AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS vs Intel Core i5-13400F Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear overall winner, though the decision is not without nuance. The Intel Core i5-13400F wins 19 of the 23 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS taking only 4. The Intel part's average benchmark score of 25,292 is marginally higher than the AMD's 25,284, a difference of less than 0.1%. Both processors sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier.

However, the data tells a more complex story than simple win counts. The Intel Core i5-13400F dominates in multi-core workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS shows targeted strengths in specific instruction-heavy tasks. The Intel chip is the choice for desktop users prioritizing raw multi-threaded performance, especially in rendering and physics simulations. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, conversely, is a mobile part with a 35 W TDP compared to the Intel's 65 W, and its benchmark profile shows it can hold its own in encryption and integer math while consuming significantly less power. For a laptop user who needs strong all-around performance with efficient power draw, the AMD is the data-backed pick. The Intel part, with a launch MSRP of $196, targets desktop builders who want maximum compute throughput for the platform.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-13400F is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-S codename, and uses a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS uses the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt codename, fabricated on a 6 nm process node by TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part therefore has a larger cache pool overall, which contributes to its multi-core advantage.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD part supports only DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD chip lists a specific memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel part. The Intel processor uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the AMD uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon 680M graphics, while the Intel i5-13400F has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD die size is 208 mm², slightly smaller than the Intel's 215 mm².

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core i5-13400F comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 22,604 against the AMD's 13,445, a staggering 68.1% advantage. This is mirrored in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel scores 3,191 versus the AMD's 1,554, a 105.3% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel leads 321 to 245, a 31% gap. These results indicate that the Intel architecture delivers substantially higher per-thread performance in rendering workloads.

The Intel chip also wins decisively in passmark physics, scoring 1,437 against the AMD's 1,041, a 38% margin. In passmark find prime numbers, the Intel scores 83 versus 58, a 43.1% lead. Floating point math shows the Intel ahead at 60,539 versus 48,239, a 25.5% advantage. Geekbench multi-core favors the Intel at 11,068 versus 9,451, a 17.1% lead, and single-core shows a 15.2% edge with 1,996 versus 1,733.

The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins its four benchmarks by smaller margins. In passmark data encryption, the AMD scores 18,303 versus the Intel's 16,608, a 9.3% lead. Passmark integer math goes to the AMD at 86,449 versus 79,942, a 7.5% margin. In 3dmark 8 threads, the AMD scores 5,830 versus the Intel's 5,591, a 4.1% advantage. The extended instructions test is nearly even, with the AMD at 20,015 and the Intel at 19,847, a 0.8% difference.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-13400F | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Process Node | 10 nm (Intel) | 6 nm (TSMC) |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon 680M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 208 mm² |

| Launch MSRP | $196 | Not listed |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25,292, which is 8 points higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS's 25,284. This difference represents a 0% deltaPct, meaning the two are statistically tied.

Q: How large is the Intel's advantage in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-13400F scores 22,604 against the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS's 13,445, a 68.1% advantage. This is the largest delta between the two processors in any benchmark.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS win any benchmarks by a significant margin?

A: The AMD's largest win is in passmark data encryption, where it scores 18,303 versus the Intel's 16,608, a 9.3% lead. It also wins passmark integer math by 7.5% with a score of 86,449 versus 79,942.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support 16 threads, but the Intel chip has two additional physical cores.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-13400F's boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD also has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F leads in all single-thread benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3,191 versus 1,554, a 105.3% advantage. In 3dmark single-thread, the Intel scores 960 versus 915, a 4.9% lead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13400F is the clear choice for workloads that demand maximum multi-threaded throughput. The data shows a 68.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which translates directly to faster rendering in 3D applications and video encoding. Its 38% advantage in passmark physics indicates stronger performance in simulation and physics-based tasks. The 43.1% lead in passmark find prime numbers suggests superior performance in mathematical and computational workloads. The 25.5% edge in floating point math makes it the better pick for scientific computing and financial modeling. For desktop users who have access to a discrete graphics card and want the highest compute performance for the platform, the Intel part wins decisively across nearly every benchmark category.

The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, while losing the overall benchmark count, wins in specific areas that matter for certain use cases. Its 9.3% lead in data encryption makes it the better choice for security-focused workloads, VPN termination, and encrypted file operations. The 7.5% advantage in integer math suggests stronger performance in database operations and general integer-heavy applications. The 4.1% win in 3dmark 8 threads indicates it can hold its own in gaming scenarios that utilize up to eight threads. Additionally, with a 35 W TDP versus the Intel's 65 W, the AMD part is designed for mobile platforms where power efficiency is critical. Its integrated Radeon 680M graphics provide a display output capability that the Intel i5-13400F lacks entirely. For laptop users who need balanced performance with lower power draw and don't require the extreme multi-core scores, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS is the data-supported option.