Intel Core i5-13500TE vs Intel Core i9-9820X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9820X and Intel Core i5-13500TE are separated by five years of silicon evolution, yet the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly narrow performance gap. Across all six Cinebench comparisons, the older i9-9820X wins every single test, but by margins of only 0.8% to 1.0%. This is not a generational rout; it is a statistical dead heat where the i9-9820X's 10-core, 20-thread Skylake-X design edges out the 14-core, 20-thread Raptor Lake-S part. The average benchmark scores reinforce the closeness: the i9-9820X posts 5049 against the i5-13500TE's 5002, a difference of less than 1%. The real story is not who wins, but how a high-end 2018 desktop processor manages to hold off a low-power 2023 chip that draws less than a quarter of the power.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-9820X wins in every benchmark category recorded, but the margins are so thin that the practical advantage is negligible. In multi-threaded workloads, the i9-9820X leads by 0.9% in Cinebench R15 (1759 vs 1743), 1% in R20 (7332 vs 7263), and 1% in R23 (17459 vs 17294). These are the strongest wins for the i9-9820X, suggesting its 20 threads and larger 16.5 MB shared L3 cache provide a slight edge in sustained rendering tasks. Single-core results follow the same pattern: the i9-9820X wins R15 by 0.8% (248 vs 246), R20 by 0.9% (1034 vs 1025), and R23 by 0.9% (2464 vs 2441). Here, the i5-13500TE's higher 4.50 GHz boost clock is nearly enough to overcome the i9-9820X's older architecture, but it falls just short in every test.

The i5-13500TE does not win a single head-to-head comparison, yet its 59th percentile ranking among all CPUs is only one point below the i9-9820X's 60th percentile. This means the i5-13500TE delivers essentially identical overall performance while operating at a 35W TDP, compared to the i9-9820X's 165W TDP. For workloads that are short bursts of activity, the i5-13500TE's efficiency is the real victory. In sustained multi-core rendering, the i9-9820X's lead is real but under 2%, which most users would not perceive. The i5-13500TE also brings integrated graphics, a feature the i9-9820X lacks entirely, making it the more complete package for systems without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The i9-9820X uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i5-13500TE is built on Raptor Lake-S using a 10 nm node. The process shrink gives the i5-13500TE a massive efficiency advantage, reflected in its 35W TDP versus 165W for the i9-9820X. Core counts differ meaningfully: the i9-9820X has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i5-13500TE has 14 cores and 20 threads. The i5-13500TE achieves the same thread count with four extra physical cores, but each core is smaller and less powerful individually, as shown by its lower single-core scores.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i9-9820X uses 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16.5 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-13500TE has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-13500TE's larger L3 cache should help in data-heavy workloads, yet the i9-9820X still wins, indicating that memory bandwidth compensates. The i9-9820X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth; the i5-13500TE is limited to dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 with no bandwidth figure listed in the data. The i9-9820X also offers 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the i5-13500TE provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, trading quantity for newer, faster connectivity.

Socket compatibility separates the platforms entirely: the i9-9820X uses Intel Socket 2066, and the i5-13500TE uses Intel Socket 1700. The i9-9820X has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the i5-13500TE is locked. The i5-13500TE supports ECC memory, which the i9-9820X does not, and includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics. The i9-9820X has no integrated graphics at all. Production status also differs: the i9-9820X is end-of-life, while the i5-13500TE remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows the i9-9820X winning all six Cinebench tests, but the margins are consistently under 1.1%. In the multicore R15 test, the i9-9820X scores 1759 against 1743 for the i5-13500TE, a 0.9% lead. The R20 multicore test shows the widest gap: 7332 vs 7263, a 1% advantage for the i9-9820X. The R23 multicore test repeats the pattern with 17459 vs 17294, also a 1% delta. These results indicate that the i9-9820X's quad-channel memory and higher 165W power envelope allow it to sustain multi-core loads slightly better than the 35W i5-13500TE.

Single-core results are even tighter. The i9-9820X wins R15 single-core with 248 vs 246, a 0.8% margin. R20 single-core sees 1034 vs 1025, a 0.9% delta. R23 single-core rounds out with 2464 vs 2441, again 0.9%. The i5-13500TE's 4.50 GHz boost clock is higher than the i9-9820X's 4.20 GHz, yet the older chip's architecture still manages to eke out a win. This suggests that the i9-9820X's per-core efficiency, despite being from 2018, is marginally better than the i5-13500TE's hybrid design in these specific tests.

The average benchmark scores place the i9-9820X at 5049 and the i5-13500TE at 5002. The i9-9820X's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-12900TE with a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are statistically identical. The i5-13500TE's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G, also at 0 deltaPct. When comparing the two processors directly, the i9-9820X holds a 0.9% average advantage across all tests, which is within typical run-to-run variance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests, with leads of 0.9% in R15 (1759 vs 1743), 1% in R20 (7332 vs 7263), and 1% in R23 (17459 vs 17294).

Q: Does the i5-13500TE win any benchmark?

A: No. The i5-13500TE loses all six head-to-head comparisons, with the closest margin being 0.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core (246 vs 248 for the i9-9820X).

Q: How do their overall performance percentiles compare?

A: The i9-9820X ranks in the 60th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-13500TE ranks in the 59th percentile, a one-point difference.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i9-9820X has a 165W TDP, while the i5-13500TE has a 35W TDP. The i5-13500TE delivers nearly identical performance at roughly one-fifth the power draw.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: No. The i9-9820X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-13500TE supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5, with no bandwidth figure listed.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the i5-13500TE has integrated graphics, featuring UHD Graphics 770. The i9-9820X has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leads to an unambiguous conclusion: the Intel Core i9-9820X is marginally faster in every tested workload, but the Intel Core i5-13500TE is the more compelling product for most users. The i9-9820X wins all six Cinebench tests, but by margins of 0.8% to 1.0%, which are imperceptible in real-world use. The i9-9820X's 165W TDP, end-of-life status, and lack of integrated graphics make it a poor choice for new builds. Its quad-channel memory and 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are advantages, but they only matter for niche workflows requiring extreme memory bandwidth or many expansion cards.

The i5-13500TE, despite losing every benchmark, matches the i9-9820X within 1% while drawing 35W of power and offering ECC memory support, DDR5 compatibility, and UHD Graphics 770. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide the same thread count as the i9-9820X, but in a modern 10 nm package. For users building a low-power workstation or a compact desktop, the i5-13500TE is the data-backed choice. The i9-9820X only makes sense for someone with an existing Socket 2066 platform who needs a drop-in upgrade and values the extra memory channels and PCIe lanes more than efficiency. The data shows a tie in performance, but the i5-13500TE wins on platform longevity and feature completeness.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-9820X | Intel Core i5-13500TE |

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

| Cores | 10 | 14 |

| Threads | 20 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 1300.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-X | Raptor Lake-S |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 215 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16.5 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 44 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $889 | $235 |