AMD Ryzen 7 5800 vs Intel Core i7-13700H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and Intel Core i7-13700H are two very different processors that happen to land at nearly the same overall performance level. The data shows the desktop-oriented AMD chip, built on Zen 3, trades blows with the mobile-focused Intel Raptor Lake-H part across a wide range of workloads. With the AMD part holding an average benchmark score of 27,535 and the Intel part scoring 27,355, the overall delta is a razor-thin 0.7% in favor of the AMD chip. However, the distribution of wins is far from even, with each processor dominating distinct categories that reflect their fundamental architectural differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking single result in this comparison is the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 delivers a score of 21,953 against the Intel Core i7-13700H's 15,474. That is a 41.9% advantage for AMD, and it is the largest margin in either direction across all 23 head-to-head benchmarks. The gap is even more pronounced in Cinebench R23 single-core, where AMD scores 3,099 versus Intel's 1,856, a 67% lead. These two results alone paint a picture of AMD's Zen 3 architecture being exceptionally strong in sustained rendering workloads, particularly when the Intel chip is constrained by its mobile power envelope.

The Intel part fights back decisively in other areas. In the 3DMark single-thread test, Intel wins with 1,015 points against AMD's 916, a 9.8% advantage. This pattern repeats in the 2-thread and 4-thread tests, where Intel leads by 7.8% and 4.8% respectively. The PassMark physics test shows an even larger gap, with Intel scoring 1,725 against AMD's 1,141, a 33.9% lead. Intel also wins the floating-point math test decisively, scoring 66,322 versus AMD's 51,588, a 22.2% margin.

The benchmarks are not all one-sided blowouts. Several results are remarkably close. In Cinebench R20 multicore, Intel edges out AMD by just 0.1% (9,231 vs 9,220), and in Cinebench R20 single-core, the margin is a mere 0.2% (1,303 vs 1,301). The PassMark integer math test is essentially a tie, with AMD scoring 92,843 and Intel scoring 92,811, a delta of 0%. These near-dead heats suggest that in certain well-optimized workloads, the two architectures converge to the same performance point despite their different designs.

The overall win count favors Intel, taking 13 of the 23 benchmarks, while AMD wins 10. However, the magnitude of AMD's wins in Cinebench R23 is so large that it pulls the average benchmark scores nearly level. This illustrates a classic trade-off: Intel wins more individual tests, but AMD wins the tests where it wins by a landslide.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 is the clear choice for heavily threaded rendering and compute workloads. Its 41.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 67% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core are definitive. The data also shows AMD winning in data encryption by 11.4% (20,021 vs 17,971) and in extended instructions by 16.4% (21,297 vs 18,303). For users running Cinebench, cryptographic workloads, or SIMD-heavy code, the AMD chip offers a substantial performance advantage. AMD also wins the 8-thread 3DMark test by 6%, and the 16-thread test by 4.3%, indicating strong scaling in moderate thread counts.

The Intel Core i7-13700H excels in physics simulation and floating-point math. The 33.9% lead in PassMark physics and 22.2% lead in floating-point math are its most dominant results. Intel also wins the single-thread and low-thread-count tests consistently, taking 3DMark single-thread (9.8% lead), 2-thread (7.8% lead), and 4-thread (4.8% lead). The PassMark single-thread test shows a 5.6% Intel advantage (3,594 vs 3,393). This makes the Intel chip better suited for applications that rely on light-thread responsiveness or heavy floating-point calculations, such as certain scientific simulations or physics engines.

For general multithreaded productivity, the results are mixed. Intel wins PassMark multithread by 2.2% (26,399 vs 25,823), but AMD wins Cinebench R23 multicore by a massive margin. The PassMark data compression test is close, with AMD ahead by 2.8% (316,429 vs 307,791). Similarly, random string sorting shows Intel ahead by 1.8% (33,595 vs 32,998). These near-ties suggest that for typical office workloads, the choice between these two processors will not make a dramatic difference.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split explains the benchmark distribution. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC, with a 74 mm² die size and 4,150 million transistors. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a desktop part on the AMD Socket AM4 platform, with a 65 W TDP and support for DDR4 memory at 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory and has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core i7-13700H uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel. It is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1744 socket, with a 45 W TDP and an integrated Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. The chip has 14 cores and 20 threads, which indicates a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores, though the data does not specify the exact split. Its base clock is 2.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache design is notably different: 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L2 cache per core is a distinct feature of the Raptor Lake design. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and offers 8 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. ECC memory is not supported.

These architectural differences map directly to the benchmark results. The AMD chip's larger 32 MB L3 cache and unified 8-core design likely contribute to its strong Cinebench R23 performance, where sustained multi-threaded rendering benefits from cache locality. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus AMD's 4.60 GHz helps explain its wins in single-thread and low-thread tests. The Intel part's 14 cores and 20 threads give it a raw thread-count advantage in some tests, but the AMD part's larger L3 cache and higher base clock (3.40 vs 2.40 GHz) appear to compensate in sustained workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 is significantly faster, scoring 21,953 compared to the Intel Core i7-13700H's 15,474, giving AMD a 41.9% lead in this benchmark.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-13700H win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, Intel wins the 3DMark single-thread test with 1,015 points versus AMD's 916 (a 9.8% lead), and the PassMark single-thread test with 3,594 versus 3,393 (a 5.6% lead). However, AMD wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 67%.

Q: What is the difference in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 has an average benchmark score of 27,535, while the Intel Core i7-13700H has an average of 27,355. The difference is 0.7% in favor of AMD.

Q: How do the cache configurations differ between the two processors?

A: The AMD chip has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel's L2 cache per core is substantially larger.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-13700H does not list ECC memory support in its specifications.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 has a TDP of 65 W, while the Intel Core i7-13700H has a TDP of 45 W. This reflects the AMD part's desktop orientation and the Intel part's mobile design.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct profiles. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 is the stronger choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering and compute tasks, as evidenced by its 41.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 67% lead in single-core. It also wins in data encryption, extended instructions, and the 8-thread and 16-thread 3DMark tests. For users running Cinebench, video encoding, or cryptographic workloads, the AMD chip offers a clear performance advantage that outweighs its losses elsewhere.

The Intel Core i7-13700H is the better option for physics simulation, floating-point math, and light-thread responsiveness. Its 33.9% lead in PassMark physics and 22.2% lead in floating-point math are substantial. The Intel chip also wins the majority of individual benchmarks (13 versus 10), but its losses in Cinebench R23 are so large that its overall average score ends up slightly lower.

The choice comes down to workload priorities. The AMD chip is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, unlocked multiplier, and ECC support, making it suitable for workstation-class builds where sustained compute performance matters. The Intel chip is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, integrated Iris Xe Graphics, and a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz, fitting for laptops where power efficiency and burst performance are valued. Given that the average scores are within 0.7%, neither chip is categorically superior; the correct selection depends entirely on whether the user's primary applications align with AMD's rendering strengths or Intel's physics and floating-point advantages.