Intel Core i7-13700TE vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall victory for the Intel Core i7-13700TE, which wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core i9-11980HK takes only 3 wins, but those wins are concentrated in specific workloads where its architecture retains an edge.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the i7-13700TE wins every single test, though by margins that are surprisingly narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-13700TE scores 1884 against 1876 for the i9-11980HK, a delta of just 0.4%. The R15 singlecore test shows the same 0.4% gap, with scores of 265 and 264. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the pattern: 7853 versus 7819, again a 0.4% difference. The R20 singlecore test gives the i7-13700TE a 0.5% lead, 1108 to 1103. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 18698 versus 18617, a 0.4% margin, and R23 singlecore delivers 2639 versus 2628, also 0.4%. These results indicate that in standard CPU rendering workloads, the two processors are nearly interchangeable, with the i7-13700TE holding a marginal but consistent advantage.

The PassMark suite tells a more varied story. The i9-11980HK wins PassMark data compression with a score of 266571 against 243565, a substantial 8.6% lead. It also wins PassMark extended instructions, scoring 17654 versus 13750, a commanding 22.1% advantage. The third and final win for the i9-11980HK comes in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 31709 against 27307, a 13.9% margin.

The i7-13700TE dominates the remaining PassMark tests. Its largest victory comes in floating point math, where it scores 66421 versus 46262, a massive 43.6% lead. Integer math shows a 24.4% advantage, 97911 to 78682. Physics tests give the i7-13700TE a 23% edge, 1368 to 1112. Data encryption favors the i7-13700TE by 8.6%, 15006 to 13813. Single-thread performance goes to the i7-13700TE by 4.9%, with scores of 3422 versus 3261. Multithread performance shows a 1.4% lead, 22754 to 22436. The find prime numbers test is nearly a tie, with the i7-13700TE winning by 1%, 101 to 100.

Looking at the overall averages, the i7-13700TE records an average benchmark score of 31028, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. The i9-11980HK averages 30422, sitting in the 81st percentile. The nearest rivals to the i7-13700TE include the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS at 31074 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31081 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core 9 273PTE at 31143 (0.4% ahead). The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS trails by 0.5%. For the i9-11980HK, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS at 30390 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U at 30364 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i5-13600H at 30548 (0.4% ahead).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multithreaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700TE wins the PassMark multithread test with 22754 points versus 22436 for the i9-11980HK, a 1.4% margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-13700TE also leads, scoring 18698 against 18617.

Q: Where does the i9-11980HK outperform the i7-13700TE?

A: The i9-11980HK wins three tests: PassMark data compression by 8.6% (266571 to 243565), PassMark extended instructions by 22.1% (17654 to 13750), and PassMark random string sorting by 13.9% (31709 to 27307).

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded tasks?

A: The i7-13700TE leads in all single-thread tests. PassMark single-thread shows 3422 versus 3261, a 4.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 singlecore gives the i7-13700TE 2639 points versus 2628, a 0.4% lead.

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

A: The biggest difference is in PassMark floating point math, where the i7-13700TE scores 66421 against 46262 for the i9-11980HK, a 43.6% advantage.

Q: Are the overall benchmark scores close?

A: Yes, the average benchmark scores are relatively close. The i7-13700TE averages 31028, and the i9-11980HK averages 30422. The percentile rankings are also similar, with the i7-13700TE at the 82nd percentile and the i9-11980HK at the 81st percentile.

Q: Which CPU has more processing cores?

A: The i7-13700TE has 16 cores and 24 threads. The i9-11980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-13700TE as the stronger overall processor. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average benchmark score (31028 versus 30422), and sits one percentile higher in the database rankings. Its wins are especially decisive in floating point math (43.6% ahead), integer math (24.4% ahead), and physics (23% ahead).

The i9-11980HK retains a clear advantage in three specific areas: data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting. These are meaningful wins for workloads that rely heavily on those operations, but they do not offset the overall pattern of results.

For users prioritizing general-purpose performance, multithreaded rendering, encryption, or math-heavy tasks, the i7-13700TE is the better choice based on the recorded data. For workloads that specifically involve data compression, extended instruction sets, or string sorting, the i9-11980HK offers measurable advantages.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The i7-13700TE uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the i9-11980HK uses Intel BGA 1787. The i7-13700TE has 16 cores and 24 threads; the i9-11980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the i7-13700TE runs at 1100 MHz, while the i9-11980HK runs at 2600 MHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the i7-13700TE reaching 4.80 GHz and the i9-11980HK reaching 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power differs, with the i7-13700TE rated at 35 watts and the i9-11980HK at 45 watts. The i7-13700TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i9-11980HK supports only DDR4. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the i9-11980HK at 51.2 GB/s. PCIe support differs as well: the i7-13700TE supports Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the i9-11980HK supports Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ, with the i7-13700TE featuring UHD Graphics 770 and the i9-11980HK featuring UHD Graphics 750. The i7-13700TE has a locked multiplier; the i9-11980HK has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-13700TE is marked as Active in production, while the i9-11980HK is End-of-life. The i9-11980HK has a launch MSRP of $583. The i7-13700TE was released on 2023-01-03, and the i9-11980HK was released on 2021-05-10.

Architecture Differences

The i7-13700TE is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-S, and belongs to the Core 13th Gen series. The i9-11980HK uses Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H, and belongs to the Core 11th Gen series. Both processors are fabricated on a 10 nm process node at Intel, but the die sizes differ: the i7-13700TE has a die size of 257 mm², while the i9-11980HK has a die size of 190 mm².

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 2 MB per core on the i7-13700TE, while the i9-11980HK has 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is 30 MB shared on the i7-13700TE, compared to 24 MB shared on the i9-11980HK.

The i7-13700TE is classified as a Desktop market segment processor, while the i9-11980HK is classified as Mobile. The i7-13700TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the i9-11980HK is limited to DDR4. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The i7-13700TE supports PCIe Gen 5, and the i9-11980HK supports PCIe Gen 4, both with 20 lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-13700TE wins in every Cinebench test, all six of them, by margins between 0.4% and 0.5%. This makes it the safer choice for rendering workloads as measured by the Cinebench suite. Beyond Cinebench, the i7-13700TE wins PassMark data encryption by 8.6%, floating point math by 43.6%, integer math by 24.4%, multithread by 1.4%, physics by 23%, find prime numbers by 1%, and single-thread by 4.9%. These results cover a broad range of computational tasks, making the i7-13700TE the more versatile processor for general use.

The i9-11980HK wins PassMark data compression by 8.6%, extended instructions by 22.1%, and random string sorting by 13.9%. These are specialized workloads. Data compression is common in archiving and file transfer scenarios. Extended instructions cover a variety of SIMD-style operations that some applications leverage heavily. Random string sorting is relevant to database and text-processing applications. For users whose primary workloads fall into these categories, the i9-11980HK offers a measurable advantage despite its lower core count and older architecture.

For all other measured tasks, the i7-13700TE is ahead, often by substantial margins. The 43.6% lead in floating point math is particularly notable, as is the 24.4% lead in integer math. The 23% advantage in physics tests suggests better performance in simulation workloads. The 8.6% lead in encryption is relevant for security-focused tasks. The 4.9% single-thread advantage helps in lightly threaded applications. The i7-13700TE also holds the edge in overall average score and percentile ranking, reinforcing its position as the stronger all-around choice in this comparison.