AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 vs Intel Core i7-13700K Comparison

The data paints a decisive picture: the Intel Core i7-13700K is the dominant performer in this matchup, winning 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 manages a single victory in a narrow, specialized workload. While both processors sit at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 47,527 for AMD versus 47,282 for Intel, a difference of just 0.5% — yet this aggregate parity masks a starkly lopsided set of individual test results. The Intel chip’s victories are not marginal; they are consistently large, often exceeding 20% and reaching nearly 39% in some workloads. The AMD processor’s lone win is significant but isolated, indicating a very specific strength rather than a general trend.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-13700K wins across virtually every measurable category of performance. Its most substantial advantage appears in floating-point math, where it scores 114,867 against AMD’s 70,291 — a 38.8% lead. This indicates a clear edge in workloads that rely heavily on FPU throughput, such as scientific simulations, financial modeling, and certain rendering tasks. The Intel chip also dominates in physics calculations, scoring 2,716 versus 1,772, a 34.8% advantage, which translates to faster performance in physics-based game engines and simulation software. In data compression, Intel’s 595,292 score beats AMD’s 416,599 by 30%, benefiting archiving tasks, database operations, and file transfers. Even in single-threaded performance, where AMD’s Zen 3 architecture is typically competitive, Intel leads by 19.2% in PassMark’s single-thread test (4,333 vs. 3,499).

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 wins precisely one benchmark: PassMark’s “find prime numbers” test. Here it scores 228 versus Intel’s 191, a 19.4% advantage. This is a highly specific workload that stresses integer division and branch prediction. The result suggests that AMD’s Zen 3 core design has a particular efficiency in this narrow operation. However, this is a single data point in a suite of 17 tests, and it does not compensate for the Intel chip’s sweeping wins elsewhere. For any general-purpose computing, multi-threaded productivity, or gaming scenario, the data points firmly toward Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies, which explains the benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is built on a monolithic 7 nm process at TSMC, with 12 cores and 24 threads. It uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and fits into the AMD Socket AM4. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and it includes ECC memory support. The chip runs on PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU and has a base clock of 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It lacks integrated graphics and has a locked multiplier.

The Intel Core i7-13700K is built on Intel’s 10 nm process, features 16 cores and 24 threads, and uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-S. It occupies the Intel Socket 1700. Its cache differs significantly: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it also includes ECC memory support. The Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. It runs at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz. It includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 770, and has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking.

The core count difference is critical: Intel’s 16 cores versus AMD’s 12. Even though both have 24 threads, Intel’s two additional physical cores provide extra parallel execution resources. Intel’s higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus AMD’s 4.70 GHz also contributes to its single-thread and lightly-threaded wins. The die size difference is stark — Intel’s 257 mm² versus AMD’s dual-chip design of 2x 74 mm² — reflecting the different transistor densities and process nodes. The memory support difference (DDR4 only for AMD versus DDR4/DDR5 for Intel) offers platform flexibility, but the benchmark data does not isolate memory-speed effects.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are consistently one-sided. In Cinebench tests, Intel wins all six. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 39,000 against AMD’s 29,366, a 24.7% lead. In single-core, Intel’s 5,505 beats AMD’s 4,145, again by 24.7%. These deltas are identical across all Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), indicating a uniform performance gap regardless of the workload’s threading.

PassMark results show the same pattern. Intel wins data compression by 30% (595,292 vs. 416,599) and data encryption by 20.9% (33,249 vs. 26,313). Extended instructions favor Intel by 26.2% (36,625 vs. 27,031). Floating-point math is Intel’s largest win at 38.8% (114,867 vs. 70,291), while integer math sees Intel ahead by 16% (154,446 vs. 129,768). The multi-thread score favors Intel by 24.7% (45,887 vs. 34,549), and physics shows Intel ahead by 34.8% (2,716 vs. 1,772). Even random string sorting, a test of memory and sorting algorithms, favors Intel by 30.7% (62,670 vs. 43,447).

The lone AMD win is in prime number finding, where AMD scores 228 versus Intel’s 191, a 19.4% advantage. This is a notable outlier. It suggests that AMD’s core architecture has a specific strength in integer-heavy, branch-predictable loops. However, it does not translate to wins in other integer workloads; in fact, Intel wins the broader integer math test by 16%. The data indicates that AMD’s single victory is a workload-specific quirk rather than a general architectural advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 47,527, compared to the Intel Core i7-13700K’s 47,282. This is a 0.5% difference in AMD’s favor.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K wins 16 out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 wins only one.

Q: What is the largest performance delta in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark’s floating-point math test, where the Intel Core i7-13700K leads by 38.8% with a score of 114,867 versus AMD’s 70,291.

Q: Does the AMD processor have any advantage in multi-threaded workloads?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-13700K wins the multi-threaded PassMark test with a score of 45,887 versus AMD’s 34,549, a 24.7% advantage. Intel also wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by the same 24.7% margin.

Q: Which processor supports faster PCIe?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K supports PCIe Gen 5, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 supports PCIe Gen 4. Both offer 20 lanes from the CPU.

Q: Is the AMD processor’s single-thread performance competitive?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-13700K leads in PassMark’s single-thread test by 19.2% (4,333 vs. 3,499) and in Cinebench single-core tests by 24.7%.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-13700K is the superior processor for nearly all use cases. Its wins span single-threaded, multi-threaded, integer, floating-point, compression, encryption, and physics workloads. The margins are substantial, ranging from 16% to 38.8%. For anyone prioritizing raw compute performance, especially in productivity, content creation, or any CPU-bound task, the Intel chip is the clear choice. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945’s only victory is in a highly specialized prime-number-finding test, which is not representative of typical workloads. Its 12 cores and lower boost clock put it at a consistent disadvantage.

The only area where the AMD chip might be preferable is in a system requiring its specific AM4 platform or its 65 W TDP, which indicates lower power draw than Intel’s 125 W. However, the benchmark data does not show any performance benefit from this efficiency. The Intel processor also offers integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Given the benchmark results, the Intel Core i7-13700K is the recommended choice for any performance-sensitive build. The AMD processor’s single win is a statistical anomaly, not a reason for selection.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 | Intel Core i7-13700K |

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

| Cores | 12 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Raptor Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 74 mm² | 257 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

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

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $409 |