Intel Core i7-13700H vs Intel Core i9-10900K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for the Intel Core i9-10900K and Intel Core i7-13700H reveals a split personality. The i9-10900K, a desktop part from the 10th Gen Comet Lake family, wins 8 of the 23 recorded head-to-head tests. The i7-13700H, a mobile chip from the 13th Gen Raptor Lake-H series, takes 15. The victories are not scattered randomly; they cluster around specific workload types.

The i9-10900K demonstrates its strength in heavy multi-threaded rendering and data compression. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 18,895 against the i7-13700H's 15,474, a decisive 22.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is even more lopsided: 2,667 versus 1,856, a 43.7% advantage for the desktop chip. This suggests that the i9-10900K, despite its older architecture, maintains a significant edge in sustained all-core rendering tasks where its higher power envelope and desktop cooling allow it to stretch its legs.

The i9-10900K also dominates in 3DMark tests that use 8, 16, and maximum threads. In 3DMark 16-thread, it scores 8,257 versus 6,885, a 19.9% lead. The 3DMark 8-thread test shows a 15.9% lead (6,221 to 5,369), and the max-thread test is 19.1% ahead (8,938 vs 7,502). This pattern indicates that the i9-10900K's 10 cores and 20 threads are highly effective when all of them are engaged simultaneously.

Data compression also favors the older chip. PassMark data compression shows a 21.9% lead for the i9-10900K (375,336 vs 307,791). PassMark extended instruction performance (which evaluates AVX and other advanced instruction sets) is 34.5% higher on the i9-10900K (24,620 vs 18,303). Random string sorting, a test that stresses memory and cache access, is also a 38.1% win for the i9-10900K (46,389 vs 33,595).

The i7-13700H's counterattacks come in lighter-threaded and specialized workloads. Its biggest margin is in Pass. data encryption, where it scores 17,971 to the i9-10900K's 7,796. That is a 56.6% difference. This is a massive swing and indicates a fundamental advantage in the architecture, likely tied to the newer core design and AES-NI throughput.

The mobile chip also wins in synthetic floating-point math: PassMark floating point math shows 66,322 vs 53,123, a 19.9% lead. Integer math is closer, with the i7-13700H ahead by 8% (92,811 vs 85,404). PassMark multi-threaded overall puts the i7-13700H at 26,396, which is 15.0% better than the i9-10900K's 22,452. The physics test (which often uses older gaming physics engines) shows a 40.3% lead for the i7-13700H (1,725 vs 1,029).

Low-thread tests are also the i7-13700H's territory. In 3DMark single-thread, it leads by 16.2% (1,015 vs 851). 3DMark 2-thread shows a 13.3% lead (1,947 vs 1,688), and 3DMark 4-thread is 8.4% ahead (3,616 vs 3,313). Cinebench R15 single-core is essentially a tie, with 269 versus 268 points, a 0.4% lead for the i7-13700H. Pass. single-thread also goes to the i7-13700H, with a 13.4% margin (3,594 vs 3,113).

Finally, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-13700H wins by 14.0% (9,231 vs 7,935). This is slightly counterintuitive given the R23 result, but the data is clear. The i7-13700H also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 23.7% (2,496 vs 1,904).

FAQ

Q: Which chip wins more often in the head-to-head benchmark set?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700H wins most of the recorded benchmarks. The database shows 15 wins for the i7-13700H and only 8 wins for the i9-10900K.

Q: Is the i9-10900K faster in any multi-core tests?

A: Yes, but only in some. The i9-10900K wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (22.1% ahead) and 3DMark 16-thread (19.9% ahead). However, it loses Cinebench R20 multi-core (14.0% behind) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (23.7% behind) to the i7-13700H.

Q: What is the largest single performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark data encryption. The i7-13700H scores 17,971 versus the i9-10900K's 7,796, a 56.6% difference in favor of the i7-13700H.

Q: How do the overall average scores compare?

A: The average benchmark score for the i9-10900K is 27,872, and for the i7-13700H it is 27,355. The i9-10900K is slightly higher, but the difference is minimal. The i9-10900K's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, is only 0.1% behind its average (27,887 vs 27,872). The i7-13700H's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G, is also 0.1% behind it (27,382 vs 27,355).

Q: Which chip has better single-thread performance?

A: The data consistently shows the i7-13700H ahead. It wins 3DMark single-thread (16.2% lead), PassMark single-thread (13.4% lead), and Cinebench R20 single-core (14.0% lead). The lone exception is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i9-10900K is 43.7% ahead.

The Verdict

The recorded data does not support a single "best" chip. Instead, it shows two different performance profiles.

The Intel Core i9-10900K is the stronger choice for workloads that maximally utilize all cores and memory bandwidth. Its decisive wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 3DMark 16-thread, and PassMark extended instruction tests indicate it is the better tool for long-running, heavily threaded rendering or computational tasks where the highest possible core utilization matters. Its 43.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is also notable, though the i7-13700H wins most other single-thread tests.

The Intel Core i7-13700H is the better choice for a broader mix of tasks. It dominates in data encryption (56.6% lead) and physics (40.3% lead), suggesting it is more efficient for general-purpose encryption and simulation workloads. Its lead in PassMark multithread (15.0%) is also important for real-world multitasking. It also wins most short-burst single- and low-thread tests, which indicates a snappier response for everyday applications.

The i9-10900K is end-of-life and a desktop part. The i7-13700H is active and mobile. The choice should be based on the primary task: if the machine is dedicated to sustained all-core rendering or number-crunching, the i9-10900K wins. If the workload is varied, includes encryption, and benefits from higher single-thread speed, the i7-13700H is the more versatile performer.

Specification Differences

The direct specifications in the database show clear differences. The i9-10900K has 10 cores and 20 threads. The i7-13700H has 14 cores and 20 threads. This is the first notable difference: the i7-13700H has more cores but the same number of threads, indicating a hybrid core arrangement (efficient and performance cores) typical of newer mobile parts.

The base clock speed of the i9-10900K is 3.70 GHz, while the i7-13700H has a base clock of 2.40 GHz. The boost clock is higher on the i9-10900K: 5.30 GHz versus 5.00 GHz on the i7-13700H. The i9-10900K has a TDP of 125 watts, while the i7-13700H has a TDP of 45 watts. This is a major difference in power consumption and thermal requirements.

The socket is different. The i9-10900K uses an Intel Socket 1200, which is a desktop socket. The i7-13700H uses an Intel BGA 1744, which is a ball-grid array for mobile motherboards. The i9-10900K is a desktop processor, while the i7-13700H is a mobile processor.

The i9-10900K has an unlocked multiplier, indicating it is overclockable. The i7-13700H has a locked multiplier. The i9-10900K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i7-13700H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is larger on the i7-13700H: 24 MB shared versus 20 MB shared on the i9-10900K.

Memory support differs. The i9-10900K supports DDR4. The i7-13700H supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the i9-10900K at 46.9 GB/s. The PCIe support differs: the i9-10900K has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-13700H has Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different: the i9-10900K has UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-13700H has Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

The release dates are also different. The i9-10900K was released on 2020-04-29, while the i7-13700H was released on 2023-01-03. The i9-10900K is marked as end-of-life, while the i7-13700H is active. The i9-10900K has a launch MSRP of $547, and the i7-13700H has a launch MSRP of $502. The i9-10900K has a die size of 206 mm², while no die size is recorded for the i7-13700H.

Architecture Differences

The architecture is a fundamental difference. The i9-10900K uses the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process node. The i7-13700H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process node. Both are made by Intel, but the i7-13700H is a newer design on a smaller process.

The core count difference is important. The i9-10900K has 10 cores and 20 threads, all based on a single type of core (performance cores). The i7-13700H has 14 cores and 20 threads, which is a hybrid design. The 14 cores are composed of a mix of performance and efficient cores, which explains the same thread count despite the higher core count.

The cache hierarchy is different. The i9-10900K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, while the i7-13700H has 80 KB per core. The L2 cache is 256 KB per core on the i9-10900K, but 2 MB per core on the i7-13700H. This is a substantial difference in L2 cache size, which is likely a key factor in the i7-13700H's encryption and math advantages. The L3 cache is also larger on the i7-13700H at 24 MB shared vs 20 MB shared.

Memory support differs. The i9-10900K only supports DDR4. The i7-13700H supports both DDR4 and DDR5. This is a forward-looking feature for the i7-13700H, allowing systems to run with newer memory technology.

The integrated graphics are not just different, they are in a different class. The i9-10900K has UHD Graphics 630, which is a basic integrated GPU. The i7-13700H has Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, which is a more capable integrated GPU. The PCIe support also differs: the i9-10900K has Gen 3 (16 lanes), while the i7-13700H has Gen 5 (8 lanes). The Gen 5 lanes on the i7-13700H offer double the bandwidth per lane compared to Gen 4, but since there are only 8 lanes, the total bandwidth is comparable or better.

The i9-10900K has an unlocked multiplier, which is for overclocking. The i7-13700H has a locked multiplier, so overclocking is not possible. This is a desktop vs mobile distinction. The i9-10900K is also end-of-life, while the i7-13700H is an active product.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10900K is the clear winner for sustained, heavy multi-threaded workloads that are not memory-latency-sensitive. Specifically, it wins in:

• Long-running rendering tasks, as shown by its 22.1% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core.
• Applications that use many threads simultaneously, as shown by 3DMark 16-thread (19.9% lead) and max-thread (19.1% lead) tests.
• Data compression, where it is 21.9% ahead.
• Advanced instruction set workloads (PassMark extended instructions), where it is 34.5% ahead.
• Random string sorting, which is memory-intensive, where it is 38.1% ahead.
• Cinebench R23 single-core, where it wins by 43.7%.

The Intel Core i7-13700H is the winner for tasks that require high single-thread responsiveness, lighter multi-thread bursts, and specific encryption or physics workloads. Specifically it wins in:

• Data encryption, with a massive 56.6% lead.
• Physics simulation, 40.3% ahead.
• Floating-point math, 19.9% ahead.
• Integer math, 8.0% ahead.
• PassMark multithread, 15.0% ahead.
• Cinebench R15 multi-core (23.7% ahead) and R20 multi-core (14.0% ahead).
• All single-thread and low-thread tests except for Cinebench R23 single-core (3DMark single-thread, 2-thread, 4-thread, PassMark single-thread).

In summary, the i9-10900K is a specialized tool for high core-count, high-memory-bandwidth desktop compute. The i7-13700H is a more general-purpose mobile processor with a clear edge in encryption, physics, and single-thread speed, but it loses in the heaviest all-core rendering scenarios. The choice should be driven by the specific workload, not by the overall average score, which is nearly identical for both processors.