AMD Ryzen 7 5700U vs Intel Core i5-13420H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13420H and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U are both 8-core mobile processors, but they target very different use cases. The data shows a clear split: the Intel chip wins 16 out of 21 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD chip takes 5. This is not a close contest in raw performance, but the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U holds its own in specific workloads. The Intel Core i5-13420H is the choice for sustained, high-throughput tasks and anything that relies on single-core speed. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the pick for power-sensitive laptops where efficiency is the priority, as its 15W TDP suggests, and it also wins in a few integer and data-heavy tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13420H dominates in multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. It wins every 3DMark and Cinebench test, including a 28.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 34.3% lead in single-core. This makes it the better processor for video editing, 3D rendering, and any workload that scales across cores. It also wins heavily in floating-point math (29.1% ahead) and physics (62.7% ahead), which points to strong raw compute capability for simulations and scientific tasks. The 79.3% win in prime number finding is the largest margin in the entire comparison, indicating a massive advantage in integer-heavy, single-threaded loops.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U wins in five areas: data compression (4.3% ahead), data encryption (7.9% ahead), extended instructions (4.6% ahead), integer math (3.1% ahead), and random string sorting (6.6% ahead). These are all memory-intensive or encryption-related tasks. The AMD chip's wins suggest it has a more efficient data path for these specific operations, likely due to its architecture. For a user doing file archiving, cryptographic work, or database sorting, the Ryzen 7 5700U is the better option, even if it loses the overall performance crown.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-13420H uses Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It has 8 cores and 12 threads, meaning 4 of its cores do not have hyperthreading. Its L3 cache is 12 MB shared, with 2 MB L2 per core and 80 KB L1 per core. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory and uses PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU. Its integrated GPU is Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U uses Zen 2 architecture (codename Lucienne), built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, meaning all cores support simultaneous multithreading. Its L3 cache is only 8 MB shared, with 512 KB L2 per core and 64 KB L1 per core. It supports only DDR4 memory, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Its PCIe is Gen 3 with 12 lanes from the CPU, and its integrated GPU is Radeon Graphics with 512 shader processors. The AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

The process node difference is significant: 7 nm TSMC versus 10 nm Intel. The AMD chip is designed for low power, with a TDP of 15W, while the Intel chip is a 45W part. This explains the performance gap: the Intel chip uses more power to deliver higher clocks (4.60 GHz boost versus 4.30 GHz) and more cache. The AMD chip compensates with more threads (16 versus 12), which helps in some multi-threaded tasks, but not enough to overcome the Intel clock and cache advantage in most tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest Intel wins are in the 3DMark suite. In 3DMark 4-thread, the Intel chip scores 3357 versus 2357, a 42.4% lead. In 3DMark 2-thread, it leads 1871 to 1345, a 39.1% margin. The 8-thread test shows 4614 versus 3685, a 25.2% lead, and the 16-thread test shows 5518 versus 4330, a 27.4% lead. The max-thread test gives Intel a 5587 to 4331 win, a 29% margin. These results show that even when the AMD chip can use all 16 threads, it cannot match the Intel chip's 12 threads, which are individually faster.

In Cinebench, the Intel chip wins R15 multi-core 1738 to 1480 (17.4%) and R15 single-core 238 to 188 (26.6%). The R23 multi-core test shows 11084 versus 8650, a 28.1% lead, and R23 single-core shows 1689 versus 1258, a 34.3% lead. These are the standard rendering workloads, and the Intel chip is clearly superior. The single-core lead is particularly important for older software and everyday responsiveness.

The AMD wins are narrower. Data compression shows 218853 versus 209450, a 4.3% margin. Data encryption shows 12549 versus 11559, a 7.9% margin. Extended instructions show 13519 versus 12897, a 4.6% margin. Integer math shows 60037 versus 58156, a 3.1% margin. Random string sorting shows 23608 versus 22045, a 6.6% margin. These are all close victories, unlike the Intel wins which are often 25% or more. The AMD chip's wins are real but modest.

In PassMark multi-thread, the Intel chip wins 17475 to 15623, an 11.9% lead. In single-thread, it wins 3396 to 2560, a 32.7% lead. The physics test is a 1012 to 622 win for Intel, a 62.7% margin. Floating-point math is 42806 to 33151, a 29.1% lead. The prime number test is 52 to 29, a 79.3% lead. These are the largest margins in the comparison, showing that the Intel chip's core design is significantly stronger for both integer and floating-point arithmetic.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-13420H has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel chip has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 15W. The Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP6. The Intel chip has 12 threads, while the AMD chip has 16 threads. The Intel chip has 12 MB of L3 cache, while the AMD chip has 8 MB. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes, while the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 12 lanes. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics 512SP. The Intel chip is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, while the AMD chip is on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel transistor count is not recorded. The release dates differ: the Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03, while the AMD chip was released on 2021-01-11. Both are mobile processors with a production status of active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13420H is significantly faster. It wins the 3DMark single-thread test by 32.6% (948 versus 715), Cinebench R23 single-core by 34.3% (1689 versus 1258), and PassMark single-thread by 32.7% (3396 versus 2560).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 5 of the 21 recorded head-to-head tests. These include data compression (218853 versus 209450, a 4.3% lead), data encryption (12549 versus 11559, a 7.9% lead), extended instructions (13519 versus 12897, a 4.6% lead), integer math (60037 versus 58156, a 3.1% lead), and random string sorting (23608 versus 22045, a 6.6% lead).

Q: Why does the AMD chip have more threads but lose most multi-threaded tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 16 threads versus 12 on the Intel chip. However, the Intel chip has a higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 4.30 GHz) and more L3 cache (12 MB versus 8 MB). In most multi-threaded tests, the Intel chip's faster individual cores overcome the AMD chip's thread advantage. For example, in 3DMark 16-thread, the Intel chip scores 5518 versus 4330, a 27.4% lead.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i5-13420H has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a TDP of 15W. This is a threefold difference, indicating the AMD chip is designed for much lower power draw, which is typical for thin-and-light laptops.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-13420H supports DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U supports only DDR4. Both support dual-channel memory.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-13420H has an average benchmark score of 18511, placing it at the 72nd percentile. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-14100F with a score of 18519, a 0% difference. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has an average score of 18176, also at the 72nd percentile. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1365U with a score of 18177, a 0% difference.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for performance. The Intel Core i5-13420H is the stronger processor in nearly every benchmark that matters for demanding work. It wins all 3DMark and Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 17.4% to 42.4%. It also wins PassMark multi-thread by 11.9% and single-thread by 32.7%. For anyone running video editing, 3D rendering, or heavy multitasking, the Intel chip is the one to pick. Its 45W TDP means it will need a laptop with proper cooling, but the performance payoff is substantial.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the pick for a different set of priorities. Its 15W TDP makes it suitable for fanless or ultra-thin designs where battery life and low heat are more important than peak performance. It also wins in data compression, encryption, and random string sorting, which are relevant for file management and security tasks. The AMD chip's 16 threads give it a theoretical advantage in highly parallel workloads, but the benchmark data shows that advantage is not realized in practice for most tests. Its average benchmark score of 18176 is close to the Intel's 18511, but the Intel chip's wins are far larger in magnitude than the AMD chip's narrow victories.

The verdict is straightforward: if the workload is compute-heavy and the laptop can handle 45W of heat, the Intel Core i5-13420H is the superior choice. If the laptop must be light, quiet, and efficient, and the workload includes encryption or data sorting, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the better fit. The percentile data shows both chips sit at the 72nd percentile, meaning they are both above-average mobile processors, but the Intel chip is in a higher performance class within that group. Choose Intel for speed, choose AMD for efficiency and specific data tasks.