CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-13850HX vs Intel Core i9-13980HX
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-13850HX is a formidable mobile processor engineered for enthusiast-grade gaming laptops and mobile workstations, boasting a massive 20-core design.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Near workstation-class performance for heavy rendering.
Exceptional multi‑threaded performance for video encoding, rendering, and compilation, trading blows with 16‑core Zen 4 competitors while generally offering stronger gaming performance.
Gaming
Will not bottleneck any current mobile GPU.
Delivers very high FPS in CPU‑bound titles when paired with a fast GPU; often at or near the top of mobile charts in 13th‑gen comparisons, though gains over cheaper HX SKUs are modest in some games.
Virtualization
Easily handles multiple heavy VMs.
32 threads and high clocks make running multiple VMs comfortable; power and thermal headroom are usually the limiting factor, not CPU capability.
Efficiency
Very high power draw and heat output.
At full tilt, it draws as much power as some desktop CPUs and runs hot, yielding lower performance‑per‑watt than AMD’s Dragon Range and Apple’s M‑series in efficiency‑focused metrics.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- DLBoost accelerates AI tasks
- High core count great for local inference
- Ample PCIe lanes for AI accelerators
- CPU‑side AI workloads benefit from high core count and AVX2, but there is no dedicated NPU or deep‑learning accelerator.
- Suitable for small‑scale local inference and development; not comparable to specialized AI accelerators or newer NPUs.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Exceptional single-thread performance
- High cache size benefits gaming
- Requires top-tier cooling
- Very high single‑threaded performance thanks to 5.6 GHz P‑cores.
- Capable of driving high‑refresh‑rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p with modern GPUs.
- Performance uplift over i9‑13900HX is small in many titles; main gains are in peak clocks and lightly‑threaded scenarios.
- Actual FPS heavily dependent on laptop power limits and cooling; some designs throttle under sustained load.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Massive 20-core / 28-thread count
- Excellent 5.3 GHz boost clock
- 30MB L3 cache improves gaming and rendering
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5-5600 support
- Unlocked for overclocking
Cons
- Very high power consumption (157W turbo)
- Requires heavy cooling systems
- Expensive compared to lower-tier i7s
- Poor battery life
Pros
- 24 cores and 32 threads provide class‑leading multi‑threaded performance for a mobile CPU.
- 5.6 GHz max turbo enables very strong single‑threaded and gaming performance.
- Desktop‑derived silicon with unlocked multiplier appeals to enthusiasts and OEMs.
- Full DDR5‑5600 and PCIe 5.0 support keeps the platform competitive with contemporary high‑end laptops.
- Excellent for heavy multitasking, streaming, and workstation‑class workloads.
Cons
- High power draw (up to 157W turbo) requires robust cooling and limits battery life.
- Runs hot under sustained load; some laptops throttle or become loud.
- Efficiency lags AMD’s Ryzen 7045HX Dragon Range and Apple’s M‑series in performance‑per‑watt.
- Modest performance gains over the cheaper Core i9‑13900HX in many real‑world scenarios.
- Integrated UHD graphics are basic; you still need a discrete GPU for serious gaming or compute.
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-13850HX
- AMD Ryzen 9 7845HXRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HXRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-13900HXRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i9-12900HXRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 9 6980HXRival
Mobile
Slightly cheaper with very similar gaming performance.
Compare head-to-headBetter value if you don't need 20 cores.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 7745HXAlt
Great single-core gaming performance at a lower price.
Intel Core i9-13980HX
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HXRival
High-End Mobile (Dragon Range)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-13950HXRival
High-End Mobile (Raptor Lake-HX, vPro)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-13900HXRival
High-End Mobile (Raptor Lake-HX)
- AMD Ryzen 9 7845HXRival
High-End Mobile (Dragon Range)
- Intel Core i9-12900HXRival
High-End Mobile (Alder Lake-HX, previous gen)
Direct successor with slightly higher clocks and refined behavior; choose this if you’re buying a new 14th‑gen laptop and want a more recent platform.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HXAlt
Slightly cut‑down Dragon Range with 16 cores and lower power; a good compromise between performance and thermals in some designs.
Fewer cores but still strong gaming and creator performance; often better value and easier to cool in mid‑range laptops.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
An absolute powerhouse that blurs the line between desktop and mobile, offering i9-level core counts at a slightly lower price point.
Best for: High-end mobile workstations and enthusiast gaming laptops
Read the full reviewA flagship 13th‑gen mobile HX CPU that delivers outright performance leadership at the cost of high power draw and heat, making it ideal only for well‑cooled, desktop‑replacement laptops.
Best for: You’re buying a high‑end gaming or workstation laptop with strong cooling and plan to keep it plugged in most of the time, and you want the absolute best CPU performance available in the 13th‑gen lineup.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-13850HX or Intel Core i9-13980HX?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-13850HX comes out ahead with a score of 9.1/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i7-13850HX or Intel Core i9-13980HX?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-13850HX leads with a gaming performance score of 92/100 among Intel Core i7-13850HX and Intel Core i9-13980HX.
Do Intel Core i7-13850HX and Intel Core i9-13980HX use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i7-13850HX: Intel BGA 1964, Intel Core i9-13980HX: FCBGA1964), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i9-13980HX has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i7-13850HX (20 cores), Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-13850HX posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-13850HX (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.