AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Intel Core i5-13600H Comparison

The benchmark data is decisively one-sided. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS wins 14 of the 15 shared head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core i5-13600H managing a single narrow victory. This is not a close contest; it is a generational and architectural mismatch that shows up across nearly every workload category. The Intel part is competitive only in a niche physics test, while AMD dominates everything from multi-core rendering to single-thread responsiveness.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is the clear performance leader in virtually every measurable category. Its largest advantages come in multi-core and heavy computational workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2640 against Intel's 1249, a staggering 52.7% lead. This pattern repeats across the board: PassMark data compression shows AMD ahead by 24.8%, integer math by 22.3%, and multithread by 21.7%. The Ryzen 9 also wins all three single-core benchmarks featured, taking Cinebench R23 single-core by a slim 3% margin and PassMark single-thread by 5.7%. For users running rendering, code compilation, or data processing, the choice is unambiguous — the AMD chip is the faster processor by a wide margin.

The Intel Core i5-13600H has exactly one win in the head-to-head data: PassMark physics, where it scores 1490 versus AMD's 1434, a 3.9% advantage. This is a narrow, specialized result that does not offset the broader trend. The data suggests that in a single, specific physics simulation workload, Intel's hybrid core arrangement provides a slight edge. Outside of that isolated test, there is no workload category where Intel matches or exceeds AMD's output. The verdict is stark: AMD wins on raw performance, efficiency per benchmark point, and consistency across both synthetic and real-world-style tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core i5-13600H uses Raptor Lake-H architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, featuring 12 cores and 16 threads. AMD's Ryzen 9 8945HS is a Zen 4 part (codename Hawk Point) built on TSMC's 4 nm node, with 8 cores and 16 threads. The node difference is significant: AMD's smaller 4 nm process allows for denser transistors — 25,000 million in a 178 mm² die — which contributes to its performance and efficiency advantages.

Cache configurations also differ markedly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Despite having less cache per core and less total L3, AMD's Zen 4 architecture extracts more performance from each clock cycle, as evidenced by its higher benchmark scores with fewer physical cores. The Intel chip relies on a hybrid core layout (performance and efficiency cores) to reach 12 cores, while AMD uses 8 full Zen 4 cores with simultaneous multithreading to achieve 16 threads.

Memory and PCIe support further separate the two. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while AMD is DDR5-only. AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; Intel's bandwidth is not specified in the data. For PCIe, Intel offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), whereas AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. This means Intel has a newer PCIe standard but fewer lanes, while AMD offers more lanes at a slightly older standard. Integrated graphics also differ: Intel pairs with Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while AMD uses the Radeon 780M. Both have a 45 W TDP and are locked (no unlocked multiplier), but AMD's boost clock reaches 5.20 GHz versus Intel's 4.80 GHz, with base clocks of 4.00 GHz and 2.80 GHz respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where AMD scores 2640 against Intel's 1249 — a 52.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and reflects AMD's superior multi-threaded throughput. Even in single-core R15, AMD leads by 37.4% (281 vs 176), showing that Zen 4's per-core efficiency outclasses Raptor Lake's performance cores in this legacy test.

Cinebench R23 narrows the gap but still favors AMD substantially: 16795 vs 12402 multi-core (26.2% lead) and 1805 vs 1750 single-core (3% lead). The single-core margin is modest but consistent — AMD wins all three Cinebench single-core tests across R15 and R23. In PassMark workloads, AMD's wins range from 5.4% (find prime numbers: 92 vs 87) to 41.3% (extended instructions: 26964 vs 15817). Data compression shows 356508 vs 267936 (24.8%), data encryption 21323 vs 16061 (24.7%), and random string sorting 43202 vs 29570 (31.6%).

Floating-point math is one of the closer contests: AMD leads 61821 vs 57618, a 6.8% margin. Integer math is more decisive at 101226 vs 78658 (22.3%). The PassMark multithread test shows 29780 vs 23304 (21.7%). The sole Intel win is PassMark physics at 1490 vs 1434, a 3.9% margin. This is the only benchmark in the entire set where Intel's architecture produces a higher score, and it is too isolated to recommend Intel for any general purpose.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-13600H reaches 4.80 GHz.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600H has 12 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where AMD leads by 52.7% (2640 vs 1249).

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark?

A: Yes, Intel wins PassMark physics with a score of 1490 against AMD's 1434, a 3.9% advantage.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: Intel has 18 MB of shared L3, while AMD has 16 MB of shared L3.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry, while AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is the superior processor for essentially all workloads. It wins 14 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with victories in single-core, multi-core, and specialized instruction tests. The only Intel win (physics) is a 3.9% margin that does not compensate for losses of 20-50% elsewhere. AMD's advantages are largest in heavy multi-threaded tasks like Cinebench R15 multi-core (52.7% lead) and extended instructions (41.3% lead), making it the obvious choice for content creation, data processing, and any CPU-bound application.

Intel's Core i5-13600H is not without merit — it offers 12 cores and a higher L3 cache (18 MB vs 16 MB), plus support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. However, these features do not translate into benchmark victories. The one area where Intel wins (physics) suggests possible advantages in specific simulation workloads, but the performance gap elsewhere is too large to ignore. For mobile users who need maximum performance across a broad range of tasks, the Ryzen 9 8945HS is the clear pick. For those who require Intel-specific features or need DDR4 compatibility, the i5-13600H remains a functional option but a demonstrably slower one.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-13600H | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS |

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

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Zen 4 (Hawk Point) |

| Process Node | 10 nm (Intel) | 4 nm (TSMC) |

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | Radeon 780M |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Transistors | Not specified | 25,000 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 178 mm² |

| Launch MSRP | $311 | Not specified |