Intel Core 5 220H vs Intel Core i5-13490F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a one-sided story: the Intel Core i5-13490F wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core 5 220H. Across 17 direct matchups, the desktop chip takes all of them, with the mobile part failing to secure a single victory. The margins, however, vary significantly depending on the workload, revealing where the Core 5 220H comes closest and where it falls furthest behind.

The largest gap appears in multi-threaded rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-13490F scores 22,747 against the Core 5 220H's 11,198, a massive 50.8% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison. The pattern continues in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5-13490F posts 2,292 versus 1,835 (19.9% ahead), and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with 9,553 against 7,812 (18.2% ahead). These results suggest the desktop chip's higher power envelope and thermal headroom translate directly into sustained multi-core performance.

Single-core results also favor the i5-13490F, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-13490F scores 3,211 against 1,853, a 42.3% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 323 versus 262 (18.9% ahead), and Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1,348 versus 1,102 (18.2% ahead). The PassMark single-thread test narrows the gap further: 3,828 versus 3,405, an 11.1% difference. This suggests that while the Core 5 220H has competitive per-core potential, the i5-13490F still executes single-threaded workloads with greater efficiency.

In synthetic PassMark workloads, the i5-13490F maintains a consistent lead. Data compression shows 328,397 versus 247,921 (24.5% ahead). Extended instructions see 20,837 versus 14,642 (29.7% ahead). Prime number finding shows 114 versus 82 (28.1% ahead). Floating point math is closer: 60,273 versus 51,671 (14.3% ahead). Integer math is the tightest PassMark result: 83,723 versus 73,555 (12.1% ahead). The multi-thread PassMark score lands at 26,569 versus 21,884 (17.6% ahead), while physics testing shows 1,915 versus 1,478 (22.8% ahead). Random string sorting completes at 34,042 versus 28,438 (16.5% ahead), and data encryption shows 17,902 versus 15,216 (15% ahead).

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this dominance: the i5-13490F averages 28,185, while the Core 5 220H averages 28,574. Interestingly, despite losing every head-to-head, the Core 5 220H actually has a higher average score across its full benchmark suite. This apparent contradiction arises because the two chips are benchmarked against different test sets; the database records a broader range of tests for the mobile part, some of which may be more favorable. Both CPUs sit at the 80th percentile among all recorded CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

Looking at nearest rivals in the database provides additional context. The Core 5 220H sits near the AMD EPYC 7203P (average score 28,583, delta 0%), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS (28,549, 0.1% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E-2436 (28,530, 0.2% ahead). It trails the Intel Core i5-12600 (28,646, 0.3% behind). The i5-13490F, meanwhile, is close to the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 (28,128, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i5-14500T (28,065, 0.4% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE (28,054, 0.5% ahead), while trailing the Intel Core i9-11950H (28,332, 0.5% behind).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: for anyone building a desktop system, the Intel Core i5-13490F is the stronger processor. It wins all 17 recorded comparisons, with leads ranging from 11.1% in PassMark single-thread to 50.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The desktop chip's consistent advantage across rendering, math, encryption, and compression workloads makes it the clear choice for CPU-intensive tasks.

The Intel Core 5 220H, however, serves a different purpose. It is a mobile processor, designed for laptops and compact systems. Its performance profile, while behind the i5-13490F in every measured test, still places it at the 80th percentile overall, meaning it outperforms most CPUs in the database. The gap is real but not disqualifying for its intended use case. The mobile chip's lower TDP of 45 watts, compared to 65 watts for the desktop part, suggests it can deliver substantial performance within a tighter thermal budget.

For a desktop user prioritizing raw compute, the i5-13490F is the obvious pick. For a laptop buyer who needs capable processing without desktop power requirements, the Core 5 220H remains a reasonable option, just one that concedes every benchmark to its desktop counterpart.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 22,747 versus 11,198, a 50.8% lead. Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core also favor the desktop chip by 19.9% and 18.2% respectively.

Q: How close is the single-thread performance?

A: The i5-13490F leads in every single-thread test, but the smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 3,828 versus 3,405, an 11.1% difference. Cinebench single-core tests show larger gaps: 42.3% in R23, 18.9% in R15, and 18.2% in R20.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same overall performance tier?

A: Yes, both sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 220H has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 28,574 compared to 28,185 for the i5-13490F, but this reflects different test sets rather than direct performance parity.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-13490F outperforms the Core 5 220H by 50.8%. The smallest gap is 11.1% in PassMark single-thread.

Q: Does the Core 5 220H win any benchmark?

A: No. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-13490F wins every test. The Core 5 220H records zero wins.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Core 5 220H is essentially tied with the AMD EPYC 7203P (delta 0%), while sitting 0.1% ahead of the Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS and 0.2% ahead of the Xeon E-2436. The i5-13490F is 0.2% ahead of the Ryzen AI 5 435, 0.4% ahead of the Core i5-14500T, and 0.5% ahead of the Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge in several key specifications. The Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-13490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ slightly: 2.70 GHz for the mobile chip versus 2.50 GHz for the desktop chip. Boost clocks are closer, with 4.90 GHz on the Core 5 220H and 4.80 GHz on the i5-13490F.

Thermal design power is a major difference: the Core 5 220H is rated at 45 watts, while the i5-13490F is rated at 65 watts. Sockets are entirely different, with the mobile part using Intel BGA 1744 and the desktop part using Intel Socket 1700. PCIe lane support also differs: the Core 5 220H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-13490F offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The Core 5 220H includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the i5-13490F has no integrated graphics. Memory support is identical (DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel), and both lack ECC memory support. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture and a 10 nm process node, but they belong to different subfamilies. The Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake-H codename and is listed under the Core 5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The i5-13490F uses the Raptor Lake-S codename under the Core i5 (Raptor Lake) generation.

Cache layouts differ notably. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 2 MB per core on the Core 5 220H versus 1.25 MB per core on the i5-13490F. The shared L3 cache is larger on the desktop chip: 24 MB versus 18 MB.

The i5-13490F has a recorded die size of 215 mm², while the Core 5 220H has no die size listed. The mobile part launched on 2024-12-17, while the desktop part launched earlier on 2023-02-09. The Core 5 220H has a launch MSRP of $342, and the i5-13490F has a launch MSRP of $235. Both parts remain in active production.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13490F wins in every measured category, but the size of its advantage varies by workload. The biggest wins are in multi-threaded rendering, where Cinebench R23 shows a 50.8% lead. This makes the desktop chip particularly well-suited for video rendering, 3D modeling, and other heavily threaded creative workloads. The 29.7% lead in extended instructions and 28.1% lead in prime number finding further solidify its position for scientific computing and complex instruction sets.

The i5-13490F also excels in data-intensive tasks. Its 24.5% lead in data compression and 15% lead in data encryption suggest strong performance for file archiving, database operations, and secure communications. The 22.8% lead in physics testing points to advantages in simulation and game physics calculations.

The Intel Core 5 220H, while losing all comparisons, shows its closest margins in integer math (12.1% behind), single-thread PassMark (11.1% behind), and floating point math (14.3% behind). These are areas where the mobile chip's higher base clock and per-core cache compensate somewhat for its lower power envelope. For laptop users running single-threaded productivity apps or moderately threaded workloads, the Core 5 220H would feel closer to the desktop chip than the multi-core rendering numbers suggest.

The mobile chip's integrated Iris Xe Graphics also gives it a functional advantage for systems without a discrete GPU, though the benchmark data does not measure graphics performance. The desktop chip, lacking integrated graphics, requires a separate GPU for any display output.

In summary, the i5-13490F is the clear winner for desktop compute, especially in multi-threaded and data-heavy workloads. The Core 5 220H is a capable mobile processor that, while behind in every test, offers competitive single-thread performance and a lower thermal footprint for portable systems.