AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i9-13900HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel Core i9-13900HX are both high-performance processors, yet they occupy different worlds: one is a desktop part from 2019, the other a mobile chip from 2023. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the Intel part, but the AMD chip holds its own in a specific niche. The Intel Core i9-13900HX wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Ryzen 9 3900X manages a single victory, though the margin of that win is notable.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-13900HX dominates the multi-core and single-core workloads. In Cinebench R23, the Intel chip scores 27,900 in multi-core, which is 31.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X’s 19,000. The single-core lead is even more pronounced in percentage terms: Intel’s 2,056 score beats AMD’s 1,370 by 33.4%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R15, where Intel leads by 32.2% in multi-core (4,494.5 vs 3,049) and by 30.1% in single-core (296 vs 207).

The gap widens significantly in floating-point math. The Intel chip’s Passmark floating-point score of 110,470 is a massive 47.1% higher than the AMD’s 58,434. This suggests a major advantage in workloads that rely on heavy FPU usage, such as scientific simulations or certain rendering tasks. Similarly, in Passmark integer math, Intel leads with 156,175 against AMD’s 99,628, a 36.2% advantage. The Passmark multi-thread score follows suit, with Intel at 43,062 versus AMD’s 32,544, a 24.4% lead.

The Intel chip also proves faster in data-centric tasks. Passmark data compression shows Intel ahead at 531,224 versus 448,906, a 15.5% lead. Data encryption is closer but still favors Intel: 32,130 versus 28,586, an 11% advantage. Even in random string sorting, Intel wins with 59,199 against 48,300, an 18.4% difference. In Passmark physics, Intel’s 2,645 beats AMD’s 1,794 by 32.2%. The single-thread Passmark scores mirror the Cinebench results, with Intel’s 4,081 sitting 33.8% above AMD’s 2,703.

The single bright spot for the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is in Passmark’s find prime numbers test. Here, AMD scores 214, which is 12.6% higher than Intel’s 190. This suggests that in this particular algorithm, the AMD architecture’s design offers a specific advantage. However, this is the only test where AMD comes out ahead. In the extended instructions test, the difference narrows to just 4.4% in favor of Intel (30,550 vs 29,221), showing that for some workloads, the two are closer in capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has an average benchmark score of 46,487, while the Intel Core i9-13900HX has an average score of 46,098. This places them as near-identical rivals, with a delta of only 0.8% in favor of the AMD part.

Q: How do the two processors rank compared to all other CPUs?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and the Intel Core i9-13900HX are placed in the 89th percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database. This indicates that both are high-end performers, though they achieve this status through very different means.

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

A: The Intel Core i9-13900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 12 cores and 24 threads. This means the Intel chip has double the core count and 33% more threads.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Core i9-13900HX has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a much higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X supports DDR4 memory only. The Intel Core i9-13900HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900HX includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X does not include any integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and for different platforms. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, and is built on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It is a desktop processor designed for the AMD Socket AM4. The Intel Core i9-13900HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically codenamed Raptor Lake-HX, and is built on a 10 nm process by Intel itself. It is a mobile processor designed for the Intel BGA 1964 socket.

The die size difference is stark: the AMD chip has a die size of 2x 74 mm², while the Intel chip has a die size of 257 mm². The AMD processor contains 7,600 million transistors, while the transistor count for the Intel chip is not listed. The cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core i9-13900HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support and PCIe generations are also different. The AMD chip supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes. The Intel chip supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5, has no listed memory bandwidth, and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The Intel chip supports ECC memory, while the AMD chip does not. The Intel chip also has integrated graphics, whereas the AMD chip relies on a discrete GPU. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, allowing for overclocking.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i9-13900HX is the superior performer for almost all tasks. Its wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (31.9% ahead) and single-core (33.4% ahead) are decisive. For users prioritizing raw computational speed—whether in rendering, video encoding, or general multitasking—the Intel chip is the clear choice based on the benchmarks. Its advantage in floating-point math (47.1%) and integer math (36.2%) further solidifies its position for compute-heavy professional workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, despite being older and having fewer cores, remains competitive in specific scenarios. Its 12.6% lead in the prime numbers test is a curiosity, but it doesn’t offset the broad Intel advantage. However, for a desktop user who already has an AM4 platform, the Ryzen 9 3900X offers a path to high performance with 12 cores and 24 threads. Its 64 MB of L3 cache is also larger than the Intel’s 36 MB, which could benefit certain cache-sensitive applications. The choice comes down to platform and workload: the Intel chip is the outright performance winner, while the AMD chip is a capable desktop part that still holds its own in a few niche areas.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 12 cores; Intel Core i9-13900HX has 24 cores.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 24 threads; Intel Core i9-13900HX has 32 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is 3.80 GHz; Intel Core i9-13900HX is 2.20 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is 4.60 GHz; Intel Core i9-13900HX is 5.40 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is 105 W; Intel Core i9-13900HX is 55 W.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X uses AMD Socket AM4; Intel Core i9-13900HX uses Intel BGA 1964.
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X uses 7 nm; Intel Core i9-13900HX uses 10 nm.
• Foundry: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is from TSMC; Intel Core i9-13900HX is from Intel.
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is 2x 74 mm²; Intel Core i9-13900HX is 257 mm².
• L1 Cache: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 64 KB (per core); Intel Core i9-13900HX has 80 KB (per core).
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 512 KB (per core); Intel Core i9-13900HX has 2 MB (per core).
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 64 MB; Intel Core i9-13900HX has 36 MB (shared).
• Memory Support: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X supports DDR4; Intel Core i9-13900HX supports DDR4, DDR5.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is 51.2 GB/s; Intel Core i9-13900HX is not listed.
• ECC Memory: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X does not support; Intel Core i9-13900HX supports.
• PCIe: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is Gen 4, 24 Lanes; Intel Core i9-13900HX is Gen 5, 20 Lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has none; Intel Core i9-13900HX has UHD Graphics 770.
• Market Segment: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is Desktop; Intel Core i9-13900HX is Mobile.
• Release Date: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is 2019-07-06; Intel Core i9-13900HX is 2023-01-03.
• Launch MSRP: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is $499; Intel Core i9-13900HX is $668.
• Transistors: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 7,600 million; Intel Core i9-13900HX is not listed.