Intel Core i5-13490F vs Intel Core i9-13900H Comparison

The head-to-head comparison spans 23 benchmark tests, and the split is remarkably close: the i9-13900H wins 12, the i5-13490F wins 11. But the margins tell a more interesting story than the tally.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-13900H's biggest win comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 2666.5 against 2292, a 16.3% advantage. That is a substantial lead in an older rendering workload. The PassMark integer math test shows a similar pattern: 97159 versus 83723, a 16% edge. Floating point math also favors the mobile chip, 69611 versus 60273, a 15.5% gap. These are the kinds of workloads where the i9's extra cores and higher boost clock (5.40 GHz versus 4.80 GHz) appear to pay off.

The i5-13490F, however, strikes back hard in the newer Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 22747 versus 17471, a 23.2% lead. The single-core R23 result is even more lopsided: 3211 versus 1964.5, a 38.8% advantage. That is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. The R15 single-core test also goes to the i5, 323 versus 279, a 13.6% margin.

What explains this split? The i5-13490F is a desktop part with a 65W TDP, while the i9-13900H is a mobile part rated at 45W. The higher TDP and desktop socket are consistent with the i5's stronger sustained all-core performance in R23. The i9-13900H's 14 cores and 20 threads give it an advantage in some multithreaded tests, but the i5's 10 cores and 16 threads are enough to win the R23 multicore test by a wide margin.

The 3DMark results are mixed. The i5 wins the 16-thread test (7556 versus 7063, a 6.5% lead) and the 8-thread test (5731 versus 5395, a 5.9% lead). The i9 wins the 2-thread test (2002 versus 1959, a 2.2% lead), the 4-thread test (3591 versus 3552, a 1.1% lead), the max-thread test (7670 versus 7550, a 1.6% lead), and the single-thread test (1078 versus 1002, a 7.6% lead). The i9 dominates at low thread counts and at the absolute maximum thread count, while the i5 takes the middle ground.

PassMark tests show a similar pattern. The i9 wins data encryption (18974 versus 17902, a 6% lead), multithread (27673 versus 26569, a 4.2% lead), random string sorting (35637 versus 34042, a 4.7% lead), floating point math, and integer math. The i5 wins data compression (328397 versus 326425, a 0.6% lead), extended instructions (20837 versus 19330, a 7.2% lead), find prime numbers (114 versus 104, an 8.8% lead), physics (1915 versus 1745, an 8.9% lead), and single-thread (3828 versus 3754, a 1.9% lead).

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this closeness: the i9-13900H averages 28886, while the i5-13490F averages 28185. The i9 sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, the i5 at the 80th. The i9's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12600H at 28882 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT at 28940 (-0.2% delta). The i5-13490F's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 at 28128 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i5-14500T at 28065 (0.4% delta).

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture and manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The similarities end there in several important ways.

The i9-13900H uses the Raptor Lake-H codename, while the i5-13490F uses Raptor Lake-S. The H suffix indicates a high-performance mobile design, and the S suffix indicates a desktop design. This is reflected in their sockets: the i9 uses Intel BGA 1744, a ball-grid array that is soldered to the motherboard, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1700, a standard desktop socket.

Core counts differ significantly. The i9 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i5 has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i9's base clock is 2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz on the i5, and the boost clock is 5.40 GHz versus 4.80 GHz.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core and 24 MB of shared L3. The L2 cache, however, is 2 MB per core on the i9 and 1.25 MB per core on the i5.

The TDP ratings tell the power story: the i9 is rated at 45W, the i5 at 65W. This is counterintuitive at first glance, since the i9 has more cores and a higher boost clock. But the i9 is a mobile part designed for laptops, where power and thermal limits are tighter. The i5 is a desktop part with more room to dissipate heat.

Memory support is identical: both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the i9 offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics situation is a major differentiator. The i9-13900H includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The i5-13490F has no integrated graphics at all, as recorded in the database. This means the i5 requires a discrete GPU for any display output, while the i9 can drive displays on its own.

The die sizes differ: the i9 measures 257 mm², the i5 measures 215 mm². Both are produced by Intel on the same 10 nm node. Release dates are close: the i9 launched on 2023-01-03, the i5 on 2023-02-09. Both are still in active production. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i9's part number is SRMJ4, the i5's is SRMC0.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-13490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i9-13900H boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the i5-13490F boosts to 4.80 GHz. The i9 also has a slightly higher base clock at 2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: Does the i5-13490F have integrated graphics?

A: No. The database records no integrated graphics for the i5-13490F. The i9-13900H includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The i9-13900H wins 12 of the 23 head-to-head tests, while the i5-13490F wins 11. The overall average benchmark scores are 28886 for the i9 and 28185 for the i5.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-13490F scores 3211 versus 1964.5 for the i9, a 38.8% lead. The i9's largest win is 16.3% in Cinebench R15 multicore.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The i5-13490F offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-13900H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

The Verdict

The data paints a picture of two processors that are closely matched overall but excel in different domains. The i9-13900H edges out the i5-13490F in the head-to-head tally, 12 wins to 11, and has a higher average benchmark score (28886 versus 28185) and a slightly higher percentile ranking (81st versus 80th).

The i9-13900H is the choice for workloads that benefit from more cores and threads, higher boost clocks, and integrated graphics. Its wins in Cinebench R15 multicore (16.3% ahead), PassMark integer math (16% ahead), and floating point math (15.5% ahead) suggest it handles compute-heavy tasks well. The 7.6% lead in 3DMark single-thread also indicates strong single-thread performance in that specific test.

The i5-13490F, however, is the clear winner in the newer Cinebench R23 tests, with a 23.2% multicore lead and a 38.8% single-core lead. It also wins the 3DMark 16-thread and 8-thread tests, plus several PassMark tests including physics, extended instructions, and data compression. Its 65W TDP and desktop socket suggest it is designed for sustained performance in a desktop chassis.

For a laptop user, the i9-13900H is the only option of the two, given its BGA 1744 socket and mobile market segment. For a desktop builder, the i5-13490F offers a compelling combination of strong single-core performance and competitive multithreaded results, with the caveat that a discrete GPU is required.

The launch MSRP of the i9-13900H is $617, while the i5-13490F has a launch MSRP of $235.

Specification Differences

| Specification | i9-13900H | i5-13490F |

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

| Cores | 14 | 10 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45W | 65W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-H | Raptor Lake-S |

| Die size | 257 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L2 cache | 2 MB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 24 MB shared | 24 MB shared |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2023-01-03 | 2023-02-09 |

| Part number | SRMJ4 | SRMC0 |

Where Each One Wins

The i9-13900H wins in:

• Cinebench R15 multicore (16.3% ahead)
• Cinebench R20 multicore (1.3% ahead) and single-core (1.3% ahead)
• 3DMark 2-thread, 4-thread, max-thread, and single-thread
• PassMark data encryption (6% ahead), floating point math (15.5% ahead), integer math (16% ahead), multithread (4.2% ahead), random string sorting (4.7% ahead)
• Overall average benchmark score (28886 versus 28185)
• Percentile ranking (81st versus 80th)

The i5-13490F wins in:

• Cinebench R15 single-core (13.6% ahead)
• Cinebench R23 multicore (23.2% ahead) and single-core (38.8% ahead)
• 3DMark 16-thread (6.5% ahead) and 8-thread (5.9% ahead)
• PassMark data compression (0.6% ahead), extended instructions (7.2% ahead), find prime numbers (8.8% ahead), physics (8.9% ahead), single-thread (1.9% ahead)
• PCIe lane count (16 versus 8)

The pattern is clear: the i9-13900H dominates in older Cinebench versions and in math-heavy PassMark tests, while the i5-13490F dominates in the newer Cinebench R23 tests and in several specialized PassMark workloads. The i9's higher core count and boost clock help in some multithreaded scenarios, but the i5's desktop power envelope gives it an edge in sustained all-core workloads like R23.

For users who prioritize the latest Cinebench R23 results, the i5-13490F is the stronger performer. For users who value a balance of single-thread and multithread performance across a wider range of tests, the i9-13900H has a slight edge. The i9 also offers integrated graphics, which the i5 lacks entirely. The choice ultimately depends on the platform: the i9-13900H is a mobile processor soldered to the motherboard, while the i5-13490F is a desktop processor installed in a standard socket.