AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs Intel Core i9-13905H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. Across every shared benchmark in the database, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D posts the higher score. The Intel Core i9-13905H does not secure a single win in any of the fifteen head-to-head tests, with the AMD processor taking all fifteen. The margins, however, vary dramatically by workload, which is where the story becomes interesting.

The largest gap appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D scores 423, while the Intel Core i9-13905H manages only 122. That is a 71.2% deficit for Intel, a staggering difference that suggests a fundamental advantage in integer-heavy iterative computation. Similarly, in PassMark extended instructions, AMD leads with 38808 against Intel's 21297, a 45.1% gap. These two tests point to a substantial IPC and instruction-level efficiency advantage for the Zen 5 architecture.

The passmark physics test also shows a massive separation. AMD scores 4083, Intel scores 2054, a 49.7% difference. This is a simulation-style workload that often rewards raw single-thread efficiency and cache performance, and the 9800X3D's 96 MB of shared L3 cache likely plays a role here. The multithreaded passmark score reinforces the trend: AMD reaches 40009, Intel settles at 29779, a 25.6% deficit.

Cinebench results further clarify the picture. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD posts 3647 against Intel's 2857, a 21.7% lead. In R15 singlecore, the gap is exactly 25%, with AMD at 328 and Intel at 246. The newer Cinebench R23 tests show a narrower spread. In R23 multicore, AMD scores 23230 versus Intel's 20034, a 13.8% advantage. In R23 singlecore, the difference shrinks to just 2.9%, with AMD at 2080 and Intel at 2020. That near-tie in R23 singlecore is notable: it suggests that for lightly threaded, short-duration tasks, the two processors are far closer than the other benchmarks imply.

Data compression and encryption tests show moderate AMD leads. In PassMark data compression, AMD scores 468017 against Intel's 354330, a 24.3% gap. In data encryption, AMD leads 22158 to 20464, a 7.6% margin. Random string sorting shows AMD ahead by 22.8%, with scores of 48526 and 37460 respectively. Floating point math is another relatively tight contest: AMD at 79456, Intel at 73434, a 7.6% difference. Integer math gives AMD a 12.8% edge, 116709 to 101716. Single-thread passmark shows AMD ahead 4430 to 3703, a 16.4% margin, which appears twice in the database under slightly different test names.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the Intel part at 40313 and the AMD part at 39768, yet the AMD wins every direct head-to-head test. This discrepancy is explained by the fact that the average includes tests unique to each processor. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6369P at 40327, the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246, the Intel Xeon 6507P at 40426, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40431. The AMD chip's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS at 39603, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 at 39485, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081. Both processors sit at the 87th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning the overall score distribution places them in the same broad performance tier despite the lopsided head-to-head results.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the winner in every recorded category. There is no workload in the shared test set where the Intel Core i9-13905H comes out ahead. That said, the magnitude of the AMD advantage varies enough to define distinct use-case profiles.

For users focused on extended instruction workloads, such as encryption, hashing, or SIMD-heavy processing, the 9800X3D is decisively stronger. The 45.1% lead in PassMark extended instructions and the 71.2% lead in prime number finding indicate that code which exploits modern instruction sets will run substantially faster on the AMD part. The physics simulation result, a 49.7% advantage, similarly points to workloads that stress cache hierarchy and branch prediction.

For general productivity and content creation, the AMD part remains ahead but by smaller margins. The Cinebench R23 multicore score shows a 13.8% lead, while the R15 multicore test shows a 21.7% lead. Data compression favors AMD by 24.3%, and random string sorting by 22.8%. These are meaningful differences, but not overwhelming ones. A user moving from the Intel part to the AMD part would notice the improvement in render times and archival tasks, but the gap is not as dramatic as in the instruction-heavy tests.

The closest contest is Cinebench R23 singlecore, where AMD leads by only 2.9%. This suggests that for short, single-threaded bursts, such as opening applications or light scripting, the two processors are nearly interchangeable. The passmark single-thread score tells a different story, however, with AMD ahead by 16.4%. The discrepancy between these two single-thread results is worth investigating, as it may reflect differences in how the tests exercise the memory subsystem or boost behavior.

The Intel Core i9-13905H, being a mobile processor, still holds relevance in its own segment. Its 45 W TDP and integrated Iris Xe Graphics 96EU make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, but the database shows no benchmark where it outperforms the desktop-class 9800X3D. The AMD part's 120 W TDP and desktop socket position it as a high-performance desktop chip, and the data reflects that positioning.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-13905H is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-H mobile variant, using a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename, fabricated on a 4 nm node by TSMC.

The transistor counts differ enormously. The AMD chip contains 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not recorded in the database, though its die size is listed as 257 mm². The smaller die with a higher transistor density on the AMD side speaks to the advanced 4 nm process, while the larger Intel die on 10 nm reflects an older manufacturing technology.

Cache configurations show a critical difference. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 allocation differs: Intel provides 2 MB per core, while AMD provides 1 MB per core. The L3 cache is where the AMD part pulls away dramatically. Intel has 24 MB of shared L3, while AMD has 96 MB of shared L3. That fourfold difference in L3 capacity is likely a major contributor to the AMD wins in physics simulations, extended instructions, and prime number finding, all of which benefit from large working sets residing in cache.

Core counts also diverge. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the AMD processor wins every multicore benchmark in the database. This implies that per-core performance on the Zen 5 design compensates for the lower core count, and the larger L3 cache helps sustain performance across all cores.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel part's bandwidth is not listed in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is supported on the AMD chip but not on the Intel chip.

PCIe connectivity favors AMD. The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes. This gives the AMD platform more headroom for multiple GPUs or high-speed storage devices.

The integrated graphics differ in name and capability. Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so a performance comparison cannot be made from this data.

The Intel chip is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP, while the AMD chip is a desktop part with a 120 W TDP. The Intel chip uses the BGA 1744 socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard, while the AMD chip uses Socket AM5, which is user-replaceable. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Intel multiplier is locked.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show the following differences between the two processors. The Intel Core i9-13905H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz for Intel and 4.70 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz for Intel and 5.20 GHz for AMD. TDP is 45 W for Intel and 120 W for AMD.

The Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel architecture is Raptor Lake with the Raptor Lake-H codename, while AMD uses Zen 5 with the Granite Ridge codename. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 4 nm for AMD. The foundry is Intel for the 13905H and TSMC for the 9800X3D.

Die size is 257 mm² for Intel and 70.6 mm² for AMD. Transistor count is not recorded for Intel, while AMD lists 8,315 million. L2 cache per core is 2 MB for Intel and 1 MB for AMD. L3 cache is 24 MB shared for Intel and 96 MB shared for AMD.

Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel, while AMD supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is not recorded for Intel, while AMD lists 89.6 GB/s. ECC support is absent on Intel and present on AMD. PCIe is Gen 5 with 8 lanes on Intel and Gen 5 with 24 lanes on AMD.

Integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 96EU on Intel and Radeon Graphics on AMD. The market segment is mobile for Intel and desktop for AMD. Release dates are January 3, 2023 for Intel and November 6, 2024 for AMD. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $697. The launch MSRP for the AMD part is $479. The Intel multiplier is locked, while the AMD multiplier is unlocked.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D scores 2080, while the Intel Core i9-13905H scores 2020. The AMD part leads by 2.9%.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the AMD processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i9-13905H has 24 MB. That is a fourfold difference in favor of AMD.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-13905H does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i9-13905H has a 45 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a 120 W TDP. The Intel part is designed for mobile use, while the AMD part is a desktop processor.

Q: Does the Intel chip have more cores than the AMD chip?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-13905H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite this, the AMD chip wins every multicore benchmark in the shared test set.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a base clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-13905H has a base clock of 2.60 GHz. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock at 5.40 GHz compared to 5.20 GHz for AMD.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D wins all fifteen head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i9-13905H. The margins range from a slim 2.9% in Cinebench R23 singlecore to a dominant 71.2% in PassMark prime number finding. For any workload represented in the database, the AMD part is the faster processor.

The Intel Core i9-13905H still has a place in the mobile segment. Its 45 W TDP, integrated Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, and BGA 1744 socket make it suitable for laptops, and its 14 cores and 20 threads provide respectable multi-threaded performance for a mobile chip. However, the database contains no test where it beats the desktop-class AMD part.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, demonstrates that core count alone does not determine performance. Its 4 nm TSMC process, 96 MB of L3 cache, and Zen 5 architecture deliver superior results across every measured category. The unlocked multiplier and AM5 socket also allow for overclocking and future upgrades.

Buyers should choose the Intel Core i9-13905H only if the mobile form factor and lower TDP are absolute requirements. For any desktop build where performance is the priority, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmarks. The 87th percentile ranking for both processors in the overall database confirms they are both high-end parts, but the head-to-head results place the AMD chip in a different performance class.