AMD Ryzen 7 7840H vs Intel Core i5-13500HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive edge for the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H across the majority of workloads, with 18 wins against 5 for the Intel Core i5-13500HX. The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD part scores 3350 against 1730.5, a gap of 93.6%. This is not a small margin; it is a near doubling of performance in a test that is highly sensitive to per-core efficiency and boost behavior. The Ryzen 7 7840H also leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 29.4%, scoring 23731 versus 18334. That result is notable because the Intel chip has more physical cores and threads, yet the AMD part still pulls ahead by a wide margin in this particular rendering workload.

The 3DMark suite paints a more nuanced picture. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H wins in 3DMark 16-thread (7461 vs 7307, a 2.1% lead), 8-thread (6116 vs 5712, a 7.1% lead), 4-thread (3638 vs 3607, a 0.9% lead), 2-thread (1906 vs 1899, a 0.4% lead), and single-thread (976 vs 972, a 0.4% lead). However, in 3DMark max-threads, the Intel Core i5-13500HX takes the win with 7885 against 7409, a 6% advantage. This suggests that when all threads are fully saturated, the Intel chip’s additional cores and threads begin to assert themselves, though the AMD part remains competitive in lower-thread-count scenarios.

PassMark results further highlight the split. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H wins passmark_data_compression by 2.9%, passmark_data_encryption by 4.6%, passmark_extended_instructions by 27%, passmark_integer_math by 0.5%, passmark_multithread by 0.6%, passmark_random_string_sorting by 7.1%, and passmark_single_thread by 1.6%. The Intel Core i5-13500HX counters with wins in passmark_find_prime_numbers by 15.3%, passmark_floating_point_math by 17.2%, and passmark_physics by 20.4%. The floating-point and physics results are interesting because they indicate that in certain numeric and simulation-heavy tasks, the Intel architecture holds a clear advantage. The prime-number test, which is often sensitive to integer throughput and cache behavior, also goes to Intel.

Cinebench R15 and R20 add another layer. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part wins decisively with 2863 against 2392, a 16.5% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, however, the AMD part wins by a slim 1.8% margin, scoring 9967 versus 9792. Single-core results in these older Cinebench versions follow the same pattern as R23: the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H leads in R15 single-core by 33.7% (337 vs 252) and in R20 single-core by 1.8% (1407 vs 1382). The R15 multi-core result is the largest Intel win in raw percentage terms, while the R23 single-core result is the largest AMD win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H wins 18 of the 23 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-13500HX wins 5.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in favor of the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H?

A: The largest AMD win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen 7 7840H scores 3350 versus 1730.5, a 93.6% advantage.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i5-13500HX show its strongest advantage?

A: The Intel chip posts its biggest wins in PassMark physics (1634 vs 1301, a 20.4% lead), PassMark floating-point math (70885 vs 58724, a 17.2% lead), and Cinebench R15 multi-core (2863 vs 2392, a 16.5% lead).

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded 3DMark scores?

A: The AMD part wins 3DMark 16-thread by 2.1%, but the Intel part wins 3DMark max-threads by 6%, indicating the Intel chip scales better when all available threads are utilized.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance in Cinebench R20 and R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H leads in both: R20 single-core 1407 vs 1382 (1.8% lead) and R23 single-core 3350 vs 1730.5 (93.6% lead).

Q: Do the PassMark single-thread results agree with the Cinebench single-core results?

A: Both tests favor the AMD part, though the margins differ. PassMark single-thread shows a 1.6% lead (3641 vs 3582), while Cinebench R23 single-core shows a much larger 93.6% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, and manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The die size is 178 mm² and the transistor count is listed at 25,000 million. The Intel Core i5-13500HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-HX, on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 257 mm². The Intel chip lacks a listed transistor count, but the larger die and older process node suggest a different integration strategy.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel chip uses a hybrid configuration typical of Raptor Lake, although the database does not break out performance and efficiency core counts. The AMD chip relies on 8 full Zen 4 cores, all capable of the same work. Cache layouts also diverge. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core i5-13500HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on the Intel side could benefit certain workloads, while the AMD part’s smaller die and newer process may contribute to its efficiency.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core i5-13500HX has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD part holds the advantage in both base and boost clocks, which helps explain its strong single-thread results. Thermal design power also differs: the AMD chip is rated at 35 W, while the Intel chip is rated at 55 W. The AMD part delivers higher single-thread performance at a lower TDP, which is a notable efficiency indicator, though the Intel part’s higher TDP may allow sustained multi-thread performance in some scenarios.

Memory support and PCIe generations also separate the two. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-13500HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe interface differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The Intel part offers a newer PCIe generation, which may matter for future expansion, though the AMD part’s bandwidth is already specified.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H includes a Radeon 780M, while the Intel Core i5-13500HX includes UHD Graphics 710. The Radeon 780M is a more capable integrated GPU on paper, though the database does not include graphics benchmarks for either. The AMD part is not multiplier unlocked, while the Intel part is multiplier unlocked, which may appeal to users who intend to overclock. The Intel chip also has a recorded release date of January 2023 and a launch MSRP of $326, while the AMD chip has no release date or launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H as the stronger all-around processor for most users. It wins 18 of 23 head-to-head tests, and its single-thread performance advantage is substantial, particularly in Cinebench R23 single-core where it leads by 93.6%. For workloads that rely on per-core speed, such as everyday application response, lightly threaded productivity, and many gaming scenarios, the AMD part is clearly ahead. Its lower TDP of 35 W against 55 W also suggests it can deliver this performance in a more power-efficient package, which matters for mobile systems where thermals and battery life are constrained.

The Intel Core i5-13500HX is not without merit. It wins in 3DMark max-threads by 6%, Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.5%, PassMark physics by 20.4%, PassMark floating-point math by 17.2%, and PassMark find-prime-numbers by 15.3%. These wins point to a processor that can excel in heavily parallel numeric workloads, physics simulations, and certain floating-point tasks. Users who run software that scales well beyond 8 threads and favors raw FP throughput may find the Intel chip better suited to their needs. The Intel part also has more cores and threads, a larger L2 cache per core, and a larger shared L3 cache, which can help in specific multi-threaded scenarios.

The average benchmark score from the database favors the AMD part: 29868 versus 29270 for the Intel chip. The percentile rank against all CPUs is identical at 81 for both, placing them in the same performance tier overall. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X with an average score of 29879, and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS with 29955, while the Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Phi 7210 at 29245 and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X at 29123. These figures reinforce the picture of two processors that sit close in overall performance, with the AMD part slightly ahead on average.

For most buyers, the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H is the safer recommendation based on the benchmark data alone. The combination of dominant single-thread performance, a strong multi-core Cinebench R23 showing, and a lower TDP makes it the more versatile choice. The Intel Core i5-13500HX should be considered by users whose specific workloads align with its wins: physics, floating-point math, prime-number finding, and max-thread 3DMark tests. These are narrower niches, but they are real advantages backed by measurable score differences.

The final call, strictly from the recorded data, is that the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H delivers better performance in more tests, with an average score of 29868 against 29270, and wins in 18 of 23 tests. The Intel Core i5-13500HX wins fewer tests that matter for its niches, but it cannot match the AMD part’s overall breadth of wins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category beyond their shared market segment and ECC support. The AMD Ryzen 1 7840H uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC, while the Intel Core i5-13500HX uses a 10 nm process node from Intel. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads; the Intel chip has 8 cores and 20 threads. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, 8 cores and 16 threads, and 8 cores and 16 threads, 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads, which is 6 more cores and 4 more threads than the AMD part’s 8 cores and 16 threads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core i5-13500HX has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD part has a TDP of 35 W; the Intel part has a TDP of 55 W. The AMD part uses an AMD Socket FP8; the Intel part uses an Intel BGA 1964.

Cache configurations differ: the AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Memory support: the AMD part supports DDR5 only, while the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth: the AMD part lists 89.6 GB/s; the Intel part has no recorded bandwidth. The PCIe interface: the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics: the AMD part has a Radeon 780M; the Intel part has a UHD Graphics 710. Multiplier unlock: the AMD part is not unlocked; the Intel part is unlocked. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $326; the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded. The Intel part has a release date of January 2023; the AMD part has no release date recorded. The part numbers also differ, with multiple variants listed for the AMD chip and a single SRME7 part number for the Intel chip.