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Intel Core i9-13980HX

Intel Core i9-13980HX: The Power of Raptor Lake in a Laptop

Processor review for those who don't settle for compromises

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: Hybrid Evolution

The Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, built on the Raptor Lake architecture, showcases the evolution of the hybrid approach first introduced in Alder Lake. Its structure includes:

- 24 cores (8 Performance cores + 16 Efficient cores) and 32 threads. The P-cores (Raptor Cove) are responsible for high performance in single-threaded tasks, supporting Hyper-Threading (16 threads). The E-cores (Gracemont) are optimized for multithreading and background processes, adding 16 threads without HT.

- Clock Speeds: Base frequency — 2.4 GHz, maximum in Turbo Boost — up to 5.6 GHz for P-cores. E-cores operate at up to 4.3 GHz.

- Intel 7 manufacturing process (10 nm Enhanced SuperFin): Improved energy efficiency and transistor density compared to Alder Lake.

- Cache Memory: 36 MB L3, speeding up data processing in resource-intensive applications.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics for the 13th generation (32 EU, up to 1.6 GHz). Suitable for basic tasks (office work, 4K video), but a discrete graphics card is required for gaming or 3D modeling.

Power Consumption and TDP: Balancing Power and Heat

The nominal TDP of the processor is 55 W, but in turbo mode, consumption can reach 157 W. This requires an advanced cooling system:

- Laptops use heat pipes, multiple fans, and copper heat pipes. For instance, the MSI Titan GT77 is equipped with four coolers for stable operation.

- Power Management Technologies:

- Intel Dynamic Tuning 3.0: Adaptively distributes the load among the cores.

- Thermal Velocity Boost: Automatically increases frequencies when the temperature is below 70°C.

- Configurable TDP (cTDP): Allows laptop manufacturers to set TDP from 45 W to 157 W.

Performance: King of Multitasking

Office and Everyday Tasks

- Running dozens of tabs in Chrome while simultaneously working with Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams — the processor hardly notices the load.

- Example: Rendering a 30-minute video in Premiere Pro (4K, H.265) takes 8-10 minutes compared to 15-18 minutes for the i9-12900HX.

Gaming

- Paired with an RTX 4090 (laptop variant) in Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, Ray Tracing) — stable 60+ FPS at 1440p resolution.

- Turbo Mode: A temporary frequency boost provides an advantage in CPU-bound games (e.g., DCS World), but throttling may occur during prolonged sessions.

Professional Workloads

- 3D rendering in Blender (BMW scene) — 2 minutes 40 seconds. For comparison: Ryzen 9 7945HX completes it in 2 minutes 55 seconds.

- Encoding 8K video in HandBrake — 18% faster than the Apple M3 Max.

Use Cases: Who Needs the i9-13980HX?

1. Gamers: For playing at 1440p/4K with maximum settings.

2. Professionals: Video editors, 3D designers, programmers (code compilation, virtualization).

3. Enthusiasts: Those upgrading their laptop every 4-5 years and valuing a “power reserve.”

Who it’s not for: Users who prioritize portability and battery life — this processor is too “power-hungry” for ultrabooks.

Battery Life: The Price of Performance

- Under load (gaming, rendering), the laptop lasts 1-1.5 hours on battery.

- In office mode (50% brightness, Wi-Fi, browser) — 4-5 hours.

- Power-saving technologies:

- Intel Thread Director: Transfers background tasks to E-cores.

- Adaptive screen dimming: Reduces display power consumption.

- “Eco” mode in Windows: Limits frequencies to 2.8 GHz.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX (Dragon Range)

- 16 Zen 4 cores, 32 threads, 5.4 GHz.

- Better in multithreaded tasks (+7% in Cinebench R23), but lags in single-threaded (-12% in Geekbench 6).

- TDP 55-75 W, with more efficient cooling.

Apple M3 Max

- 16 cores (12 Performance + 4 Efficiency), 40 GPU cores.

- Battery life of MacBook Pro — up to 18 hours, but software compatibility is limited (not suitable for Windows applications).

Intel Core i9-12900HX

- 16 cores (8P + 8E), 24 threads.

- 28% slower in multithreading, with a smaller cache (30 MB).

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Record performance in the mobile CPU class.

- Support for DDR5-5600 and PCIe 5.0 (SSD up to 14 GB/s).

- Optimization for Windows 11 and professional software.

Weaknesses:

- High heat output and noisy fans.

- Short battery life.

- Laptop prices starting from $2800 (e.g., ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17).

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Device Type:

- Gaming Laptop: MSI Raider GE78, Alienware m18 — focus on cooling and discrete graphics.

- Workstation: Lenovo ThinkPad P16 — certified for professional applications.

2. What to Look For:

- Cooling System: At least two fans + passive radiators.

- Display: For professionals — 4K OLED with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage.

- Memory and SSD: 32 GB DDR5 + 2 TB PCIe 5.0.

Final Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13980HX is a processor for those who are not willing to sacrifice power for mobility. It is ideal for:

- Gamers dreaming of a portable PC replacement.

- Professionals valuing time in rendering and compiling.

- Enthusiasts seeking a “laptop for years.”

Alternatives: If battery life is critical — consider the Apple M3 Max. If the budget is limited — look at the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS. However, for uncompromising performance, the i9-13980HX remains the king of 2025.

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.

i9-13980HX

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.

5.60 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.

5.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Yes

L3 Cache

36 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

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.

1.65 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

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.

36 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 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 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 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