Intel Core i7-13700HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 185H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the Intel Core i7-13700HX wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H managing only a single victory. The margin is not narrow either; in several workloads the i7-13700HX leads by double-digit percentages.

Starting with the multi-core Cinebench results, the i7-13700HX posts a score of 20479 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 12.2% ahead of the Ultra 9 185H's 17984.5. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7-13700HX scores 11290 versus 10356, a delta of 8.3%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the gap widens to 14.5%, with the i7-13700HX at 3277 and the Ultra 9 at 2801.5.

Single-core performance also favors the i7-13700HX, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-13700HX scores 1875 against 1810.5 for the Ultra 9, a 3.4% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 8.2% lead for the i7-13700HX (1593 versus 1462), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 2.8% lead (272 versus 264.5).

The PassMark suite reinforces the trend. In integer math, the i7-13700HX scores 116617 versus 98302, a 15.7% advantage, while floating point math shows a 14.7% lead (85863 versus 73270). Extended instructions see the i7-13700HX at 24127 compared to 20272 for the Ultra 9, a 16% difference, the largest single gap in the entire comparison. Data compression favors the i7-13700HX by 13.6% (392725 versus 339489), and data encryption by 11.4% (22386 versus 19827).

Multithreaded performance in PassMark shows the i7-13700HX at 32637 versus 29376 for the Ultra 9, a 10% lead. Random string sorting goes to the i7-13700HX by 5.1% (41717 versus 39598). Even the near-identical results show the i7-13700HX ahead: find prime numbers scores 124 versus 123, a 0.8% edge.

The single exception belongs to the Ultra 9 185H in PassMark physics, where it scores 1956 against 1908 for the i7-13700HX, a 2.5% win. That is the only workload in the entire dataset where the Ultra 9 comes out on top.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits cleanly into two categories. The Intel Core i7-13700HX dominates rendering, encryption, compression, and general compute workloads. Every Cinebench test, every PassMark math test, the data encryption test, and the compression test all go to the i7-13700HX. For users whose workloads are built around multi-threaded processing, integer or floating point math, or data manipulation, the recorded numbers leave no ambiguity.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H wins exactly one recorded test: PassMark physics. The margin is modest at 2.5%, but it is a genuine result. Physics simulations in PassMark appear to respond to something in the Ultra 9's architecture that the i7-13700HX does not match. Outside of that specific workload, the Ultra 9 trails in every other measured category.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the i7-13700HX holds a consistent but small lead, between 2.8% and 3.4% depending on the test. This suggests that the i7-13700HX is the better choice for lightly threaded applications, though the difference is not dramatic.

The overall average benchmark score reflects the same conclusion. The Ultra 9 185H averages 35670 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i7-13700HX averages 34554. The percentile rankings are close, 85th for the Ultra 9 and 84th for the i7-13700HX, but the head-to-head results show the i7-13700HX winning the specific comparisons where both chips were measured on identical tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700HX wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H wins only one, PassMark physics.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The i7-13700HX scores 20479 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 12.2% ahead of the Ultra 9 185H's 17984.5.

Q: Is the Ultra 9 185H competitive in single-threaded workloads?

A: It is close but behind. The i7-13700HX leads by 3.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core, 8.2% in Cinebench R20 single-core, and 2.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two chips?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the i7-13700HX scores 24127 versus 20272 for the Ultra 9, a 16% difference.

Q: Does the Ultra 9 185H win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark physics with a score of 1956, compared to 1908 for the i7-13700HX, a 2.5% advantage.

Q: How do the overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ultra 9 185H averages 35670 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i7-13700HX averages 34554. The Ultra 9 sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and the i7-13700HX in the 84th.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has 16 cores and 22 threads, while the Intel Core i7-13700HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 9 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, whereas the i7-13700HX has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

The power envelope differs as well. The Ultra 9 is rated at 45 W TDP, while the i7-13700HX is rated at 55 W TDP. The socket is different: the Ultra 9 uses Intel BGA 2049, and the i7-13700HX uses Intel BGA 1964.

Cache configurations are not identical. The Ultra 9 has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-13700HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support differs. The Ultra 9 supports DDR5 with capacity depending on the motherboard, while the i7-13700HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 9 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i7-13700HX. The i7-13700HX supports ECC memory, while the Ultra 9 does not.

PCIe lanes differ: the Ultra 9 offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-13700HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 128 execution units, while the i7-13700HX uses UHD Graphics 770.

The i7-13700HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 9 does not. The die size is recorded only for the i7-13700HX at 257 mm². The launch MSRP of the Ultra 9 185H is $640, and the launch MSRP of the i7-13700HX is $485.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel architectures. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is built on Meteor Lake, while the Intel Core i7-13700HX is built on Raptor Lake-HX. The process nodes differ: the Ultra 9 uses a 7 nm process, and the i7-13700HX uses a 10 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The generation labels reflect the split. The Ultra 9 is part of Core Ultra Series 1, and the i7-13700HX is part of Core 13th Gen. The release dates differ by roughly a year: the i7-13700HX was released on 2023-01-03, and the Ultra 9 on 2023-12-13.

Thread count is one of the most consequential differences. The i7-13700HX has 24 threads versus 22 for the Ultra 9, which helps explain its multi-core advantages in the benchmark data. The L3 cache also favors the i7-13700HX at 30 MB shared, versus 24 MB shared for the Ultra 9.

The integrated graphics are a clear architectural divergence. The Ultra 9 includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 128 execution units, which is a more substantial GPU block than the UHD Graphics 770 found in the i7-13700HX. This may matter for tasks that offload to the iGPU, though the benchmark data does not include graphics tests.

ECC memory support is another architectural difference. The i7-13700HX supports ECC, while the Ultra 9 does not. This positions the i7-13700HX for workloads where memory error correction is a requirement.

The PCIe configuration also differs significantly. The i7-13700HX provides 20 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, compared to 8 for the Ultra 9. This gives the i7-13700HX more headroom for high-bandwidth peripherals.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-13700HX is the clear performance winner in the recorded data. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head tests, with leads ranging from 0.8% in find prime numbers to 16% in extended instructions. Multi-core rendering workloads show consistent double-digit advantages: 14.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 8.3% in R20, and 12.2% in R23. The single-core margins are smaller but still favor the i7-13700HX across all three Cinebench versions and PassMark single-thread tests.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is the right choice only for a narrow set of conditions. It wins PassMark physics by 2.5%, and its overall average benchmark score of 35670 is higher than the i7-13700HX's 34554, placing it in the 85th percentile versus 84th. But in every direct comparison where both processors were measured on the same test, the i7-13700HX comes out ahead, usually by a meaningful margin.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, rendering, encryption, compression, or math-heavy workloads, the data points squarely to the i7-13700HX. It also offers ECC memory support and an unlocked multiplier, features absent from the Ultra 9. The Ultra 9 185H counters with a newer architecture, a smaller process node, a more capable integrated GPU with 128 execution units, and a higher memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s. The physics benchmark win is real, but it is the only one.

Given the benchmark results, the i7-13700HX is the safer recommendation for performance-oriented mobile systems. The Ultra 9 185H should be considered only when its specific advantages, such as the Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics, lower TDP of 45 W versus 55 W, or the newer Meteor Lake platform, carry more weight than the measured compute deficits.