AMD Ryzen 7 8700F vs Intel Core i5-13500 Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits this pairing into two clearly different personalities. The Intel Core i5-13500 wins the overall benchmark count by 10 wins, but the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F takes 15 wins, and the size of those wins matters more than the count. The Ryzen 7 8700F delivers a dominant Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26646 against the i5-13500's 14573, a 45.3% gap that completely reframes what "multi-threaded performance" means in this comparison. That single result, combined with a 52.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core, makes the 8700F the clear pick for anyone running heavily threaded rendering workloads or single-thread-sensitive applications.

The i5-13500 fights back in a different arena. It leads in Geekbench multi-core by 4.4%, in PassMark floating point math by 28.1%, and in PassMark integer math by 7.9%. It also wins the 3DMark max-threads test by 14.7%, which hints at better sustained all-core throughput in certain mixed workloads. The database shows both chips sit at the 82nd percentile against all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close: 31510 for the i5-13500 versus 30746 for the 8700F. That overall similarity masks how differently they reach those totals.

The practical verdict: choose the Ryzen 7 8700F for Cinebench-class rendering, extended instruction workloads, and any task where single-core speed dominates. Choose the Intel Core i5-13500 for floating-point math, integer math, PassMark multi-thread, and 3DMark's heavy thread test. The 8700F is also the only one with an unlocked multiplier, which matters for users who plan to overclock. The i5-13500 counters with integrated graphics, which the 8700F lacks entirely.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 8700F owns the headline rendering benchmarks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 26646 crushes the i5-13500's 14573, and its R23 single-core score of 3761 beats 1780 by a staggering margin. Even in Cinebench R15, the 8700F leads multi-core by 10.4% and single-core by 32.3%. This pattern extends to PassMark extended instructions, where the 8700F scores 28474 versus 23956, a 15.9% advantage. If a workload relies on AVX-class or other extended instruction sets, the Zen 4 chip pulls ahead.

The Intel i5-13500 wins the math-heavy PassMark categories. Floating point math shows a 28.1% lead (80198 versus 62629), integer math shows 7.9% (108320 versus 100371), and even find prime numbers edges out at 4.1% (102 versus 98). The i5 also takes PassMark physics by 5.9% and PassMark multi-thread by 1.3%. In 3DMark, the i5 wins the 16-thread test by 5.4% and max-threads by 14.7%, but loses the 8-thread test by 5.4%.

The 8700F wins every single-thread benchmark in the head-to-head table, though the margins vary wildly. PassMark single-thread is nearly tied at 0.2%, Geekbench single-core is 4.5%, and Cinebench R23 single-core is 52.7%. That Cinebench R23 single-core result is the most extreme gap in the entire comparison. The 8700F also wins 3DMark 2-thread, 4-thread, and 8-thread tests, indicating better scaling at lower thread counts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-13500 uses Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, built on a 215 mm² die. It packs 14 cores and 20 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F uses Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, with a 178 mm² die and 25,000 million transistors. The Intel chip has no listed transistor count, but the die size difference suggests the AMD part packs more transistors into a smaller area.

Cache structures diverge sharply. The i5-13500 provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The 8700F offers 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and only 16 MB of shared L3. Despite having less cache per level, the 8700F still wins heavily in Cinebench, implying the Zen 4 memory hierarchy and IPC compensate for the smaller pools.

Memory support tells a different story. The i5-13500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the 8700F is DDR5-only. The 8700F lists a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, but the i5-13500 has no recorded bandwidth figure. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5 also supports ECC memory, while the 8700F does not, which matters for users running error-sensitive compute tasks.

PCIe connectivity differs in generation and lane count. The i5-13500 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the 8700F provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The i5 has a newer PCIe standard but fewer lanes, while the 8700F has more lanes on an older standard. Integrated graphics split them completely: the i5-13500 includes UHD Graphics 770, and the 8700F has no integrated graphics at all.

Clock speeds favor the AMD chip. The 8700F boosts to 5.00 GHz with a 4.10 GHz base, while the i5-13500 boosts to 4.80 GHz with a 2.50 GHz base. Both run at 65 W TDP. Sockets and platforms differ: Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket AM5. Release dates place the i5-13500 in January 2023 and the 8700F in March 2024.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins decisively with a score of 26646 versus the Intel Core i5-13500's 14573, a 45.3% lead.

Q: Does the Intel chip have any single-core advantage?

A: No. The 8700F wins every single-thread benchmark in the head-to-head table, including a 52.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and a 4.5% lead in Geekbench single-core.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F does not.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it can be overclocked. The Intel Core i5-13500 has a locked multiplier.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-13500 includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: How do they compare in overall benchmark averages?

A: The i5-13500 has an average benchmark score of 31510, while the 8700F sits at 30746. Both are at the 82nd percentile against all CPUs, and their nearest rivals show negligible deltas.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result in the entire comparison is Cinebench R23 multi-core. The 8700F scores 26646, which is 45.3% ahead of the i5-13500's 14573. That is not a small margin; it is a generational gap within the same performance tier. The R23 single-core test is even more lopsided: 3761 versus 1780, a 52.7% difference. These two results alone suggest the Zen 4 architecture has a massive IPC advantage over Raptor Lake in Cinebench's specific workload.

Cinebench R15 shows a similar but smaller pattern. The 8700F wins multi-core by 10.4% (2685 versus 2405) and single-core by 32.3% (378 versus 256). Cinebench R20 narrows the gap: multi-core is only 1.8% for the 8700F (11191 versus 10990), and single-core is also 1.8% (1579 versus 1551). The R20 results are surprisingly close, which makes the R23 blowout even more striking.

The i5-13500 takes its biggest win in PassMark floating point math, scoring 80198 against 62629, a 28.1% lead. That is the largest Intel win in the entire table. PassMark integer math goes to Intel by 7.9% (108320 versus 100371), and PassMark physics goes to Intel by 5.9% (1645 versus 1553). The i5 also wins PassMark find prime numbers by 4.1% (102 versus 98) and PassMark data compression by 3.5% (391249 versus 378160).

3DMark splits along thread-count lines. The i5-13500 wins 16-thread by 5.4% (8309 versus 7883) and max-threads by 14.7% (9014 versus 7861). The 8700F wins 2-thread by 0.3%, 4-thread by 1%, and 8-thread by 5.4% (6559 versus 6204). The 8-thread result is notable because it shows the 8700F handling mid-range thread counts better, while the i5 pulls ahead only when all cores are saturated.

Geekbench favors Intel in multi-core by 4.4% (14116 versus 13523) but favors AMD in single-core by 4.5% (2290 versus 2188). PassMark multi-thread is close, with Intel winning by 1.3% (31285 versus 30893). PassMark extended instructions goes to AMD by 15.9% (28474 versus 23956), and PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD by 5.9% (45425 versus 42759). Data encryption is nearly tied, with Intel leading by 1% (22333 versus 22117).

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts set the tone: the Intel Core i5-13500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite fewer cores, the 8700F wins the most important multi-threaded benchmark. Base clocks differ substantially: 2.50 GHz for Intel versus 4.10 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are closer: 4.80 GHz versus 5.00 GHz.

The process node separates them by generation: Intel uses 10 nm, AMD uses 4 nm. The foundries also differ: Intel fabricates its own chip, while AMD uses TSMC. Die size is 215 mm² for Intel and 178 mm² for AMD, with AMD listing 25,000 million transistors and Intel listing none.

Cache layouts diverge at every level. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support favors Intel for flexibility: DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 only. AMD lists 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth; Intel lists none. ECC memory is supported by Intel but not by AMD.

PCIe capabilities differ: Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics go to Intel only: UHD Graphics 770 versus N/A for AMD. The multiplier is unlocked on the 8700F and locked on the i5-13500. Sockets differ: Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket AM5. The launch MSRP is $242 for Intel and $270 for AMD. Release dates are January 3, 2023 for Intel and March 31, 2024 for AMD.