Intel Core i7-13700HX vs Intel Core i7-13800H Comparison

Both the Intel Core i7-13800H and the Intel Core i7-13700HX are Raptor Lake mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, but the benchmark data reveals two very different performance profiles. The 13700HX is the clear multi-threaded workhorse, winning 15 of the 17 direct head-to-head comparisons, while the 13800HX counters with a significant single-core Cinebench victory and a marginal win in PassMark physics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic gap between these two chips appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the 13700HX scores 3277 against the 13800H's 1850. That is a 43.5% deficit for the 13800H, making it the largest single margin of victory in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. The pattern continues in Cinebench R20 multicore, with the 13700HX at 11290 versus 7710 — a 31.7% lead — and it repeats in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the 13700HX again wins by 31.7% with a score of 1593 against 1088.

The 13700HX's advantage is not limited to Cinebench. In PassMark data compression, it scores 392725 against 299179, a 23.8% edge, and in data encryption it leads 22386 to 17726 (20.8% ahead). Extended instructions show a 25.3% win for the 13700HX (24127 vs 18011), floating point math goes 85863 to 66579 (22.5%), and integer math lands at 116617 versus 92589 (20.6%). Random string sorting favors the 13700HX by 20.4% (41717 vs 33188), and the PassMark multithread score shows a 32637 to 26545 result, an 18.7% advantage.

The 13700HX also wins the single-threaded PassMark tests, posting 3819 against 3543 — a 7.2% improvement in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries. Even in find prime numbers, where the scores are close, the 13700HX takes it 124 to 115 (7.3% higher). The Cinebench R15 singlecore result is narrower, with the 13700HX winning 272 to 261, a 4% edge.

The 13800H does strike back, however. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, it scores 2591 versus the 13700HX's 1875 — a commanding 38.2% victory that is the largest win for either chip in any test. It also edges out the 13700HX in PassMark physics, 1924 to 1908, though the 0.8% margin is nearly negligible. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the 13700HX still wins, but by a narrower 10.4% margin (20479 vs 18358) compared to the older R15 and R20 tests.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-13700HX is the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, with an average benchmark score of 34554, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival in the database is the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H, which trails by 0.2%, and it also sits ahead of the Intel Core i5-13450HX by 0.6% and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X by 0.9%. The 13800H, meanwhile, has an average score of 34988 and also sits in the 84th percentile, but its nearest rivals tell a slightly different story: it trades blows with the Intel Core i9-12900HX (0% delta), edges the Intel Core 7 253PTE by 0.1%, and beats the Intel Xeon 6349P by 0.3%, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX is 0.3% ahead of it.

Given the 13700HX's dominance in multi-core Cinebench and nearly every PassMark workload, the verdict is straightforward for users who prioritize raw throughput. The 13700HX is the pick for rendering, compilation, data processing, and any task that scales with cores and threads. The 13800H, however, has one standout attribute: its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2591 is far ahead of the 13700HX's 1875. Anyone whose primary workload is lightly threaded and heavily dependent on that specific benchmark metric would find the 13800H compelling, but the overwhelming weight of evidence favors the 13700HX.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 10 nm process and share the Raptor Lake architecture, but they are distinct dies with different configurations. The 13700HX is the larger part, featuring 16 cores and 24 threads, while the 13800H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The core count difference is not the only differentiator; the 13700HX also carries more shared L3 cache at 30 MB, compared to the 13800H's 24 MB. Both chips have per-core L1 and L2 caches of 80 KB and 2 MB, respectively.

Clock speeds differ as well. The 13800H has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the 13700HX operates at a 2.10 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The 13700HX compensates with a higher TDP of 55 watts, versus 45 watts for the 13800H. The two chips also use different sockets: the 13800H uses Intel BGA 1744, while the 13700HX uses Intel BGA 1964.

Memory support is similar on paper — both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configurations — but the 13700HX adds ECC memory support, which the 13800H lacks. PCIe lanes are a significant divergence: the 13700HX provides 20 CPU-only Gen 5 lanes, while the 13800H offers just 8 Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the 13800H featuring Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the 13700HX uses the more modest UHD Graphics 770. The 13700HX has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, whereas the 13800H's multiplier is locked. Both chips were released on the same date and are still listed as active in production. The 13700HX has a launch MSRP of $485, while the 13800H is $457.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i7-13800H has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the 13700HX scores 3277 versus the 13800H's 1850, a 43.5% difference. The largest win for the 13800H is in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it leads by 38.2% (2591 vs 1875).

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but the 13700HX also supports ECC memory while the 13800H does not.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-13800H has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the 13700HX's 5.00 GHz boost clock. The 13800H also has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Q: Is the 13700HX overclockable?

A: Yes, the 13700HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the 13800H's multiplier is locked.

Q: How do the two compare in average benchmark score?

A: The 13800H has an average benchmark score of 34988, slightly ahead of the 13700HX's 34554. Both sit in the 84th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The 13700HX is the clear choice for heavily multi-threaded workloads. Its wins span every PassMark test category — data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithread, random string sorting, and find prime numbers — with margins ranging from 7.3% to 25.3%. It also dominates in Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore, where its 43.5% and 31.7% leads respectively show a substantial advantage in rendering and CPU-bound productivity tasks. The 13700HX's additional 2 cores, 4 threads, and 6 MB of L3 cache, combined with its higher 55W TDP, clearly translate into superior throughput. Its 20 Gen 5 PCIe lanes also make it the better fit for systems with high-bandwidth storage or discrete GPUs that need more lanes.

The 13800H has a much narrower set of strengths, but they are notable. Its Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 2591 is 38.2% ahead of the 13700HX's 1875, a massive outlier that suggests its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz can deliver exceptional performance in specific single-threaded scenarios. Its PassMark physics score of 1924 narrowly beats the 13700HX's 1908. For users running applications that mirror the Cinebench R23 singlecore workload, the 13800H could be the better option. Its lower 45W TDP also makes it the more power-efficient part on paper, which could matter in thinner laptops where thermal headroom is limited. The 13800H's Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units is also a more capable integrated GPU than the 13700HX's UHD Graphics 770 for light graphics tasks without a discrete GPU. In short, the 13700HX is the multi-core champion, while the 13800H wins narrowly on physics and decisively in one specific single-core benchmark.