Intel Core i7-7500U vs Intel Core i9-13980HX

Intel Core i7-7500U

The Intel Core i7-7500U is a dual-core processor of the Kaby Lake architecture. It offers two CPU cores clocked at 2.7 - 3.5 GHz and integrates HyperThreading to work with up to 4 threads at once. The architectural differences are rather small compared to the Skylake generation, therefore the performance per MHz is very similar. The SoC includes a dual channel DDR4 memory controller and Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics card (clocked at 300 - 1050 MHz). It is manufactured in an improved 14nm FinFET process (14nm+) at Intel. Compared to the old Skylake Core i7-6500U (2.5 - 3.1 GHz), the i7-7500U clock speed is up to 400 MHz higher.

Intel Core i9-13980HX

The Intel Core i9-13980HX is a fast high-end mobile processor of the Raptor Lake-HX series. Is was announced in early 2023 and 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) to 5.6 GHz (single core Turbo). The sixteen Gracemont cores are smaller and slower and optimized for efficiency. They clock between 1.6 GHz (base) and 4 GHz (Turbo).

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).

Performance

The average 13980HX 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.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 143 W, the Alienware m18 R1 is among the fastest systems built around the 13980HX 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.

The CPU is still produced on 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.