Intel Core i7-12700F vs Intel Core i5-13600HX vs Intel Core i7-13700HX

Intel Core i7-12700F

The Intel Core i7-12700F is a high end CPU for desktops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was first announced in November 2021 and offers 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. The performance cores (P-cores) support HyperThreading, leading to 20 threads that can be processed at once. The performance cores can clock with up to 4.9 GHz (Turbo Boost Max 3.0, 2.1 base), the efficiency cores can clock with up to 3.6 GHz (1.6 GHz base). All cores can use 25 MB Smart Cache. The integrated memory controller supports up to 128 GB DDR5 with 4800 MT/s (dual channel).

The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficiency cores for the best performance.

For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost. Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC and AV1 decode in hardware.

The F-series desktop models don't offer an integrated graphics card.

The CPU is rated at 65 W base power and 180 Watt maximum Turbo power. It is manufactured in 10nm, called Intel 7, process at Intel.

Intel Core i5-13600HX

The Intel Core i5-13600HX 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 HyperThreading. The P-Cores clock between 2.6 GHz (base) up to 4.8 GHz (single core boost, all-core 4.5 GHz). The smaller E-Cores clock between 1.9 and 3.6 GHz. All cores can access the combined 24 MB L3 cache. The CPU supports vPro (Enterprise) management features.

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

While we have not tested a single system built around the 13600HX as of August 2023, we have plenty of performance data for the i7-13650HX, a chip with almost the same specs (six P-cores mated to eight E-cores, with the latter running at the same clock speeds as what the 13600HX has and the former running at up to 100 MHz faster which is a very small difference). Based on that, we expect the 13600HX to be just a few percentage points behind the i7-13700HX and the i9-12950HX, meaning it's 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 peak Turbo power consumption is not supposed to go over 157 W and its Intel-recommended Base power consumption is 55 W. Most laptop makers will probably go for a noticeably higher value to get better performance.

The i5-13600HX is built with Intel's 4th generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.

Intel Core i7-13700HX

The Intel Core i7-13700HX is a fast high-end mobile processor of the Raptor Lake series. Is was announced in early 2023 and is based on the desktop Core i7-13700K with combined 16 cores and 24 threads. Eight fast Raptor Cove performance cores (P-cores) with HyperThreading clocking between 2.1 - 5 GHz (4.5 GHz all core boost) and eight Gracemont efficiency cores without HyperThreading (1.5 - 3.7 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 13980HX, but only 4800 MHz for the i7).

Performance

The average 13700HX in our database is in the same league as the i7-13650HX, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned, and thus outguns the Ryzen 7 7745HX by a significant margin. This is a very fast chip, as of early 2023.

Thanks to its powerful cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 122 W, the Uniwill GM6PX7X is among the fastest laptops built around the 13700HX that we know of. It can be at least 10% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Power consumption

The chip's "minimum assured" power consumption sits at 45 W. Its Turbo power consumption is not supposed to exceed 157 W; its Base power consumption is supposed to be around 55 W. Most laptop makers will probably go for a value much higher than 55 W to get better performance.

This Raptor Lake family processor is built with Intel's 4th generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.