AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D vs Intel Core i9-13900KF Comparison

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-13900KF records an average benchmark score of 61841, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D averages 59641, sitting in the 92nd percentile. The Intel part holds a slight edge in aggregate performance.

Q: How does the Intel chip compare to its closest rival, the Core i9-13900K?

A: The i9-13900KF posts an average score of 61841, which is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900K's 61766. This effectively places the two desktop parts at parity, with a negligible delta.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark win for the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D?

A: The AMD part's largest victory comes in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where it scores 446 against Intel's 225, a 49.6% advantage. This highlights a significant strength in specific integer-heavy workloads.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i9-13900KF show its most dominant lead?

A: The Intel processor's most striking win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, with a score of 6897 versus AMD's 1935, a 256.4% delta. This indicates a massive advantage in lightly threaded, short-duration rendering tasks.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor claim in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900KF wins 17 of the 23 recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D wins 6. The overall win distribution heavily favors Intel across the benchmark suite.

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

A: The Intel Core i9-13900KF has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. Both support the same thread count, but Intel achieves it with more physical cores.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-13900KF is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-S die, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It features a hybrid design with a total of 24 cores and 32 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 36 MB shared L3 cache. The chip uses the Intel Socket 1700 and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus. It also features 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU and includes ECC memory support. The die size is 257 mm².

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is a mobile processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process node, a notably smaller node than Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip contains 16 cores and 32 threads, with a transistor count of 17,840 million spread across a dual-die design measuring 2x 71 mm². Its cache configuration is distinct: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB shared L3 cache. Beyond that, it includes a dedicated 1x 64 MB 3D V-Cache slice, which is the key architectural feature differentiating it from standard Zen 4 mobile parts. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FL1, supports only DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, and offers a higher 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. It also integrates a Radeon 610M graphics solution, whereas the Intel chip lists no integrated graphics.

The process node difference is substantial: AMD's 5 nm TSMC process versus Intel's 10 nm node. This likely contributes to the AMD part's significantly lower 55 W TDP compared to Intel's 125 W TDP, despite the AMD chip carrying a much larger L3 cache. The AMD processor also reports a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Intel part. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, but they target different market segments: Intel for desktop, AMD for mobile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between multi-threaded and specific workload types. The Intel Core i9-13900KF dominates most tests, but the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D wins decisively in several niche areas.

Starting with Intel's wins, the 3DMark suite shows consistent advantages at lower thread counts. In 3DMark 2 threads, Intel scores 2353 against AMD's 2095, a 12.3% lead. The margin grows at 4 threads, with Intel at 4643 versus 3937, a 17.9% delta. At 8 threads, Intel leads 8510 to 7330, a 16.1% difference, and at max threads, Intel scores 15405 against 12936, a 19.1% win. Even in 3DMark single-thread, Intel leads 1188 to 1071, a 10.9% advantage.

In Cinebench, Intel's single-core results are extraordinary. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel at 695 versus AMD's 311, a 123.5% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core is even more lopsided: 6897 for Intel versus 1935 for AMD, a 256.4% delta. However, Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to AMD, with a score of 5600 against Intel's 4924, a 12.1% advantage for AMD. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel rebounds with 48855 versus 32782, a 49% lead.

Geekbench results are mixed. Intel wins multi-core with 22486 versus 16758, a 34.2% advantage, but AMD wins single-core with 2769 versus 2668, a 3.6% margin for AMD.

PassMark tests show a varied landscape. Intel wins data compression with 786218 versus 699988, a 12.3% edge, and data encryption with 46186 versus 42367, a 9% lead. AMD takes extended instructions with 52310 versus 46084, an 11.9% win, and finds prime numbers with 446 versus 225, a 49.6% blowout. Intel wins floating point math (150869 vs 121619, a 24.1% lead), integer math (206859 vs 201217, a 2.8% margin), multithread (57729 vs 57476, a slim 0.4% edge), and random string sorting (86510 vs 83919, a 3.1% lead). AMD wins physics with 4321 versus 2956, a 31.6% advantage. In single-thread PassMark, Intel takes it with 4584 versus 4050, a 13.2% lead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. Intel has 24 cores versus AMD's 16, though both offer 32 threads. Intel's base clock is 3.00 GHz and boost is 5.80 GHz, while AMD runs at 2.30 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost. Intel's TDP is 125 W, AMD's is 55 W. Intel uses the Intel Socket 1700, AMD uses the AMD Socket FL1. Intel's architecture is Raptor Lake, AMD's is Zen 4. Intel's process node is 10 nm from its own foundry, AMD's is 5 nm from TSMC. Intel's die size is 257 mm², AMD's is 2x 71 mm². Intel has no listed transistor count, AMD has 17,840 million. Cache differs significantly: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and 128 MB shared L3, plus a 1x 64 MB 3D V-Cache slice. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, AMD supports only DDR5. Intel lists no memory bandwidth, AMD lists 83.2 GB/s. Both support ECC. Intel has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, AMD has 28. Intel has no integrated graphics, AMD includes Radeon 610M. Intel's release date is September 2022, AMD's is July 2023.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13900KF is the clear winner for single-threaded performance and general multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6897 versus AMD's 1935, a 256.4% gap, makes it the obvious choice for applications that rely heavily on one or two cores, such as legacy software, many games, and everyday productivity tasks. It also wins across 3DMark tests at all thread counts, suggesting strong performance in gaming and GPU-bound scenarios. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel's 48855 versus AMD's 32782, a 49% lead, shows it handles rendering and video encoding workloads better. PassMark multithread nearly ties, with Intel at 57729 and AMD at 57476, a tiny 0.4% margin, but Intel wins most PassMark integer and floating-point tests.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D wins where its massive 128 MB L3 cache and 3D V-Cache matter most. In PassMark find prime numbers, it scores 446 versus Intel's 225, a 49.6% advantage, indicating strength in certain algorithmic and scientific workloads. It also wins PassMark extended instructions by 11.9% and physics by 31.6%, suggesting advantages in simulation and physics-based tasks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD's 5600 versus Intel's 4924, a 12.1% win, shows it can hold its own in some older multi-threaded rendering scenarios. Geekbench single-core also goes to AMD with a 3.6% edge, a rare single-thread win for the mobile chip.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i9-13900KF is the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 17 of 23 head-to-head benchmarks, including every 3DMark test, all Cinebench R23 tests, and most PassMark integer, floating-point, and encryption tasks. Its 256.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the most dramatic margin in the entire comparison, making it the definitive choice for single-thread-sensitive applications. Its 49% multi-core lead in Cinebench R23 also makes it the better pick for heavy rendering workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, despite being a mobile part with a 55 W TDP, wins 6 benchmarks, including the notable find prime numbers test with a 49.6% margin and physics with a 31.6% margin. These wins point to specific scientific, simulation, and algorithmic tasks where its cache advantage shines. It also wins Geekbench single-core by 3.6%, a surprising result given Intel's single-core dominance elsewhere.

For a desktop user seeking maximum performance across gaming, productivity, and rendering, the Intel Core i9-13900KF is the data-backed choice. For a mobile user or someone running heavily cache-dependent scientific workloads, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D offers targeted strengths, though its overall average score trails by 2200 points. The Intel part's higher 125 W TDP reflects its desktop positioning, while AMD's 55 W TDP makes it a more power-efficient option for laptops. The verdict hinges on workload: Intel for general and single-threaded supremacy, AMD for niche cache-sensitive tasks.