Raptor Lake-HX knocks Apple M2 crowd off PassMark single-thread perch with only Ryzen 9 7945HX threat remaining

We recently reported on the appearance of the Intel Core i9-13980HX and i9-13900HX on PassMark, where they demolished the competition in regard to their massive CPU Mark test suite scores. However, these mighty mobile Raptor Lake-HX processors have also made their mark on the more esoteric single-thread performance benchmark, a discipline that Intel had always enjoyed supremacy in until AMD hit back with its Zen architecture and Apple went all-in on its ARM-based SoCs. But even though Team Blue has been tinkering with hybrid architectures for its latest processor generations, it hasn’t forgotten about raw speed and power. So, the i9-13980HX and i9-13900HX now rule the single-thread roost for the time being.

The slightly slower Intel Core i9-13900HX managed a score of 4,389 and the i9-13980HX trumped that with a score of 4,495. This means that the Apple M2 pack consisting of the 10-core M2 Pro, 12-core M2 Max, 12-core M2 Pro, and 8-core M2 have had to relinquish their brief ownership of the top of the single-thread performance table. The nearest AMD competitor at the moment is the Dragon Range Zen 4-based Ryzen 9 7845HX, which is currently in seventh position with a score of 4,003. There are two definite takeaways to be had from this situation: Firstly, that it might be a win for Team Blue but it still comes at quite a considerable power cost (Raptor Lake-HX TDP Up: 157 W; Dragon Range TDP Up: 75 W; M2: CPU part limited to 25 W). Secondly, these are dazzling results for chips that are mostly classed as mobile processors.

It’s a big ask to expect the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX to make too much of a splash at the top of this particular table; it only has a slight boost clock advantage over the Ryzen 9 7845HX (5.4 GHz vs. 5.2 GHz). Of course, it seems a reasonably safe bet that the Zen 4 part will wreck the CPU Mark test suite chart with its 16 cores and 32 threads of processing power, all likely delivered with a much more efficient power envelope, although PassMark records the two Raptor Lake-HX parts and the Dragon Range challenger with typical TDPs of 55 W. Comparisons between Intel and AMD processors have become much less straightforward in recent years, although the old basic belief that “Intel is better at single-core benchmark workloads; AMD is better at multi-core benchmark workloads” appears to still hold some weight.

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Daniel R Deakin – Managing Editor News & Magazine – 2944 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2012

My interest in technology began after I was presented with an Atari 800XL home computer in the mid-1980s. I especially enjoy writing about technological advances, compelling rumors, and intriguing tech-related leaks. I have a degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies and count my family, reading, writing, and travel as the main passions of my life. I have been with Notebookcheck since 2012.