AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX vs Intel Core i7-13700KF Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-13700KF is the clear performance winner in this comparison, taking 18 of 23 head-to-head benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX. Its average benchmark score of 47330 sits above the AMD part's 46654, and it lands in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, matching the AMD's percentile ranking. The Intel chip is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput and single-core responsiveness. The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, however, is not without merit: it wins the remaining five benchmarks, including notable victories in Cinebench R15 multi-core and PassMark's extended instructions and prime-number tests. The data indicates the Intel part is the default recommendation for desktop workloads, while the AMD chip's strengths in specific math-oriented tasks make it relevant for niche computational roles. Given the Intel's higher TDP of 125 watts versus the AMD's 55 watts, the AMD may also appeal to users constrained by power budgets, though the benchmark data does not directly measure efficiency. The Intel's 89th percentile ranking places it near rivals like the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H (delta -0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (delta -0.4%); the AMD's 89th percentile puts it alongside the Intel Xeon w3-2535 (delta 0%) and the Intel Core i7-13700K (delta -0.5%). For a desktop builder, the 13700KF is the straightforward choice. For a mobile user needing a 55-watt part with competitive multi-threading, the 7845HX holds its own.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-13700KF is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, on a 5 nm process node from TSMC. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel part's die size is 257 mm², while the AMD chip uses a dual-die design measuring 2x 71 mm², with a transistor count of 13,140 million. Cache configurations differ markedly: the Intel offers 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3; the AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a larger 64 MB shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 cache likely contributes to its wins in prime-number finding, where larger caches reduce memory latency. Memory support also diverges: the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, while the AMD supports only DDR5 dual-channel with a stated memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory and have unlocked multipliers. The Intel uses Socket 1700, while the AMD uses Socket FL1, reflecting the former's desktop segment and the latter's mobile segment. The AMD includes integrated Radeon 610M graphics, whereas the Intel lists no integrated graphics. The Intel's PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-13700KF dominates in nearly every general-purpose workload category. In 3DMark tests, it wins across all thread counts, with margins ranging from 6.8% at 16 threads to 17.5% at 4 threads and 10.9% in single-thread. It also sweeps Cinebench R23, winning multi-core by 44% and single-core by a massive 195%. Geekbench results show a 9.8% multi-core lead and a 1.9% single-core edge. In PassMark, the Intel wins data compression (9.7%), data encryption (1.6%), floating-point math (22%), multithread (1.8%), physics (13%), and single-thread (10.2%). These results indicate the Intel is the stronger all-around performer, particularly for tasks that scale with clock speed and core count.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX wins in five specific areas. Its most significant victory is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 4320 versus Intel's 3901, a 9.7% margin. It also wins PassMark extended instructions (41020 vs 36700, a 10.5% lead) and PassMark find prime numbers (329 vs 186, a 43.5% margin). Two further wins are narrow: PassMark integer math (155118 vs 154507, a 0.4% lead) and PassMark random string sorting (63223 vs 62726, a 0.8% lead). The prime-number and extended-instruction wins suggest the AMD's Zen 4 architecture handles specific mathematical operations more efficiently, likely aided by its larger L3 cache. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result is an outlier relative to R23, hinting that workload scaling varies by test version.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700KF has an average benchmark score of 47330, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654, a difference of approximately 1.4%.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700KF wins 18 of the 23 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX wins 5.

Q: What is the single largest margin of victory for either processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700KF wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 195%, scoring 5464 versus the AMD's 1852. The AMD's largest win is 43.5% in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 329 versus Intel's 186.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-13700KF and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX list ECC memory support as true.

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

A: The Intel has 16 cores and 24 threads; the AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads. Both support simultaneous multi-threading, yielding equal thread counts.

Q: Which processor has a larger shared L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-13700KF has 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a lopsided contest, but the margins matter. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 38704 against the AMD's 26876, a 44% advantage. This is the largest multi-threaded delta and indicates the Intel's 16 cores, despite a lower per-core L3 cache, deliver substantially higher sustained throughput in modern rendering workloads. The single-core result is even more stark: the Intel's 5464 score is 195% higher than the AMD's 1852, a gap that suggests the Intel's 5.40 GHz boost clock and Raptor Lake architecture provide a decisive edge in lightly threaded tasks. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel leads 18258 to 16633 (9.8%), and in single-core it edges ahead 2435 to 2389 (1.9%), showing the Intel's advantage narrows in more memory-sensitive single-thread tests.

The AMD's counterpoints are concentrated in older or specialized tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD wins 4320 to 3901, a 9.7% margin that flips the R23 result. This inconsistency suggests the AMD's Zen 4 architecture handles the older R15 instruction mix more efficiently. In PassMark extended instructions, the AMD scores 41020 versus 36700, a 10.5% win, indicating better handling of SIMD and advanced instruction sets. The prime-number test is the AMD's most dominant: 329 versus 186, a 43.5% lead, likely a function of its 64 MB L3 cache reducing stalls in iterative operations. The AMD also wins integer math (155118 vs 154507, 0.4%) and random string sorting (63223 vs 62726, 0.8%), both by hair-thin margins.

The 3DMark suite is uniformly Intel territory. The Intel wins single-thread (1137 vs 1025, 10.9%), 2-thread (2263 vs 1988, 13.8%), 4-thread (4474 vs 3807, 17.5%), 8-thread (8230 vs 7140, 15.3%), 16-thread (10749 vs 10068, 6.8%), and max-thread (12462 vs 11108, 12.2%). These results show the Intel maintains a consistent lead across all thread levels, with the largest margins at moderate thread counts. In PassMark, the Intel wins floating-point math by 22% (114997 vs 94287), physics by 13% (2650 vs 2346), data compression by 9.7% (596493 vs 543539), data encryption by 1.6% (33314 vs 32789), multithread by 1.8% (45817 vs 45010), and single-thread by 10.2% (4336 vs 3935). The data compression and encryption margins are modest, suggesting the AMD's memory subsystem competes well in I/O-heavy tasks, but the Intel's core architecture dominates compute-bound workloads.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets diverge in several key fields. The Intel Core i7-13700KF has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 3.40 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD; boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 5.20 GHz, respectively. The TDP is a major differentiator: the Intel draws 125 watts, while the AMD is rated at 55 watts, reflecting the latter's mobile design. The process nodes differ: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 5 nm from TSMC. The Intel die size is 257 mm²; the AMD uses two dies of 71 mm² each, with a stated transistor count of 13,140 million. Cache hierarchies differ: Intel's L1 is 80 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core, and L3 is 30 MB shared; AMD's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 64 MB shared. Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5; both are dual-channel, but only AMD has a stated memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes differ: Intel has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), AMD has Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). The AMD includes Radeon 610M integrated graphics; the Intel has none. Sockets differ (Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket FL1), market segments differ (Desktop versus Mobile), and release dates differ (2022-09-26 for Intel, 2023-01-03 for AMD). The Intel has a launch MSRP of $384; the AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Both have unlocked multipliers and support ECC memory.