AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Intel Core i5-13600H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the dominant multi-threaded performer in this comparison, winning 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its Cinebench results are consistently about 60% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13600H across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. The Ryzen also wins in integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, and multithreaded PassMark scores, though the multithread margin is razor thin at just 0.2%.

The Intel Core i5-13600H takes the other five comparisons, and those wins are concentrated in specific workload types. It leads in PassMark physics simulation, prime number finding, floating point math, and single-threaded PassMark scores. The physics result is the largest Intel margin at 40.9% ahead, and the prime number test shows a 39.1% advantage. These are compute patterns that favor Intel's architecture, particularly workloads involving branch-heavy logic or floating point throughput.

The overall database percentile places both processors at the 82nd percentile, meaning they sit at the same level relative to all CPUs tracked. The average benchmark scores differ slightly, with the AMD at 31495 and the Intel at 30548. The Ryzen 9 5980HX sits among rivals like the Intel Core 7 240H, Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, and Intel Core i5-13500, all within 0.1% of its average score. The Intel Core i5-13600H is grouped with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T, Intel Core i9-11980HK, and AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS, with deltas between 0.3% and 0.6%.

For use-case selection, the AMD part is the choice for heavily threaded content creation, compilation, and data processing where Cinebench and integer workloads dominate. The Intel part is preferable for physics simulation, floating point heavy calculations, and single-threaded PassMark workloads, where its margins are substantial.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX uses Zen 3 architecture under the Cezanne codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. Intel's Core i5-13600H uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-H codename, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip has 12 cores and 16 threads. Both have the same 45 W TDP and the same 4.80 GHz boost clock, but the AMD base clock is 3.30 GHz versus 2.80 GHz for Intel.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on Intel likely contributes to its single-threaded PassMark advantage.

Memory support is another divergence. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a rated bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-13600H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database records no bandwidth figure for Intel. PCIe capabilities differ as well: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with AMD using Radeon Vega 8 and Intel using Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Neither supports ECC memory. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked.

The launch dates are nearly two years apart. The Ryzen 9 5980HX launched in January 2021, while the Core i5-13600H launched in January 2023. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $311, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen, Intel BGA 1744 for the Core i5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the largest and most consistent gaps. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 2000 against 1249 for Intel, a 60.1% advantage. Single-core R15 is 282 versus 176, also 60.2% ahead. R20 multi-core shows 8337 versus 5208, a 60.1% gap, and single-core R20 shows 1176 versus 735, a 60% gap. R23 multi-core continues the pattern: 19850 versus 12402, 60.1% ahead. R23 single-core is 2802 versus 1750, 60.1% ahead. These are unusually uniform deltas, suggesting a consistent architectural efficiency advantage for AMD in the Cinebench rendering workload.

PassMark integer math goes to AMD at 89772 versus 78658, a 14.1% margin. Data compression favors AMD at 310694 versus 267936, a 16% gap. Data encryption shows AMD at 19221 versus 16061, a 19.7% lead. Extended instructions go to AMD at 21209 versus 15817, a 34.1% margin. Random string sorting favors AMD at 32238 versus 29570, a 9% advantage.

Intel's wins are equally clear in their respective domains. PassMark physics shows Intel at 1490 versus 881, a 40.9% lead. Prime number finding goes to Intel at 87 versus 53, a 39.1% margin. Floating point math favors Intel at 57618 versus 50223, a 12.8% gap. PassMark single-threaded scores go to Intel at 3631 versus 3326, an 8.4% advantage.

The closest contest is PassMark multithread, where AMD wins 23356 to 23304, a mere 0.2% margin. That result underscores how close these processors are in aggregate throughput despite the large Cinebench deltas. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 31495 versus 30548 for Intel, a difference of less than 1,000 points across the whole benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX wins all six Cinebench tests. The margin is roughly 60% in every case, including R15, R20, and R23, for both single-core and multi-core runs.

Q: Are these CPUs similar in overall performance?

A: The database places both at the 82nd percentile. The AMD average benchmark score is 31495, and the Intel average is 30548. The AMD part wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the Intel part wins five, including physics and floating point math.

Q: What is the biggest Intel advantage?

A: PassMark physics shows the largest Intel lead at 40.9% ahead, with a score of 1490 versus 881. Prime number finding is close behind at 39.1%, with 87 versus 53.

Q: What is the biggest AMD advantage?

A: The Cinebench tests show the largest AMD margins, all around 60%. The biggest single gap is 60.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD scores 282 versus Intel's 176.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX supports DDR4 only, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-13600H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600H was released in January 2023, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX was released in January 2021. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $311.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload. For multi-threaded rendering, content creation, integer heavy processing, data compression, and encryption, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench margins of roughly 60% across the board are decisive, and the 14.1% integer math lead, 16% data compression lead, and 19.7% encryption lead reinforce that pattern.

For physics simulation, floating point math, prime number workloads, and single-threaded PassMark tasks, the Intel Core i5-13600H is the better pick. The 40.9% physics lead and 39.1% prime number lead are substantial enough to matter for simulation and scientific workloads. The 8.4% single-threaded PassMark advantage also gives Intel the edge in lightly threaded responsiveness metrics, even though Cinebench single-core results contradict that with a 60.1% AMD advantage.

The multithreaded PassMark result, a 0.2% AMD win, shows that aggregate throughput is nearly identical. The deciding factor is the benchmark family being used. Buyers running Cinebench-style workloads should choose AMD. Buyers running physics or floating point simulations should choose Intel. The 82nd percentile ranking for both means neither is a weak processor in the broader database context. The Ryzen 9 5980HX offers an unlocked multiplier, while the Core i5-13600H does not, which matters for overclocking flexibility. Memory support also differs, with AMD restricted to DDR4 and Intel offering DDR5 compatibility.