AMD Ryzen 9 5950X vs Intel Core i5-13500HX vs Intel Core i9-13900HX

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a high-end 16-core, hyperthreaded (SMT) Vermeer Series desktop processor. With 32 threads, the new flagship offers as many threads as the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X. Introduced on October 8, 2020, the Ryzen 9 5950X is the fastest 16-core processor and is specified at 105 watts TDP.

The Ryzen 9 5950X runs at 3.4 GHz to 4.9 GHz (single core). Wen all 16 cores are loaded, up to 4.5 GHz are still possible.

The internal structure of the processor has not changed fundamentally at first glance. The CCX structure has changed a bit compared to Zen 2, because now a CCX consists of up to 8 CPU cores. So each individual core can access the complete L3 cache (32 MByte). Furthermore the CCX modules are connected to each other via the same I/O die, which we already know from Zen2. According to AMD, the Infinity fabric should now reach clock rates of up to 2 Ghz, which in turn allows a RAM clock of 4,000 MHz without performance loss.

Performance

The average 5950X in our database matches the Core i9-12900K, the Core i9-12900HX and also the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX in multi-thread performance, making this Ryzen a great processor for pretty much any task imaginable as of mid 2022.

Power consumption

This Ryzen 9 series chip has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 105 W. It will, however, happily consume much more than that as long as the cooling solution is able to handle the heat - even before one starts considering the possibility of overclocking the thing.

The Ryzen 9 5950X is built with TSMC's 7 nm process for average, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.

Intel Core i5-13500HX

The Intel Core i5-13500HX is a fast mid-range mobile processor of the Raptor Lake series. Is was announced in early 2023 and integrates 6 fast Raptor Cove performance cores (P-cores) with HyperThreading and 8 Gracemont efficiency cores without Hyper-Threading. The P-Cores clock between 2.5 GHz (base) up to 4.7 GHz (single core boost, all-core 4.5 GHz). The smaller E-Cores clock between 1.8 and 3.5 GHz. All cores can access the combined 24 MB L3 cache.

Compared to Alder Lake, Raptor Lake offers improved P-Cores (Raptor Cove micro-architecture) with bigger Caches and more E-Cores (same Gracemont micro-architecture). Furthermore, the chip supports faster DDR5 memory (up to 5600 MHz for the 13980HX, but only 4800 MHz for the i5).

Performance

The average 13500HX in our database is in the same league as the Ryzen 7 7745HX, Core i7-13705H, Core i9-12900HK, Core i9-13900H, Core i9-13905H, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is a very, very fast CPU, as of mid 2023.

Your mileage may vary depending on how competent the cooling solution of your laptop is and how high the CPU power limits are.

Power consumption

The chip's "minimum assured" power consumption sits at 45 W. Its maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption is 157 W and the Base power consumption is supposed to be around 55 W. Most laptop makers will go for a value much higher than 55 W to get better performance.

The i5-13500HX is manufactured on Intel's 4th generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.

Intel Core i9-13900HX

The Intel Core i9-13900HX is a fast high-end mobile processor of the Raptor Lake series. Is was announced in early 2023 and looks like it is based on the desktop Core i9-13000K with combined 24 cores and 32 threads. Eight fast Raptor Cove performance cores (P-cores) with HyperThreading that clock between 2.2 GHz (base) and 5.4 GHz (single core boost, 4.9 GHz for all cores) and sixteen Gracemont efficiency cores without Hyper-Threading (1.6 - 3.9 GHz).

Compared to Alder Lake, Raptor Lake offers improved P-Cores (Raptor Cove micro-architecture) with bigger Caches and more E-Cores (same Gracemont micro-architecture). Furthermore, the chip supports faster DDR5 memory (up to 5600 MHz for the 13900HX).

Performance

The average 13900HX in our database is in the same league as the Core i9-13950HX and the Ryzen 9 7845HX, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is really impressive, to say the least.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 99 W, the Eluktronics Mech-17 GP2 is among the fastest laptops built around the 13900HX that we know of. It can be about 50% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

The CPU is still produced in a further improved 10nm FinFET process (Intel 7) that allows the higher clock speeds. The power consumption is specified at 55W base power up to 157 Watt max. Turbo power.