GuidesComparisonsCore i9 13900HX Vs M2 Ultra: We Benchmarked Both

Core i9 13900HX Vs M2 Ultra: We Benchmarked Both

In this comparison, we'll dive into the difference in the specifications and performance between these two CPUs!

Expert Verified By

Intel Core i9-13900HX and Apple’s M2 Ultra were launched in early June 2023. They both offer a lot of strong performance and are two of the most powerful mobile processors in the market today. Let’s examine the difference between these two laptop CPUs.

Key Takeaways

  • Both processors come equipped with 24 cores, but the Core i9-13900HX has 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, whereas the M2 Ultra has 16 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores.
  • The M2 Ultra supports LPDDR5-6400 memory, which enables it to access memory faster to improve performance in some applications, whereas the l Core i9-13900HX supports DDR5-5600 memory.
  • In 3 out of 4 applications that we tested with these processors, It’s evident that the Core i9 13900HX achieves higher scores than the M2 Ultra.
  • M2 Ultra dominates in graphics as it comes enabled with a 32-core GPU in contrast to Core i9 13900HX, which has an Iris Xe Graphics G7 integrated GPU.
Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Ali is our comparison expert who has been comparing graphics cards, and processors.
  • 500+ components tested and compared by our team of comparison experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 1000+ hours spent testing different components for our comparisons.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we compare PC hardware).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every comparison undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each comparison is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Core i9 13900HX Vs M2 Ultra: Comparison Table

Processor Core i9 13900HX M2 Ultra
Architecture Core i9 ARM architecture
Codename Raptor Lake-HX Rhodes 2C
Processing Node Intel 10 nm Apple 5 nm
Cores 24 24
Threads 32 24
Hybrid Cores P-Cores: 8
E-Cores: 16
P-Cores: 16
E-Cores: 8
Frequency 2.2 GHz 2.4 GHz
Turbo Clock 5.4 GHz 3.5 GHz
TDP 55-157 W 60 W
Max. Operating Temperature 100°C 100°C
L1 Cache 80K (per core) 2MB
L2 Cache 2MB (per core) 20MB
L3 Cache 36MB (shared) 8MB
Integrated Graphics Jan 4th, 2023 June 5th, 2023
Processor UHD Graphics 770 Apple M2 Max GPU (76-core)

Architectural Differences

  • Processing Node: M2 Ultra is built on the more modern generation of a 5nm process, while the Core i9-13900HX is assembled on Intel’s 13th Gen Raptor Lake architecture with a 10nm processing node.
  • Frequency: The Core i9-13900HX has a higher clock speed of 5.4 GHz compared to M2 Ultra’s 3.6 GHz.
  • Cores And Threads: Both processors consist of 24 cores, and the M2 Ultra also has 24 threads, but the Core i9-13900HX establishes its dominance due to 32 threads unleashing its multitasking potential.
  • TDP: The M2 Ultra has a fixed TDP of 60W whereas Core i9 13900HQ adjusts its TDP from 55-157 W depending on the workload.
  • L2 & L3 Cache: M2 Ultra has 64 MB of L2 cache and 128MB of L3 cache, which gives it an edge over Core i9 13900HQ, which has 30 MB of L2 cache and 3 MB of L3 cache.

Also Check: Core i9 13900HX Vs Core i9 13900H

M2 Ultra Vs Core i9 13900HX: Benchmarks

The Core i9-13900HQ and M2 Ultra stand out as the latest and most powerful mobile processors in today’s market, yielding significant capabilities with different strengths and weaknesses to make one better suited for a user. We will be discussing the differences between these two Laptop CPUs.

Geekbench 5 Single-Core Scores

Geekbench 5 Single Core Score
Single Core Score On Geekbench 5 (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • Both the M2 Ultra and Intel Core i9-13900HX scored almost the same, displaying a score of 1,970 points and 2,019 points consecutively, indicating that the Core i9 13900HX had a slight edge of over 2%.

Geekbench 5 Multi-Core Scores

Geekbench 5 Multi Core Score
Multi-Core Score On Geekbench 5 (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • In Geekbench 5 Multi-Core test, the M2 Ultra dominated with a gain of over 36% scoring 27,992 points in comparison with Intel’s Core i9-13900HX score of 20,588 points.

Cinebench R23 Single-Core Scores

cinebench single core
Single Core Score On Cinebench R23 (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • Intel Core i9 13900HX surpasses the M2 Ultra with an impressive score of 2,071 points in opposition to the M2 Ultra’s 1,679 score showcasing a difference of over 23%.

Cinebench R23 Multi-Core Scores

cinebench Multi Core Score
Multi-Core Score On Cinebench R23  (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • In the Cinebench R23 Multi-Core test, the i9-13900HX and the M2 Ultra scored relatively the same by showcasing 28,675 and 26,992, respectively. Where the M2 ultra falls behind slightly by over 6%.

Related: Apple M2 Ultra Vs Apple M2 Max

Which One Should You Go For?

The Intel Core i9-13900HX and M2 Ultra possess significant power. However, they both exhibit different characteristics, highlighting unique strengths and weaknesses.

Intel Core i9-13900HX has a higher clock speed and is an unlocked multiplier, which means it can be overclocked to achieve a higher performance in some tasks, such as gaming and video editing, giving it an advantage over the M2 ultra.

Pros And Cons

CPU Pros Cons
Core i9-13900HX
  • Higher turbo clock.
  • More heat efficient.
  • Less powerful GPU.
  • More expensive.
M2 Ultra
  • More powerful integrated GPU.
  • Supports LPDDR5-6400 memory.
  • Lower Clock speed.
  • Fewer number of threads.

On the other hand, the M2 Ultra is built on a more modern manufacturing process of 5nm versus 10nm, indicating that it has a more efficient architecture and a lower TDP than the Core i9-13900HX.

In terms of the integrated GPU, the Intel Core i9-13900HX falls behind significantly in graphics as it has a 24-core GPU with 96 execution units compared to the M2 Ultra’s 32-core GPU with 960 execution units giving it a substantial advantage in graphics performance.

Nevertheless, the ultimate decision boils down to your individual preferences.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Related articles

Why Are So Few Games Set In Modern Times

Games set in modern times are rare while games set in different periods are abundant. Read this article to see our reasons as to why this is!

Here’s Why A Chromebook Might Be Perfect For You

Chromebooks have come very far, and can serve as a potentially better alternative to laptops for many users. Find out why.

My Favorite Tips To Improve My Multi-Monitor Setup

Using a multi-monitor setup without optimizing or properly setting it up means missing out on so much. These tips help mitigate those.

Do You Need To Use A VPN At Home?

A VPN is a cornerstone in protecting your privacy when you're connected to public WiFi networks, but do you also need it at home?

6 Common PC Gaming Myths – Busted!

PC gaming isn't a stranger to different misconceptions, including some that leave people skeptical of the platform. I've addressed 6 of them.

Similar Guides