AMD Ryzen 7 6800U vs Intel Core i5-13490F Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13490F and AMD Ryzen 7 6800U represent two fundamentally different design philosophies within the same performance tier, as measured by the database’s aggregate scoring. The desktop-oriented Intel chip, with an average benchmark score of 28,185, sits at the 80th percentile among all CPUs, while the mobile-focused AMD part posts a 27,887 average at the 79th percentile. Despite the near-identical overall averages, the head-to-head data reveals a complete sweep: the Core i5-13490F wins all 15 recorded comparisons, with deltas ranging from a modest 7.7% in integer math to a massive 115.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. This performance gap is a direct consequence of their respective power envelopes and physical designs, making the choice between them less about raw capability and more about platform context.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F records an average benchmark score of 28,185, marginally ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U’s 27,887. The difference is less than 1% of the aggregate score, placing both chips at the 80th and 79th percentiles respectively.

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

A: The Intel part scores 22,747 versus the AMD part’s 10,546 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a 115.7% advantage for the Core i5-13490F. This is the largest recorded delta in the head-to-head benchmark set.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No, the recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U wins zero of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-13490F wins all comparisons, including single-threaded tests where the deltas are smaller but still positive.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U is rated at 15 watts. This 50-watt difference reflects the desktop versus mobile design targets, with the AMD part optimized for battery-powered systems.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-13490F supports DDR4 in addition to DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U supports DDR5 exclusively, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: How do the two compare on single-thread performance in Cinebench R15?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F scores 323 in Cinebench R15 single-core, a 33.5% advantage over the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U’s 242. This is the second-largest relative win for Intel after the R23 multi-core result.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these processors is stark. The Intel Core i5-13490F uses the Raptor Lake-S architecture on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². It features 10 cores and 16 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores in the hybrid design typical of 13th Gen desktop parts. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, in contrast, relies on the Zen 3+ architecture under the Rembrandt codename, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC with a slightly smaller die at 208 mm². It uses 8 cores and 16 threads in a traditional uniform configuration.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel chip allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. This means the Intel processor offers more than double the L3 cache capacity and significantly more L2 per core, which contributes to its advantage in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and physics simulations.

The memory interfaces also diverge. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while AMD supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a specified bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Notably, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U includes integrated Radeon 680M graphics, whereas the Intel Core i5-13490F has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU.

The platform targets are reflected in sockets and power. Intel uses Socket 1700 with a 65-watt TDP, typical for desktop builds. AMD uses Socket FP7 with a 15-watt TDP, designed for thin-and-light laptops. The AMD chip also has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus Intel’s 2.50 GHz, but Intel’s boost clock reaches 4.80 GHz versus AMD’s 4.70 GHz. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are currently marked as active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive pattern: the Intel Core i5-13490F outperforms the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U in every recorded test, but the magnitude varies widely by workload. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 22,747 against AMD’s 10,546, a 115.7% delta. This result reflects the Intel part’s higher core count, larger cache pool, and 65-watt power budget operating under sustained load. The single-core version of the same test shows a similar relative gap: Intel scores 3,211 versus AMD’s 1,506, a 113.2% advantage, indicating that architectural efficiency alone does not compensate for the power and thermal headroom disparity.

Cinebench R15 results follow the same trend but with smaller margins. In multi-core, Intel scores 2,292 against AMD’s 1,776, a 29.1% lead. In single-core, Intel scores 323 versus AMD’s 242, a 33.5% advantage. These older benchmarks compress the performance range, but the direction remains consistent.

PassMark tests reveal where the AMD part comes closest. In integer math, Intel scores 83,723 against AMD’s 77,731, a 7.7% delta, the narrowest margin in the entire comparison. Data encryption also shows a relatively small gap: Intel scores 17,902 versus AMD’s 15,601, a 14.7% lead. These workloads are less sensitive to cache capacity and more reliant on raw instruction throughput, where the two architectures are more evenly matched.

The widest PassMark margin outside of Cinebench appears in prime number finding. Intel scores 114 versus AMD’s 57, a 100% delta, meaning Intel completes the task in half the time. Physics tests show a 94.6% advantage for Intel, with scores of 1,915 versus 984. Floating-point math favors Intel by 42.7%, with scores of 60,273 versus 42,246. Data compression shows a 34.5% lead, with Intel scoring 328,397 versus AMD’s 244,082.

Extended instructions, random string sorting, and multithread tests all show Intel leads in the 30% range. Extended instructions score 20,837 versus 15,935, a 30.8% delta. Random string sorting scores 34,042 versus 25,954, a 31.2% delta. PassMark multithread scores 26,569 versus 20,350, a 30.6% delta. Single-thread tests show a 20.9% advantage, with Intel scoring 3,828 versus AMD’s 3,166 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, which return identical values.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification category. The Intel Core i5-13490F offers 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks favor AMD at 2.70 GHz versus Intel’s 2.50 GHz, but boost clocks favor Intel at 4.80 GHz versus AMD’s 4.70 GHz. TDP differs by a factor of more than four: 65 watts for Intel versus 15 watts for AMD.

Cache configurations are markedly different. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The die sizes are close, 215 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD, but the process nodes differ: 10 nm at Intel’s foundry versus 6 nm at TSMC.

Memory support distinguishes the platforms. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD specifies a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, a figure not listed for Intel. PCIe generations also differ: Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are exclusive to the AMD part, which includes Radeon 680M. The Intel chip has no integrated graphics. Sockets and market segments align with their intended uses: Intel uses Socket 1700 for desktop, AMD uses Socket FP7 for mobile. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $235, while no launch MSRP is listed for the AMD part. Both have locked multipliers and are in active production. Part numbers are SRMC0 for Intel and 100-000000534100-000000617 for AMD. The Intel release date is recorded as 2023-02-09, while no release date is listed for AMD.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear hierarchy: the Intel Core i5-13490F is the superior processor in every measured benchmark category, with no exceptions. The 115.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 113.2% lead in single-core are decisive for rendering, compilation, and any sustained compute workload. The 100% advantage in prime number finding and the 94.6% lead in physics further reinforce this pattern, indicating that the Intel part’s larger cache and higher power budget translate directly into computational throughput.

However, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U is not without a rationale for selection. Its 15-watt TDP, versus Intel’s 65-watt TDP, positions it for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal limits are paramount. The integrated Radeon 680M graphics mean the AMD part can power a display without a discrete GPU, while the Intel part requires a separate graphics card. The AMD chip’s support for DDR5 with a recorded 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and its 6 nm process node from TSMC also indicate a more modern manufacturing approach, though these advantages do not manifest as benchmark wins in the recorded data.

The nearest rivals for each chip provide context for their respective positions. The Intel Core i5-13490F sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435, Intel Core i5-14500T, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE, and Intel Core i9-11950H, all clustered within a 0.5% delta. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U is similarly close to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Intel Core i9-10900K, AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340, and Intel Core i5-12600KF, with deltas no larger than 0.3%. This suggests both chips compete in the same aggregate performance band, but the Intel part achieves its standing with a desktop power envelope while the AMD part does so within a mobile constraint.

Users building a desktop system with access to a discrete GPU should select the Intel Core i5-13490F, as it provides consistently higher scores across all recorded tests, including a 34.5% lead in data compression and a 30.6% lead in multithread performance. Users requiring a self-contained mobile platform with integrated graphics and minimal power draw should select the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, accepting the substantial performance deficit in exchange for portability and efficiency. The choice is not about which chip is faster, the data answers that question unambiguously, but about which platform constraints matter more.