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Intel Core i7-13850HX

Intel Core i7-13850HX: The Power of Raptor Lake for Mobile Devices

March 2025

The Intel Core i7-13850HX processor is one of the flagship models of the 13th generation, combining high performance and flexibility for premium laptops. Let's explore who this chip is suited for, how it handles tasks, and what to pay attention to when choosing a device.

Architecture and Fabrication Process: Hybrid Efficiency

Raptor Lake and Intel 7

The Core i7-13850HX is built on the Raptor Lake architecture, which is an evolution of Intel's hybrid approach. The Intel 7 fabrication process (10 nm Enhanced SuperFin) provides a balance between performance and energy efficiency.

- Cores and Threads: 20 cores (8 performance P-cores + 12 efficiency E-cores) and 28 threads. P-cores support Hyper-Threading, while E-cores do not.

- Frequencies: Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, maximum turbo frequency is 5.0 GHz for P-cores, and 3.8 GHz for E-cores.

- Cache: 30 MB of L3 cache, which accelerates data processing in multi-threaded scenarios.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics for the 13th generation (32 EUs, up to 1.5 GHz). It supports 4K/60 Hz, but for gaming or rendering, a discrete graphics card is required.

Architecture Features:

- The Thread Director technology optimizes task distribution among cores.

- Support for DDR5-5600 and PCIe 5.0 (up to 16 lanes) enables fast memory and storage.

Power Consumption and TDP: The Balance Between Power and Heat

The nominal TDP of the processor is 55 W, but during turbo mode, power consumption can reach up to 157 W. This necessitates an efficient cooling system.

What Does This Mean for Users?

- In compact laptops (e.g., thin workstations), the chip may operate at reduced frequencies to lower heat output.

- In gaming models with powerful coolers, the processor can fully unleash its potential but may increase system noise.

Example: The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 (2025) with the Core i7-13850HX and RTX 4070 Ti maintains stable 4.8 GHz on P-cores while gaming, but the fans run at high RPM.

Performance: From Office to 4K Rendering

Real-World Task Tests

- Office Work: In Chrome with 50+ tabs open, along with Excel and Zoom, the CPU is loaded at 15-20%, with a temperature of 45-50°C.

- Multimedia: Rendering a 10-minute video in DaVinci Resolve (4K, H.265) takes 6.5 minutes — comparable to the desktop Ryzen 9 7900X.

- Gaming: Paired with the RTX 4070 (laptop version) in Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, DLSS Quality) — stable 75 FPS at 1440p.

Turbo Boost:

Maximum frequencies can be maintained for up to 56 seconds under load. After this period, the processor lowers its frequencies by 10-15% to avoid overheating.

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 2574 (12% higher than Ryzen 9 7940HS).

- Multi-Core: 14893 (18% better than Apple M3 Pro).

Usage Scenarios: Who Needs the i7-13850HX?

1. Professionals:

- Video editing, 3D modeling, code compilation.

- Example: Blender Cycles renders a scene in 4.2 minutes compared to 5.1 minutes for i7-12850HX.

2. Gamers:

- A discrete graphics card is crucial for gaming, but the CPU delivers high FPS in CPU-intensive projects (e.g., Microsoft Flight Simulator).

3. Multitaskers:

- Streaming + gaming + a browser with dozens of tabs.

Battery Life: The Price of Performance

With a TDP of 55 W, battery life varies significantly based on the load:

- Office Tasks: 6-7 hours (with energy-saving settings and 50% brightness).

- Gaming or Rendering: 1.5-2 hours.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Intel Dynamic Tuning 2.0: Automatically lowers frequencies during idle periods.

- Adaptive Brightness: Synchronizes with ambient light sensors.

Tip: Look for laptops with at least a 90 Wh battery. For example, the MSI Titan GT77 (99.9 Wh) offers up to 8 hours in reading mode.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (Zen 4, 8 cores/16 threads):

- Superior in single-thread tasks (Geekbench 6 Single-Core: 2410), but weaker in multi-thread tasks (Multi-Core: 13200).

- TDP of 45 W, with battery life 15-20% better.

2. Apple M3 Pro (12 cores):

- Multi-Core: 13500, but macOS ecosystem limits compatibility.

- Battery life of up to 12 hours.

3. Previous Generation (i7-12850HX):

- 22% lower performance in multi-thread tests.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Record-breaking multi-thread performance.

- Support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0.

- Compatibility with Windows and Linux.

Weaknesses:

- High thermal output.

- Integrated graphics are weaker than AMD Radeon 780M.

- Short battery life under load.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

1. Gaming Models:

- Discrete graphics (RTX 4060 and above) are essential.

- Example: Acer Predator Helios 16 (starting at $1800).

2. Workstations:

- 32+ GB DDR5, 1 TB NVMe SSD required.

- Example: Dell Precision 7670 (starting at $2200).

3. Versatile Laptops:

- Display with high color accuracy (100% sRGB), weighing up to 2.5 kg.

- Example: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (starting at $2000).

What to Pay Attention To:

- Cooling system: at least 2 fans + heat pipes.

- Ports: Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1.

- Warranty: 2 years or more.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i7-13850HX is the choice for those who need maximum performance in a mobile format. It is suitable for:

- Professionals working with "heavy" applications.

- Gamers combining gaming with streaming.

- Enthusiasts valuing upgrade potential (support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0).

Key Benefits:

- Best-in-class multi-thread performance.

- Future-proof due to new memory and storage standards.

However, be prepared for compromises: short battery life and the need for a powerful cooling system. If you require a balance between performance and mobility, consider the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or Apple M3 Pro.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2023

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i7-13850HX

Code Name

Raptor Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

5.30 GHz

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency

Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom. Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 frequency is the clock frequency of the CPU when running in this mode.

5.30 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Yes

L3 Cache

30 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1964

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

Intel 7

TDP

55 W

Processor Base Power

The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.

55 W

Maximum Turbo Power

The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.

157 W

Minimum Assured Power

45 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

5.0 and 4.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16+4 | 2x8+4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

192 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

89.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics for 13th Gen Intel® Processors

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.60 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

12.1

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU

A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

30 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel High Definition Audio

Yes

Intel Active Management Technology (AMT)

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Hardware Shield Eligibility

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel QuickAssist Software Acceleration

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.6

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video