ZenBook 13 in review: Is it better to go with Ryzen or with Intel Core? There are good arguments for both.
We have just finished our review of the Asus ZenBook 13 with the Intel Core i7-1165G7. Since we recently reviewed the same ZenBook 13 with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, it's time for a verdict and a clear purchase decision - but unfortunately, there's no entirely clear choice.
Both ZenBook 13 variants are good subnotebooks. If you're expecting the only difference to be found in the processor, you're mistaken. Several other aspects depend on the SoC, such as heat development, noise, the internal graphics unit, and also the connectivity capabilities.
If we look at the pure CPU performance, however, things look bad for Intel. In our Cinebench R15 measurement, the Ryzen was almost twice as fast in the multithread test! The lead is clear, which is no wonder, since Intel only offers 4 cores, while AMD offers 8.
However, the situation is a bit different when it comes to the integrated graphics unit, as the Intel G7 GPU has slight advantages here. Therefore, users who occasionally want to play computer games on the ZenBook might favor Intel here.
Another advantage of Intel, and quite a big one, is the integration of Thunderbolt. The Intel version integrates two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while AMD processors don't support Thunderbolt at all. At the same time, the interface is becoming increasingly more popular and important; certain devices, such as an external graphics card case can't be connected to the AMD ZenBook in this way - a big minus point, despite the still not definitively resolved security concerns regarding the Thunderbolt interface.
On the other hand, the low noise levels speaks for AMD; the Intel ZenBook gets louder under load, but it stays cooler and is more energy-efficient due to the lower performance.
Consequently, it always depends on the user's requirements. And we shouldn't forget: This is a small subnotebook at 13 inches. Whether the raw CPU performance (AMD) is more important than interface compatibility (Intel), low noise levels (AMD), or energy efficiency (Intel) is up to each individual user to decide.
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