AMD Ryzen 7 7735H vs Intel Core i9-13900HK Comparison

The Intel Core i9-13900HK and AMD Ryzen 7 7735H are both mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet the benchmark data reveals a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel chip, built on Raptor Lake, dominates the AMD part, based on Zen 3+, in nearly every measured category, winning 14 of the 15 head-to-head tests. The only exception is in extended instruction workloads, where AMD takes a single victory. This analysis breaks down those results, explores the architectural reasons behind them, and outlines which workloads favor each processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive wins for the Intel Core i9-13900HK come in heavily threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 16025 against AMD's 10920, a massive 46.7% advantage. This gap is even more pronounced in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where Intel's 2398 score beats AMD's 1825 by 31.4%. The pattern continues in PassMark's physics test, where Intel's 1896 score is 79.5% higher than AMD's 1056, and in the prime number search, Intel's 110 score is 86.4% higher than AMD's 59. These results indicate that the i9-13900HK’s hybrid core configuration—with more cores and threads—provides a substantial edge when all execution resources are utilized.

Single-threaded performance also favors Intel, though by a smaller margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-13900HK scores 1843.5 versus 1536 for the Ryzen 7 7735H, a 20% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a similar but tighter gap, with Intel ahead by 6.9% (263 vs. 246). PassMark's single-thread test confirms this trend: Intel scores 3810, which is 15.9% higher than AMD's 3288. The data suggests that Intel's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz gives it a distinct advantage in lightly threaded tasks, despite AMD's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz.

In integer and floating-point math, the Intel processor maintains its lead. PassMark floating-point math shows Intel at 68020 versus 49260 for AMD, a 38.1% difference. Integer math is closer, with Intel scoring 94120 and AMD scoring 86788, an 8.4% advantage for Intel. The PassMark multi-thread score, which aggregates several workloads, gives Intel a 18.6% lead (28194 vs. 23765). Data compression also goes to Intel, with a score of 329454 versus 303502, a 8.6% difference. Random string sorting sees Intel ahead by 15.7%, with scores of 36662 and 31676, respectively.

The single AMD victory is in PassMark's extended instructions test. Here, the Ryzen 7 7735H scores 21214, which is 7.9% higher than Intel's 19534. This suggests that AMD's implementation of certain instruction set extensions is more efficient. Data encryption is nearly a tie: Intel scores 19198 and AMD scores 18990, a difference of just 1.1% in favor of Intel. Overall, the average benchmark score for the i9-13900HK is 37425, placing it 0.7% ahead of the Ryzen 7 7735H's average of 37161. Both processors sit at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that they are both high-performing parts, but the head-to-head data shows a consistent, often large, advantage for Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900HK is significantly faster. It leads by 46.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (16025 vs. 10920) and by 31.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2398 vs. 1825).

Q: How does the Intel chip perform in single-threaded tests?

A: Intel is also ahead in single-threaded tasks. It scores 1843.5 versus 1536 in Cinebench R23 single-core (a 20% lead) and 3810 versus 3288 in PassMark single-thread (a 15.9% lead).

Q: Is there any test where the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H wins?

A: Yes, the AMD processor wins in PassMark's extended instructions test, scoring 21214 compared to Intel's 19534, a 7.9% advantage.

Q: What is the overall average benchmark score difference?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900HK has an average benchmark score of 37425, which is 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H's average score of 37161.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-13900HK and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H are in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How close are the scores in data encryption?

A: The scores are nearly identical. Intel scores 19198 and AMD scores 18990, giving Intel a 1.1% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i9-13900HK uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-H codename, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node. This is a hybrid architecture, a key differentiator, though the fact pack does not detail the core types. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H is based on the Zen 3+ architecture, with the codename Rembrandt-R, and is manufactured by TSMC on a 6 nm process node.

The core counts differ substantially. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. This difference in core and thread count is a primary reason for the Intel chip's dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks. Cache hierarchies also vary. The Intel processor has a larger L3 cache at 24 MB shared, compared to the AMD's 16 MB shared. Per-core L2 cache is also different: Intel has 2 MB per core, while AMD has 512 KB per core. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core for Intel and 64 KB per core for AMD.

Another key difference is memory support. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip only supports DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the fact pack lists a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s for the AMD chip, while no figure is provided for Intel. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while AMD uses Radeon 680M. Finally, the process node and foundry are distinct, with Intel using its own 10 nm process and AMD using TSMC's 6 nm process. The AMD chip's die size is 208 mm², while the Intel chip's die size is 257 mm².

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several direct contrasts between the two processors.

• Cores: 14 (Intel) vs. 8 (AMD)
• Threads: 20 (Intel) vs. 16 (AMD)
• Base Clock: 2.60 GHz (Intel) vs. 3.20 GHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 5.40 GHz (Intel) vs. 4.75 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 45 W (Intel) vs. 35 W (AMD)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1744 vs. AMD Socket FP7
• Process Node: 10 nm (Intel) vs. 6 nm (AMD)
• Foundry: Intel vs. TSMC
• L2 Cache: 2 MB (per core) (Intel) vs. 512 KB (per core) (AMD)
• L3 Cache: 24 MB shared (Intel) vs. 16 MB shared (AMD)
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR5 (Intel) vs. DDR5 only (AMD)
• PCIe: Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) (Intel) vs. Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) (AMD)
• ECC Memory: No (Intel) vs. Yes (AMD)

The Intel chip has a higher core count, higher boost clock, and larger caches, while the AMD chip has a higher base clock, lower TDP, and supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i9-13900HK is the superior processor for nearly all performance-intensive tasks. Its wins in multi-core (Cinebench R23, 46.7% ahead), single-core (Cinebench R23, 20% ahead), and floating-point math (38.1% ahead) are decisive. The data shows that for users prioritizing raw computational speed—whether in rendering, physics simulation, or general number crunching—the i9-13900HK is the clear choice. Its higher boost clock and more numerous cores translate directly into higher scores across the board.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735H, while competitive in some areas, falls behind in most categories. Its single win in extended instructions suggests a specific efficiency in that niche workload. Its lower TDP of 35 W, compared to Intel's 45 W, could be a factor in power-constrained designs, but the fact pack does not provide battery life or thermal data to confirm this. The AMD chip’s average benchmark score is only 0.7% lower than Intel's, which is within the margin of error for its nearest rivals, but the head-to-head tests show a wider chasm. For a user who needs absolute performance, the Intel part is the winner.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i9-13900HK: This processor wins in 14 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks. It is the better choice for multi-threaded workloads like video rendering, 3D modeling, and software compilation, as evidenced by its 46.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also excels in single-threaded tasks, such as office productivity and web browsing, given its 20% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core. Its strengths in floating-point and integer math make it well-suited for scientific computing and data analysis. The 86.4% lead in the prime number search and 79.5% lead in physics further solidify its position for heavily threaded, calculation-heavy applications.

AMD Ryzen 7 7735H: The AMD chip's only benchmark win is in PassMark's extended instructions, where it is 7.9% faster. This suggests a potential advantage in workloads that heavily utilize specific instruction sets, such as certain cryptography or media encoding tasks. Beyond that, the data shows it is consistently behind Intel. Its lower TDP and ECC memory support are listed in the specifications, but without performance data on those features, they cannot be considered wins in a benchmark comparison. For a user seeking a processor for a niche workload that relies on extended instruction efficiency, the Ryzen 7 7735H has a specific, albeit narrow, claim. For everything else, the Intel Core i9-13900HK is the clear winner.