Intel Core i7-13800H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a split personality between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i7-13800H and Intel Core Ultra 7 165H trade blows across different workloads, with the older Raptor Lake part winning 12 of 17 recorded comparisons while the newer Meteor Lake chip takes 5.

The most dramatic single result is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-13800H posts a score of 2591 against the Ultra 7's 1759. That is a 47.3% lead, the largest margin in the entire head-to-head set. The R23 multicore test tells a similar story but with a smaller gap: the i7-13800H scores 18358 versus 14551, a 26.2% advantage.

Yet the Ultra 7 165H returns fire decisively in the Cinebench R15 multicore test. There, the Ultra 7 scores 2641 against the i7's 1850, a 30% swing in the opposite direction. The R20 multicore result is also favorable to the Ultra 7: 9233 versus 7710, a 16.5% lead. The R20 single-core result matches that exact delta, with the Ultra 7 at 1303 and the i7 at 1088, again 16.5% ahead.

The PassMark suite paints a more consistent picture for the i7-13800H. In data compression, the i7 scores 299179 against 291161, a 2.8% edge. Data encryption goes 17726 to 17169, a 3.2% win for the i7. Extended instructions land at 18011 versus 17299, a 4.1% margin. Integer math shows 92589 against 89415, a 3.5% advantage. Floating point math is nearly a tie: 66579 versus 66273, just 0.5%. Multithreaded performance is 26545 versus 25933, a 2.4% gap. Physics tests show 1924 versus 1806, a 6.5% lead. Even single-thread PassMark favors the i7 narrowly: 3543 versus 3509, a 1% delta.

The Ultra 7 manages three other wins beyond the R15 and R20 results. Find prime numbers goes 118 versus 115, a 2.5% margin. Random string sorting is 33473 versus 33188, a 0.9% edge. The R15 single-core test is nearly a dead heat: 261 for the i7 versus 257 for the Ultra 7, a 1.6% win for the i7.

Overall average benchmark scores reinforce the i7's positioning. The i7-13800H carries an average benchmark score of 34988, while the Ultra 7 165H averages 34083. Both processors sit at the 84th percentile against all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall despite their workload-specific divergences.

The Verdict

For users prioritizing heavy multi-threaded workloads in Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i7-13800H is the clear choice. Its 26.2% lead in R23 multicore and 47.3% lead in R23 single-core make it the stronger option for that rendering engine. The i7 also wins the majority of PassMark security and math workloads, including integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, physics, and multithreaded tasks. Its overall average benchmark score is 905 points higher.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, however, dominates the Cinebench R15 and R20 metrics. The 30% lead in R15 multicore and the twin 16.5% leads in R20 multicore and single-core suggest the Ultra 7 handles those specific rendering tests with notably better efficiency. For random string sorting and prime number finding, the Ultra 7 takes narrow victories as well.

The data indicates a generational tradeoff. The i7-13800H has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for the Ultra 7, which may explain its strong single-core R23 result. The Ultra 7 has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, which likely contributes to its R15 and R20 wins. The Ultra 7 also carries a lower TDP of 28 watts versus 45 watts, so it achieves several wins while consuming less power per the specification sheet.

Buyers who need maximum Cinebench R23 performance or broad PassMark security and math throughput should select the i7-13800H. Users who run Cinebench R15 or R20, or who prioritize a lower thermal envelope in a mobile context, will find the Ultra 7 165H more suitable. The 84th percentile ranking for both confirms they are peer-level in overall CPU hierarchy, so the choice depends on which specific benchmarks matter most.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The i7-13800H uses Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-H, while the Ultra 7 165H uses Meteor Lake. The i7 is built on a 10 nm node, whereas the Ultra 7 uses a 7 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the smaller node on the Meteor Lake part is a notable manufacturing difference.

The core configurations differ substantially. The i7-13800H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 7 165H has 16 cores and 22 threads. Cache layouts are similar in capacity but not in structure: both have 24 MB of shared L3 cache, both have 2 MB per core L2, but L1 differs. The i7 carries 80 KB per core, the Ultra 7 carries 112 KB per core.

The integrated graphics are a major architectural split. The i7-13800H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Ultra 7 165H uses Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units. This gives the Ultra 7 a 32 EU advantage in the iGPU domain, though no direct graphics benchmarks are recorded in this dataset.

Both parts use the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Both support dual-channel memory, but the memory types differ. The i7-13800H supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 supports only DDR5 and specifies that it depends on the motherboard. The Ultra 7 also lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not recorded for the i7.

The sockets are different: the i7-13800H uses Intel BGA 1744, the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2049. Neither is socketed for end-user upgrades, as both are mobile BGA parts. The i7 has a die size of 257 mm², while the Ultra 7 does not have a recorded die size and lists no transistor count. The i7's part number is SRMJ2, the Ultra 7's is SRMZ3.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several direct differences between the two parts.

• Architecture: Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-H) for the i7, Meteor Lake for the Ultra 7
• Process node: 10 nm for the i7, 7 nm for the Ultra 7
• Cores: 14 for the i7, 16 for the Ultra 7
• Threads: 20 for the i7, 22 for the Ultra 7
• Base clock: 2.50 GHz for the i7, 3.80 GHz for the Ultra 7
• Boost clock: 5.20 GHz for the i7, 5.00 GHz for the Ultra 7
• TDP: 45 W for the i7, 28 W for the Ultra 7
• Socket: Intel BGA 1744 for the i7, Intel BGA 2049 for the Ultra 7
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core for the i7, 112 KB per core for the Ultra 7
• Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 for the i7, DDR5 (motherboard-dependent) for the Ultra 7
• Memory bandwidth: not recorded for the i7, 89.6 GB/s for the Ultra 7
• Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 96EU for the i7, Arc Xe-LPG 128EU for the Ultra 7
• Part number: SRMJ2 for the i7, SRMZ3 for the Ultra 7
• Die size: 257 mm² for the i7, not recorded for the Ultra 7
• Launch MSRP: $457 for the i7, $460 for the Ultra 7

The two share identical L3 cache capacity (24 MB shared), identical L2 cache (2 MB per core), dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, and the same PCIe Gen 5 configuration with 8 CPU lanes. Both are mobile, active production parts with locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13800H scores 2591 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 47.3% higher than the Ultra 7 165H's 1759.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R20 multicore test?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H scores 9233 compared to the i7-13800H's 7710, a 16.5% advantage for the Ultra 7.

Q: How do the two compare in the R15 multicore test?

A: The Ultra 7 165H scores 2641 versus the i7-13800H's 1850, giving the Ultra 7 a 30% lead in that benchmark.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ultra 7 165H has 16 cores and 22 threads, while the i7-13800H has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the power difference between the two?

A: The i7-13800H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Ultra 7 165H has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Which processor wins the majority of the recorded benchmarks?

A: The i7-13800H wins 12 out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Ultra 7 165H wins 5. However, both sit at the 84th percentile against all CPUs in the database.