryption by 3.8%, and extended instructions by 12.7%. It also edges out the Intel in random string sorting by 4.2%. These are not typical consumer workloads, but for users in fields like database processing, archival, or security-related computation, the AMD chip offers a measurable benefit. Its 3DMark 8-thread win by 5% also suggests it handles moderate thread counts efficiently. The AMD chip is built on a 7 nm process with a recorded 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which may be relevant for memory-bound tasks, though the Intel chip supports a wider variety of memory types including DDR5. For most users, the Intel Core i5-13500H is the better all-around processor, but the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H has a niche where it is clearly superior.