AMD Ryzen 7 8700F vs Intel Core i5-13600H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F and Intel Core i5-13600H are both 82nd-percentile CPUs, but that is where the similarity ends. In the head-to-head benchmark data, the Ryzen 7 8700F wins all 17 recorded tests, with margins ranging from a modest 4.2% to a dominant 115%. The Intel Core i5-13600H, a mobile part, is competitive in absolute terms but is consistently outclassed in every measured workload, making this less a comparison and more a demonstration of generational and platform efficiency differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench, where the Ryzen 7 8700F essentially doubles the Intel Core i5-13600H’s score. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 26,646 against Intel’s 12,402, a 114.9% advantage. The single-core results are equally lopsided: 3,761 versus 1,750, a 114.9% delta. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R15 and R20, with the AMD part leading by roughly 115% in both multi-core and single-core tests. These are not incremental gains; they represent a fundamental performance tier difference.

Outside of Cinebench, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F continues its sweep but with more varied margins. In PassMark integer math, it scores 100,371 versus 78,658, a 27.6% lead. Floating point math shows a smaller gap: 62,629 versus 57,618, an 8.7% advantage. The largest single-workload win is in data compression, where AMD scores 378,160 against Intel’s 267,936, a 41.1% delta. Data encryption shows a 37.7% lead (22,117 vs 16,061), and extended instructions show an 80% lead (28,474 vs 15,817). Even the closest contest, PassMark physics, goes to AMD by 4.2% (1,553 vs 1,490).

The single-threaded PassMark results show the smallest overall gap: 3,872 versus 3,631, a 6.6% win for AMD. This is notable because it indicates that even in lightly threaded workloads, the Ryzen 7 8700F holds a clear, if modest, edge. The 3DMark scores for the AMD part (not directly compared head-to-head with Intel in the provided data, but listed individually) show a strong scaling pattern from 1,008 single-thread to 7,883 at 16 threads, reinforcing its consistent performance across thread counts. Every single benchmark in the head-to-head table lists AMD as the winner, with zero wins for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the data, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins in every category. There is no workload in the benchmark suite where the Intel Core i5-13600H takes the lead. The AMD part is faster in multi-threaded productivity (Cinebench multi-core), single-threaded responsiveness (Cinebench single-core), integer and floating-point math, data compression, encryption, and even physics simulations. If you are looking for a CPU for rendering, compiling, or any heavily threaded task, the Ryzen 7 8700F is the clear choice, with a 114.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

The Intel Core i5-13600H’s only potential advantage lies in its platform characteristics, not its raw benchmark scores. As a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, it is designed for laptops, whereas the AMD part is a 65W desktop chip. For a user prioritizing battery life or a thin-and-light form factor, the Intel part is the only option that fits that physical design. However, in terms of pure compute performance, the data shows no scenario where Intel wins. Even in the closest test, PassMark physics (4.2% delta), the AMD part still comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is built on TSMC’s 4nm process, using the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix codename. It is a desktop part with 8 cores and 16 threads, all of which are full-size performance cores. The Intel Core i5-13600H, in contrast, uses Intel’s 10nm process (Raptor Lake-H architecture) and features a hybrid design with 12 cores and 16 threads. This means the Intel part has fewer performance cores and relies on efficiency cores to reach its 16-thread count, a structure that often explains its lower multi-threaded scores compared to a pure 8-core/16-thread design.

The cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. Despite Intel having more L1 and L2 per core and a larger L3 pool, the AMD part’s superior benchmark results suggest that its Zen 4 architecture and 4nm process are more efficient at extracting performance from the available cache. The AMD part also supports only DDR5 memory, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving Intel more flexibility in memory selection but not a performance advantage in the tested metrics.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is the platform and market segment. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is a desktop CPU on the AMD Socket AM5, with a 65W TDP and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-13600H is a mobile CPU on Intel BGA 1744, with a 45W TDP and a locked multiplier. The AMD part has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This clock speed advantage for AMD is a direct contributor to its single-threaded wins.

Memory support differs, with AMD supporting only DDR5 and Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD part has a stated memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel part’s bandwidth is not listed in the data. PCIe capabilities also vary: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes. The integrated graphics are a major differentiator: the Intel part includes Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics (N/A). For a desktop build, this is often irrelevant if a discrete GPU is used, but it means the Intel part can serve as a complete system without a separate graphics card.

Other differences include launch MSRP, with the AMD part listed at $270 and the Intel part at $311. The AMD part was released in March 2024, while the Intel part was released in January 2023. The AMD part has a die size of 178 mm² with 25,000 million transistors, while the Intel part’s die size and transistor count are not provided. Both parts support dual-channel memory and do not support ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 26,646 versus 12,402 for the Intel Core i5-13600H, a 114.9% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-13600H win any benchmark?

A: No. In the 17 head-to-head benchmarks provided, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins all of them, including every Cinebench and PassMark test.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-13600H has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: Can either CPU run without a dedicated graphics card?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-13600H has integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU). The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has no integrated graphics (N/A) and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the difference in core count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-13600H has 12 cores and 16 threads. Despite having more cores, the Intel part is slower in all tested benchmarks.

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3,872 versus 3,631 for Intel, a 6.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the lead is much larger at 114.9% (3,761 vs 1,750).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. With a 114.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 6.6% lead in PassMark single-thread, it is faster for both heavily threaded and lightly threaded tasks. The Intel Core i5-13600H is a capable mobile processor, but its 45W TDP and hybrid core design cannot match the raw performance of the AMD part’s 65W desktop Zen 4 architecture. The AMD part also has a lower launch MSRP at $270 versus Intel’s $311.

The only reason to consider the Intel Core i5-13600H is if you require a mobile form factor or need integrated graphics. The Intel part is a BGA 1744 socket chip, designed to be soldered onto a laptop motherboard, whereas the AMD part is an AM5 desktop chip. For a desktop builder with a discrete GPU, the Ryzen 7 8700F is the clear winner, offering double the performance in rendering workloads and a consistent edge in every other test. For a laptop user, the Intel part is the only option of the two, but its benchmark scores are dramatically lower, making it a poor choice for compute-intensive tasks. The Ryzen 7 8700F is the definitive choice for anyone prioritizing performance, while the Intel part is only relevant for its platform and integrated graphics.