AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U vs Intel Core i5-13500 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two processors into very different roles. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins 3 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-13500 takes 14. The Intel part dominates most throughput and compute workloads, often by double-digit margins. The AMD part, however, posts the largest single win of the entire comparison in Cinebench R23 single-core, at 60.6% ahead, and also leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 39%.

The Intel Core i5-13500 is the choice for users whose workloads are built around sustained multi-threaded performance, data compression, encryption, and floating-point math. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is the pick for those prioritizing the highest single-core Cinebench R23 score and the specific R23 multi-core result, while accepting a lower average score overall. The AMD chip also carries a 28 W TDP versus the Intel part's 65 W TDP, which matters for system-level design, but the benchmark data shows Intel winning the majority of raw performance tests. For a desktop user chasing the broadest set of wins, the data points to Intel. For a mobile-focused, power-conscious platform with a specific strength in one rendering workload, the AMD part is the recorded leader.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core i5-13500 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-S, on Intel's 10 nm process. It offers 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The core count difference is substantial: Intel provides 6 more cores and 4 more threads.

Cache layouts differ notably. 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, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's larger shared L3 gives it a 8 MB advantage in the final-level cache. Die size also differs: AMD's die is 178 mm², while Intel's is 215 mm². AMD lists 25,000 million transistors, while Intel's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Memory support splits the field. AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel memory. AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel has no recorded bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 780M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD part targets the mobile segment on AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel part targets desktop on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part was released later (2024-04-15) compared to Intel's 2023-01-03.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins in Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, and Cinebench R23 multi-core. The R23 single-core win is the most pronounced, with a 60.6% delta over Intel. The R23 multi-core win is also substantial at 39%. In R15 single-core, AMD leads by 12.5%. These three wins suggest AMD's Zen 4 cores, when exercised in the R23 rendering test, deliver exceptional per-thread efficiency and strong multi-thread scaling despite having fewer cores.

The Intel Core i5-13500 wins every other recorded benchmark, which spans 14 tests. These include all PassMark tests: data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread. Intel also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R20 single-core. The PassMark single-thread win is relatively narrow at 5.8%, but the broader pattern is clear: Intel leads in the vast majority of compute tasks, especially those involving math, encryption, and compression. The largest Intel win is in floating-point math at 36.7% ahead, followed by data compression at 30.3% ahead.

For a user deciding based on benchmark breadth, Intel is the consistent winner across most workload categories. For a user focused specifically on Cinebench R23 results, AMD is the clear leader. The data shows a trade-off: AMD wins the R23 family of tests decisively, while Intel wins everything else, often by margins between 15% and 37%.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U scores 2859, while the Intel Core i5-13500 scores 1780. AMD leads by 60.6%.

Q: How does the multi-core Cinebench R23 result compare?

A: AMD wins with a score of 20254 versus Intel's 14573, a 39% advantage for AMD.

Q: Which chip wins the most benchmarks overall?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500 wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins 3.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-13500 has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: How do the PassMark single-thread scores compare?

A: Intel leads with a score of 3865 versus AMD's 3641, a 5.8% advantage for Intel.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has a TDP of 28 W, while the Intel Core i5-13500 has a TDP of 65 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U comes in Cinebench R23 single-core. AMD scores 2859 against Intel's 1780, a delta of 60.6% in AMD's favor. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison. The second AMD win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD scores 20254 against Intel's 14573, a 39% delta. The third AMD win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, with a score of 288 versus Intel's 256, a 12.5% delta. These three wins are all in the Cinebench family, which suggests AMD's architecture is particularly well-suited to that rendering test, both per-thread and across all threads.

The Intel Core i5-13500's largest win is in PassMark floating-point math. Intel scores 80198 versus AMD's 50746, a 36.7% delta. Data compression follows closely: Intel scores 391249 versus AMD's 272664, a 30.3% delta. Data encryption shows Intel ahead by 26.4%, with scores of 22333 versus 16441. Find prime numbers has Intel at 102 versus AMD's 76, a 25.5% delta. PassMark multithread shows Intel at 31285 versus AMD's 23850, a 23.8% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core both show Intel ahead by 22.6%: multi-core at 10990 versus 8506, and single-core at 1551 versus 1200. Random string sorting has Intel at 42759 versus AMD's 33109, also a 22.6% delta. PassMark extended instructions show Intel at 23956 versus AMD's 19132, a 20.1% delta. Integer math has Intel at 108320 versus AMD's 88339, an 18.4% delta. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows Intel at 2405 versus AMD's 2041, a 15.1% delta. PassMark physics has Intel at 1645 versus AMD's 1174, a 28.6% delta. The narrowest Intel win is in PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 3865 versus AMD's 3641, a 5.8% delta.

The average benchmark score reflects the overall distribution. AMD's average is 32233, while Intel's is 31510. Despite Intel winning more individual tests, AMD holds a higher average score, driven by the massive R23 wins. AMD's percentile ranking among all CPUs is 83, while Intel's is 82. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-11900 at 32226 and the Intel Core i5-14400F at 32279, with deltas of 0% and -0.1% respectively. Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H at 31508 and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX at 31495, with deltas of 0% each.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification field. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-13500 has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks differ: AMD at 3.30 GHz, Intel at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks also differ: AMD at 5.10 GHz, Intel at 4.80 GHz. TDP is a major split: AMD at 28 W, Intel at 65 W.

Socket and platform differ completely. AMD uses AMD Socket FP7, while Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. The architecture is Zen 4 for AMD and Raptor Lake for Intel. Codename: Hawk Point versus Raptor Lake-S. Process node: 4 nm at TSMC for AMD, 10 nm at Intel for the Intel part. Die size: 178 mm² for AMD, 215 mm² for Intel. AMD lists 25,000 million transistors, while Intel has no recorded transistor count.

Cache hierarchies differ. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support: AMD only supports DDR5, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both are dual-channel. AMD records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel has no recorded bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 780M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. Market segment: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. Production status is Active for both. Release dates differ: AMD on 2024-04-15, Intel on 2023-01-03. Intel has a recorded launch MSRP of $242, while AMD has no launch MSRP recorded. Both have locked multipliers. Part numbers also differ: AMD lists 100-000001317 (FP7r2) and 100-000001377 (FP7), while Intel lists SRMBM.