AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 vs Intel Core i9-13900HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 and Intel Core i9-13900HX occupy different corners of the processor market, with the former being a desktop part and the latter a mobile flagship. The data shows a clear split in workload suitability, with the Intel chip dominating the majority of benchmark comparisons, while the AMD chip secures notable victories in specific single-core and legacy tests. The recorded results indicate that neither processor is a universal winner, making the choice heavily dependent on the intended application.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13900HX wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, establishing itself as the stronger all-around performer in the database. Its victories span high-thread-count workloads, including Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, as well as every PassMark math and data processing test except for prime number finding. The Intel chip also takes the single-thread PassMark test, which is a critical metric for responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 wins 4 of the 17 comparisons, but its wins are concentrated in areas that matter for specific use cases. It takes the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Cinebench R23 single-core test, the Cinebench R15 single-core test, and the PassMark prime number test. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is particularly striking, as the AMD chip outperforms the Intel chip by 101.6%, a margin that suggests a fundamental advantage in that specific rendering workload.

For users prioritizing heavy multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, or physics simulations, the Intel Core i9-13900HX is the clear choice based on the benchmark data. For those focused on legacy single-core Cinebench performance, prime number calculations, or the specific workload represented by Cinebench R23, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 offers a compelling alternative.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has an average benchmark score of 47527, while the Intel Core i9-13900HX has an average score of 46098. The AMD chip also holds a 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to the Intel chip's 89th percentile.

Q: How does the AMD chip compare to the Intel chip in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 scores 29366 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 5.3% higher than the Intel Core i9-13900HX's score of 27900. This makes the AMD chip the winner in this specific test.

Q: What is the biggest single-core performance gap between the two processors?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the largest gap, with the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 scoring 4145 compared to the Intel Core i9-13900HX's 2056, a difference of 101.6% in favor of the AMD chip.

Q: Which processor wins the PassMark multi-thread test?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900HX wins the PassMark multi-thread test with a score of 43062, which is 19.8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945's score of 34549.

Q: Does the Intel chip have an integrated GPU?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-13900HX includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 does not have integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i9-13900HX has a TDP of 55 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite reveals a complex relationship between the two processors. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 4494.5 against the AMD chip's 2959, a 34.2% advantage. However, in Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip reverses the result with a score of 417 versus 296, a 40.9% lead. This pattern shifts in Cinebench R20, where the Intel chip wins both tests: 14836 versus 12333 in multi-core (16.9% ahead) and 2094 versus 1740 in single-core (also 16.9% ahead). The Cinebench R23 results break the pattern again, with the AMD chip winning multi-core by 5.3% (29366 versus 27900) and dominating single-core by 101.6% (4145 versus 2056).

The PassMark suite shows a more consistent Intel advantage. In floating point math, the Intel chip scores 110470 against the AMD chip's 70291, a 36.4% margin. Integer math follows with 156175 versus 129768, a 16.9% lead. Data compression goes to Intel at 531224 versus 416599, a 21.6% gap, and data encryption sees Intel ahead at 32130 versus 26313, an 18.1% advantage. Extended instructions favor Intel by 11.5% (30550 versus 27031), and random string sorting goes to Intel by 26.6% (59199 versus 43447). The PassMark multi-thread test shows Intel leading by 19.8% (43062 versus 34549), and the physics test has Intel ahead by 33% (2645 versus 1772). The PassMark single-thread test goes to Intel with 4081 versus 3499, a 14.3% margin.

The AMD chip's PassMark victory comes in the prime number test, where it scores 228 versus Intel's 190, a 20% advantage. This is a narrow but clear win in a test that measures a specific type of integer workload.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in core configuration. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i9-13900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. Clock speeds also diverge, with the AMD chip running at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel chip has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The TDP differs as well, with AMD at 65 watts and Intel at 55 watts.

The socket and platform are entirely different: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1964. This reflects the desktop versus mobile market segment split, with the AMD chip listed as a Desktop part and the Intel chip as a Mobile part. The memory support differs, with the AMD chip supporting DDR4 and the Intel chip supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, though the AMD chip lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s while the Intel chip has no bandwidth figure recorded. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ, with the AMD chip offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) and the Intel chip offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics listed. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $668; no MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip. The release dates also differ, with the AMD chip released in April 2022 and the Intel chip in January 2023.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It has 8,300 million transistors and a die size of 2x 74 mm². Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core i9-13900HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-HX, on a 10 nm process from Intel. Its die size is 257 mm², and no transistor count is recorded. Its cache includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

The process node difference is notable: the AMD chip uses a smaller 7 nm process, while the Intel chip uses a larger 10 nm process. Despite this, the Intel chip achieves higher boost clocks and wins more benchmarks overall. The L3 cache is significantly larger on the AMD chip (64 MB versus 36 MB), which may contribute to its strong Cinebench R23 single-core performance. The Intel chip's larger L2 cache per core (2 MB versus 512 KB) and larger L1 cache per core (80 KB versus 64 KB) are also recorded differences. The AMD chip uses a chiplet design with a 2x 74 mm² die configuration, while the Intel chip uses a monolithic 257 mm² die.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core i9-13900HX as the better choice for users who need maximum throughput across a broad range of tasks. It wins 13 of 17 comparisons, including the PassMark multi-thread, floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, and physics tests. Its 36.4% lead in floating point math and 33% lead in physics are particularly strong indicators for scientific computing and simulation workloads. The Intel chip also edges out the AMD chip in PassMark single-thread performance by 14.3%, which is relevant for everyday responsiveness.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is the better pick for users whose workloads align with its specific strengths. Its 101.6% victory in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and its 20% lead in prime number finding indicates an advantage in certain integer-heavy tasks. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 5.3%, meaning it holds its own in modern rendering workloads despite losing the older Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests. Its higher average benchmark score of 47527 and 90th percentile ranking also suggest a slightly stronger overall position in the database.

The decision ultimately depends on whether the user prioritizes the Intel chip's broad dominance across PassMark and older Cinebench tests or the AMD chip's targeted wins in newer Cinebench R23 and prime number calculations. The Intel chip offers the higher boost clock, unlocked multiplier, integrated graphics, and PCIe Gen 5 support, while the AMD chip offers a smaller process node, larger L3 cache, and lower power consumption at 65 watts TDP. For most multi-threaded productivity and simulation workloads, the data favors the Intel Core i9-13900HX. For single-core rendering and prime number workloads, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is the recorded winner.