AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS vs Intel Core i5-13500HX Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13500HX and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS split their benchmark wins along fairly clear lines: Intel takes the heavy multi-threaded workloads, while AMD claims the top scores in the Cinebench R23 suite. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, the Intel part wins 14, while the AMD part wins 3. That raw win count, however, hides a more interesting story about which workloads each processor actually favors.

The Intel Core i5-13500HX dominates the Passmark suite. It wins every Passmark test recorded, from data compression to floating point math to random string sorting. Its biggest margins come in the compute-heavy tests: a 69% lead in finding prime numbers, a 51.8% lead in floating point math, and a 53.4% lead in physics simulations. These are workloads that scale with raw core count and memory bandwidth, and the 14-core, 20-thread Intel part clearly has the edge there.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS, by contrast, takes its wins in Cinebench. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 3.4% and Cinebench R23 single-core by an enormous 35.4%. It also beats the Intel chip in Cinebench R15 single-core by 6.7%. That single-core dominance in the R23 test is striking, given that both processors boost to 4.7 GHz. The AMD part's 6 nm Zen 3+ architecture appears to extract more performance per clock in that specific rendering workload.

For users deciding between these two, the choice comes down to workload type. The Intel chip is the pick for encryption, compression, physics calculations, and any multi-threaded integer or floating point work. The AMD chip is the pick for Cinebench-style rendering and single-threaded workloads, where its efficiency and per-core strength shine. The database also shows both are closely matched overall: the Intel part sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits at the 80th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-13500HX is built on Raptor Lake-HX architecture, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 257 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS uses Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, manufactured on TSMC's 6 nm process, with a die size of 208 mm². The smaller process node gives AMD an efficiency advantage, which shows in the TDP: the Intel chip is rated at 55 W, while the AMD chip is rated at 35 W.

Core counts differ substantially. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. That difference explains much of the Intel chip's multi-threaded advantage. Cache configurations also diverge. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The larger L2 and L3 allocations on the Intel chip help in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, while the AMD chip does not. On the PCIe front, the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel chip ships with UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD chip includes the Radeon 680M. The Radeon 680M is generally the more capable integrated solution for gaming and media work, though the database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either part. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip is locked. The Intel chip also carries a launch MSRP of $326; the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core i5-13500HX comes in the Passmark find prime numbers test, where it scores 98 against the AMD chip's 58, a 69% advantage. That is the kind of result that comes from having more cores and more cache available for a heavily parallel integer workload. The floating point math test tells a similar story: Intel scores 70,885 against AMD's 46,706, a 51.8% lead. Physics simulations follow the same pattern, with Intel at 1,634 and AMD at 1,065, a 53.4% margin.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test also goes clearly to Intel: 2,863 versus 1,913, a 49.7% advantage. That is the largest multi-core Cinebench win for either side. Cinebench R20 multi-core is closer but still favors Intel: 9,792 versus 7,971, a 22.8% margin. Passmark multi-thread also favors Intel, 27,753 versus 22,330, a 24.3% lead. Random string sorting goes to Intel by 26.8%, and data compression goes to Intel by 21.6%. Data encryption, extended instructions, and integer math all favor Intel by margins between 11% and 12.6%.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS has its biggest win in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2,679 against Intel's 1,730.5, a 35.4% advantage. That is a decisive single-core result, and it flips the usual expectation that similar boost clocks produce similar single-thread scores. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 18,980 against Intel's 18,334, a 3.4% margin. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD wins 270 to 252, a 6.7% advantage.

The Passmark single-thread test goes the other way, with Intel winning 3,582 to 3,301, an 8.5% lead. That contrast is worth noting: the AMD chip wins Cinebench single-core tests but loses the Passmark single-thread test. The two suites measure different aspects of single-thread performance, and the results show that neither chip is universally faster in single-threaded work.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 18,980, compared to the Intel Core i5-13500HX's 18,334, a 3.4% margin.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin in either direction?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500HX leads by 69% in the Passmark find prime numbers test, scoring 98 against the AMD chip's 58. The AMD chip's largest win is 35.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Which chip has the higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500HX is rated at 55 W. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS is rated at 35 W.

Q: Do both chips support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel chip also supports DDR4, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500HX supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS does not.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-13500HX | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 14 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-HX | Rembrandt |

| Process node | 10 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 257 mm² | 208 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 24 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 710 | Radeon 680M |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $326 | Not listed |