AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Intel Core i5-13500 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13500 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS represent two fundamentally different approaches to processing power, with the former being a desktop-first design and the latter a mobile-focused part. The benchmark data reveals a clear split: the Intel chip secures 13 wins, while the AMD chip takes 10. The i5-13500 dominates in heavily threaded and specific math workloads, whereas the Ryzen 9 8945HS shows its strength in certain render tests and low-thread-count scenarios. This is not a simple "one is faster" conclusion; the data points to each processor being the better choice for distinct types of tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13500 establishes its advantage in multi-threaded and parallel workloads that scale with its higher core and thread count. Its most substantial victory comes in the 3dmark_max_threads test, where it scores 9014 against the Ryzen's 7775, a 15.9% lead. This pattern repeats in Geekbench multicore, where the i5-13500 scores 14116 versus 12276, a 15% advantage. The Intel chip also leads in PassMark's multithread test (31285 vs 29780, 5.1% ahead) and in floating-point math, where its score of 80198 is a massive 29.7% higher than the AMD's 61821. These results indicate a clear edge for the i5-13500 in rendering, scientific computing, and any application that can utilize all available cores.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, despite having fewer cores (8 vs 14) and threads (16 vs 20), secures its wins in Cinebench and lower-thread-count workloads. Its most significant victory is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 16795 compared to the i5-13500's 14573, a 13.2% advantage. It also wins in Cinebench R15 multicore (2640 vs 2405, 8.9% ahead) and singlecore (281 vs 256, 8.9% ahead). The Ryzen 9 8945HS also takes the 3dmark_8_threads test with a score of 6385 versus 6204, a 2.8% lead, and shows a narrow win in 3dmark_single_thread (1013 vs 1005, 0.8% ahead). This suggests AMD's Zen 4 architecture is highly efficient in scenarios with moderate thread counts, often found in gaming and content creation tasks that don't fully saturate the CPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on distinct foundations. The Intel Core i5-13500 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-S codename, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features a hybrid design with 14 cores and 20 threads. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is based on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. This node advantage allows the AMD chip to pack 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die, while the Intel chip has a smaller transistor count (not listed) on a larger 215 mm² die.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Intel i5-13500 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a large 24 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has smaller per-core caches (64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2) and a smaller 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip is limited to DDR5. Both support dual-channel memory, but the AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel part. The i5-13500 supports ECC memory, whereas the Ryzen 9 8945HS does not. For PCIe, the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Both have integrated graphics, with Intel featuring UHD Graphics 770 and AMD featuring Radeon 780M. The market segments are also polar opposites: the i5-13500 is a Desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, while the Ryzen 9 8945HS is a Mobile processor on AMD Socket FP8.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest wins for the Intel Core i5-13500 are in floating-point math and max-thread scenarios. The 29.7% lead in PassMark floating-point math (80198 vs 61821) is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. This is followed by the 15.9% lead in 3dmark_max_threads (9014 vs 7775) and the 15% lead in Geekbench multicore (14116 vs 12276). The Intel chip also shows a 14.7% advantage in PassMark physics (1645 vs 1434) and a 10.9% lead in PassMark find prime numbers (102 vs 92). Other wins include 9.7% in data compression (391249 vs 356508), 7% in integer math (108320 vs 101226), 5.1% in multithread (31285 vs 29780), and 4.7% in data encryption (22333 vs 21323). It also edges out the AMD chip in single-threaded PassMark tests (3865 vs 3850, 0.4% ahead).

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS counters with its own set of decisive victories. The most notable is the 13.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore (16795 vs 14573). It also wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 8.9% (2640 vs 2405) and Cinebench R15 singlecore by 8.9% (281 vs 256). The AMD chip shows an 11.2% advantage in PassMark extended instructions (26964 vs 23956). In 3dmark tests, it wins the 8-thread test by 2.8% (6385 vs 6204), the 4-thread test by 0.3% (3809 vs 3799), and the 2-thread test by a negligible 0.1% (1985 vs 1984). It also takes the single-thread 3dmark test with a 0.8% lead (1013 vs 1005) and wins PassMark random string sorting by 1% (43202 vs 42759). The Cinebench R23 singlecore result is a near-tie, with the AMD chip leading by only 1.4% (1805 vs 1780).

Specification Differences

The core count is the most significant spec difference. The Intel Core i5-13500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds favor the AMD chip, which has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to the Intel chip's 2.50 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The TDP also differs, with the Intel chip rated at 65 W and the AMD chip at 45 W. The process node is a major differentiator: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 4 nm. The foundry is Intel for the former and TSMC for the latter. Transistor count is only listed for the AMD chip at 25,000 million, and die size is 215 mm² for Intel and 178 mm² for AMD.

Cache hierarchy shows Intel with larger L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB per core), L2 (1.25 MB vs 1 MB per core), and L3 (24 MB vs 16 MB shared). Memory support differs, with Intel offering DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD only supports DDR5. ECC memory is supported on the Intel chip but not on the AMD chip. PCIe generation and lanes differ, with Intel providing Gen 5 16 lanes and AMD providing Gen 4 20 lanes. The memory bandwidth is only specified for the AMD chip at 89.6 GB/s. The integrated graphics are different models (UHD Graphics 770 vs Radeon 780M). The Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03 with a launch MSRP of $242, while the AMD chip was released on 2023-12-05 with no MSRP listed. The market segments are Desktop versus Mobile, and the sockets are Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket FP8.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, which is significantly more than the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS's 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS have its largest advantage over the Intel chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS's largest win is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 16795 versus the Intel's 14573, a 13.2% lead.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for the Intel Core i5-13500?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500's biggest win is in PassMark floating-point math, with a score of 80198 versus 61821, a 29.7% advantage.

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

A: The results are very close. The AMD chip wins 3dmark_single_thread by 0.8% (1013 vs 1005) and Cinebench R23 singlecore by 1.4% (1805 vs 1780), but the Intel chip wins PassMark single_thread by 0.4% (3865 vs 3850).

Q: What are the differences in supported memory types?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS supports only DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has a higher boost clock speed of 5.20 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-13500's boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. The Intel Core i5-13500 is the superior processor for multi-threaded, compute-intensive tasks that can leverage its 14 cores and 20 threads. Its 29.7% lead in floating-point math and 15.9% lead in max-thread 3dmark tests make it the better option for scientific simulations, complex financial modeling, or video rendering that uses all cores. The 15% lead in Geekbench multicore further cements its position for productivity applications. Users who prioritize raw parallel processing power should choose the Intel chip.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, despite having fewer cores, is the better performer in Cinebench, a benchmark suite commonly associated with 3D rendering and animation. Its 13.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 8.9% lead in both Cinebench R15 tests indicate that its Zen 4 architecture is highly efficient in these specific workloads. Its wins in lower-thread-count 3dmark tests (4-thread and 8-thread) also suggest it may offer better performance in gaming and applications that are not fully multi-threaded. For users whose primary software is Cinebench-based or who rely on moderate thread usage, the AMD chip is the data-backed choice.

Ultimately, the decision hinges on the target application. The Intel Core i5-13500 wins the majority of benchmarks (13 vs 10) and offers a broader advantage in general-purpose parallel computing. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is a specialist, winning in rendering-specific tests and showing a lower TDP of 45 W versus 65 W, which is relevant for sustained mobile workloads. The benchmark results indicate that the Intel chip is the more versatile multi-core workhorse, while the AMD chip excels in specific rendering tasks and demonstrates that higher clock speeds do not always translate to universal multi-core dominance.