Intel Core i7-13700HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-13700HX and Intel Core Ultra 7 165H are both 16-core mobile processors, but the benchmark data places them in different performance tiers. The i7-13700HX wins every single head-to-head comparison in the FACT PACK, with 17 wins and zero for the Ultra 7. The average benchmark scores reflect this gap: the i7-13700HX averages 34,554 points against the Ultra 7’s 34,083. Both sit at the 84th percentile of all CPUs, but the raw scores show a consistent margin favoring the older Raptor Lake part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory for the Intel Core i7-13700HX comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 20,479 against the Ultra 7’s 14,551. That is a 40.7% delta, the biggest gap in any test. The margin is nearly as large in PassMark extended instructions, where the i7-13700HX posts 24,127 versus 17,299, a 39.5% advantage. Data compression also heavily favors the i7-13700HX, which scores 392,725 compared to the Ultra 7’s 291,161, a 34.9% lead.

Memory-intensive workloads show a similar pattern. The i7-13700HX wins integer math 116,617 to 89,415, a 30.4% margin, and floating-point math 85,863 to 66,273, a 29.6% lead. Data encryption goes to the i7-13700HX at 22,386 versus 17,169, another 30.4% gap. The multi-threaded PassMark score tells the same story: 32,637 for the i7-13700HX versus 25,933 for the Ultra 7, a 25.9% difference. Random string sorting is 24.6% faster on the i7-13700HX, with scores of 41,717 and 33,473.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 22.3% lead for the i7-13700HX, scoring 11,290 against 9,233. The single-core version of that same test also goes to the i7-13700HX by 22.3%, with 1,593 versus 1,303. Cinebench R15 multi-core is 24.1% in favor of the i7-13700HX, at 3,277 versus 2,641.

Single-threaded performance is closer but still favors the i7-13700HX. The PassMark single-thread test shows 3,819 versus 3,509, an 8.8% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core is 6.6% faster on the i7-13700HX, scoring 1,875 versus 1,759. Cinebench R15 single-core is 5.8% ahead, at 272 versus 257. The narrowest wins are in PassMark physics, where the i7-13700HX leads 1,908 to 1,806, a 5.6% margin, and PassMark find prime numbers, which goes 124 to 118, a 5.1% edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different process nodes. The Intel Core i7-13700HX is built on Raptor Lake, using a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H uses Meteor Lake on a 7 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the die sizes differ notably: the i7-13700HX has a 257 mm² die, while the Ultra 7’s die size is not listed.

Core counts are identical at 16, but thread counts differ. The i7-13700HX supports 24 threads, while the Ultra 7 supports 22. Cache layouts also diverge. The i7-13700HX has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 30 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 has a larger L1 at 112 KB per core, the same 2 MB per core L2, but less shared L3 at 24 MB. The per-core L1 advantage does not translate into benchmark wins for the Ultra 7.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-13700HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 supports DDR5 only, with the specific configuration depending on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 7 lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is provided for the i7-13700HX. The i7-13700HX supports ECC memory; the Ultra 7 does not.

PCIe lanes are another split. The i7-13700HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 7 offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the i7-13700HX carries UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. The sockets are not interchangeable — the i7-13700HX uses Intel BGA 1964, and the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2049.

Power characteristics are markedly different. The i7-13700HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Ultra 7 is rated at 28 watts. Base clocks also reflect this: the i7-13700HX runs at 2.10 GHz base, while the Ultra 7 runs at 3.80 GHz base. Boost clocks are identical at 5.00 GHz. The i7-13700HX has an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra 7 does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-13700HX wins every benchmark in the FACT PACK, so the use-case split is about the degree of dominance rather than a different winner. For heavily multi-threaded workloads like video rendering, 3D modeling, or software compilation, the i7-13700HX is clearly stronger. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result, with a 40.7% lead, is the standout example. Data compression and encryption tasks also favor the i7-13700HX by roughly 30-35%, which matters for file archiving or database work.

The i7-13700HX also leads in single-threaded performance, though by a smaller margin. The 8.8% PassMark single-thread lead and 6.6% Cinebench R23 single-core lead mean the i7-13700HX is modestly better for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications. The gap in physics scores is narrow at 5.6%, but still favors the i7-13700HX.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H does not win any test, but its lower TDP of 28 watts versus 55 watts suggests a different design target. The data does not include power draw measurements, so any efficiency claim is purely qualitative. However, the Ultra 7’s higher base clock of 3.80 GHz against the i7-13700HX’s 2.10 GHz indicates it is tuned for a different operating point, likely favoring sustained low-power operation. The Ultra 7’s larger L1 cache and dedicated Arc Xe-LPG graphics may benefit specific workloads, but no benchmark in the pack covers those areas.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-13700HX is the faster processor in every measured test. If the priority is raw performance in CPU-bound tasks, the i7-13700HX is the pick. The 40.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the clearest signal; for rendering or batch processing, the i7-13700HX will finish substantially sooner. The 30.4% lead in integer math and 29.6% lead in floating-point math reinforce that conclusion for general compute workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a viable alternative only if the design constraints outside the benchmark data matter more. Its 28-watt TDP is roughly half the i7-13700HX’s 55-watt rating, and the data shows it is not far behind in single-threaded tasks — 5.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core and 6.6% in R23 single-core. But in multi-threaded work, the gap grows to 22-40%, which is too large to ignore for heavy workloads. The Ultra 7 also has a lower average benchmark score of 34,083 against the i7-13700HX’s 34,545, and its nearest rivals include the Core Ultra 5 338H and AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, placing it in a different competitive bracket.

Choose the i7-13700HX for maximum compute throughput, especially in multi-threaded applications. Choose the Ultra 7 165H only if the lower TDP is a hard requirement for a thin-and-light chassis, and accept the multi-core deficit. The benchmark data does not support any other conclusion.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700HX wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H wins zero.

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

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-13700HX scores 20,479 versus the Ultra 7’s 14,551, a 40.7% difference.

Q: How much faster is the i7-13700HX in single-threaded tests?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-13700HX leads by 6.6%, scoring 1,875 versus 1,759. In PassMark single-thread, the lead is 8.8%, at 3,819 versus 3,509.

Q: Do the two processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 16 cores. However, the i7-13700HX supports 24 threads, while the Ultra 7 supports 22 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-13700HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Ultra 7 has a TDP of 28 watts. The Ultra 7 is rated for less than half the power draw.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700HX supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H does not.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-13700HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 165H |

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

| Series | Core 13th Gen | Core Ultra Series 1 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Meteor Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Threads | 24 | 22 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 KB | 112 KB |

| L3 Cache (shared) | 30 MB | 24 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 only |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG 128EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $485 | $460 |

| Release Date | 2023-01-03 | 2023-12-13 |