Intel Core i7-13800H vs Intel Core Ultra 9 185H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-13800H takes only 2 wins. Yet the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The Ultra 9 185H's most dominant victories come in Cinebench multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2801.5 against 1850 for the i7-13800H, a massive 51.4% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a 34.3% lead (10356 vs 7710), and the R20 single-core test follows with a 34.4% margin (1462 vs 1088). These are substantial, consistent leads that point to a fundamental throughput advantage in the Ultra 9's design.

However, the i7-13800H strikes back in Cinebench R23. It wins multi-core with 18358 versus 17984.5, a 2% edge, and dominates single-core with 2591 versus 1810.5, a 30.1% lead. The R23 single-core result is particularly striking, as it reverses the R20 single-core outcome entirely. This suggests the i7's architecture handles the R23 workload's specific demands much better, despite the Ultra 9 winning the older R20 test by a wide margin.

In PassMark workloads, the Ultra 9 185H wins every category. The largest gap appears in random string sorting, where it scores 39598 versus 33188, a 19.3% advantage. Data compression shows a 13.5% lead (339489 vs 299179), data encryption 11.9% (19827 vs 17726), and extended instructions 12.6% (20272 vs 18011). Floating point math comes in at 10% ahead (73270 vs 66579), and multithread performance at 10.7% (29376 vs 26545). The narrower wins include integer math at 6.2% (98302 vs 92589), find prime numbers at 7% (123 vs 115), and physics at just 1.7% (1956 vs 1924). Single-thread PassMark shows a modest 4.3% lead (3697 vs 3543).

The average benchmark scores place these chips nearly level. The Ultra 9 185H averages 35670, while the i7-13800H averages 34988, a difference of roughly 2%. The Ultra 9 sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with the i7-13800H close behind at the 84th percentile. Notably, the Ultra 9's nearest rivals in the database all cluster within 0.7% of its average score, including the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X at 35909 (-0.7%) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 at 35719 (-0.1%). The i7-13800H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900HX at 35003 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-14500HX at 35094 (-0.3%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-13800H wins only 2, both in Cinebench R23.

Q: How large is the Ultra 9 185H's biggest multi-core advantage?

A: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 9 scores 2801.5 versus 1850 for the i7-13800H, a 51.4% lead. This is the largest margin recorded in any test between the two.

Q: Where does the i7-13800H outperform the Ultra 9 185H?

A: The i7-13800H wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 2% (18358 vs 17984.5) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 30.1% (2591 vs 1810.5). The single-core margin is the second-largest delta in the entire comparison.

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

A: The Ultra 9 185H averages 35670, while the i7-13800H averages 34988. The Ultra 9 ranks at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and the i7-13800H ranks at the 84th percentile.

Q: Are there any tests where the two are nearly tied?

A: Yes, several. In PassMark physics, the Ultra 9 leads by just 1.7% (1956 vs 1924). Cinebench R15 single-core shows only a 1.3% margin (264.5 vs 261). PassMark find prime numbers is also close at 7% (123 vs 115).

Q: Does the i7-13800H have any advantage in the PassMark suite?

A: No. The Ultra 9 185H wins all 11 PassMark tests recorded in the head-to-head data, with margins ranging from 1.7% in physics to 19.3% in random string sorting.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is the stronger all-round performer, winning 15 of 17 tests and showing particular strength in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, plus every PassMark category. Its 51.4% lead in R15 multi-core and 34.3% lead in R20 multi-core indicate a substantial advantage for heavily threaded productivity workloads that rely on those render paths.

The Intel Core i7-13800H, however, is the better choice for Cinebench R23 users. Its 30.1% single-core lead is decisive, and its 2% multi-core edge, while smaller, is still a real win. Anyone whose primary benchmark is R23 should look at the i7-13800H. The near-identical average scores (35670 vs 34988) and percentile rankings (85 vs 84) suggest that for general use, the two chips will feel comparable, with the Ultra 9 pulling ahead in most synthetic tests.

Buyers should also consider the architectural differences. The Ultra 9 185H uses a 7 nm process and features Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 128 execution units. The i7-13800H uses a 10 nm process with Iris Xe Graphics at 96 execution units. These differences may matter for integrated graphics workloads, though the benchmark data does not directly measure GPU performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core configuration. The Ultra 9 185H offers 16 cores and 22 threads, while the i7-13800H provides 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks differ notably: the Ultra 9 runs at 3.90 GHz, and the i7-13800H at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks are close, with the Ultra 9 at 5.10 GHz and the i7-13800H slightly higher at 5.20 GHz.

Socket types differ: the Ultra 9 uses Intel BGA 2049, while the i7-13800H uses Intel BGA 1744. The Ultra 9's L1 cache is 112 KB per core versus 80 KB per core for the i7-13800H. Both share 2 MB L2 per core and 24 MB L3, but the i7-13800H has a recorded die size of 257 mm², while the Ultra 9's die size is not listed.

Memory support differs: the Ultra 9 supports DDR5 with a stated memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i7-13800H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with no bandwidth figure recorded. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 128EU, the i7-13800H uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. The Ultra 9's launch MSRP is $640, and the i7-13800H's launch MSRP is $457.

Architecture Differences

The Ultra 9 185H is built on Meteor Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 1, and uses a 7 nm process node from Intel. The i7-13800H is built on Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-H specifically), part of the Core 13th Gen lineup, and uses a 10 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The core count difference (16 vs 14) and thread count difference (22 vs 20) stem from these architectural generations. The Ultra 9's per-core L1 cache is 112 KB, compared to 80 KB on the i7-13800H. Both share identical L2 (2 MB per core) and L3 (24 MB shared) capacities.

The integrated graphics also reflect the architectural gap. The Ultra 9's Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 128EU represents Intel's newer graphics design, while the i7-13800H's Iris Xe Graphics 96EU comes from the previous generation. Both processors use the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. Release dates differ, with the Ultra 9 launching on 2023-12-13 and the i7-13800H on 2023-01-03.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H dominates in Cinebench R15 and R20 across both single and multi-core tests. Its R15 multi-core win by 51.4% is the standout result, and the R20 multi-core (34.3%) and single-core (34.4%) margins reinforce its strength in those rendering workloads. Every PassMark category also goes to the Ultra 9, with the largest wins in random string sorting (19.3%), data compression (13.5%), and extended instructions (12.6%). For users running PassMark-based validation, compression tools, encryption tasks, or floating point mathematics, the Ultra 9 is clearly the stronger chip.

The Intel Core i7-13800H's wins are confined to Cinebench R23. Its single-core score of 2591 versus 1810.5 represents a 30.1% advantage, a massive reversal of the R20 single-core result. The R23 multi-core win (18358 vs 17984.5) is modest at 2%, but it is still a definitive victory. Any workflow that relies heavily on Cinebench R23 scoring, whether for validation, comparison, or workload matching, should favor the i7-13800H.

The overall picture is one of generational trade-offs. The Ultra 9 185H brings more cores, a newer process node, and a larger integrated graphics unit, which helps it win most tests. The i7-13800H, despite older architecture and fewer cores, manages a significant single-core win in R23 and a narrow multi-core win there as well. The average benchmark scores differ by only about 2%, so the practical difference in daily use may be small. Still, the recorded data shows the Ultra 9 185H as the more consistently performant processor across the full benchmark suite.