PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-13790F

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (33 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $392 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8840HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 8840HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 8840HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon 780M, while Core i7-13790F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13790F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (42,275 vs 43,549).

Core i7-13790F

2023

Ryzen 7 8840HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon 780M, while Core i7-13790F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (33 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $392 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8840HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 8840HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13790F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (42,275 vs 43,549).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13790F better than Ryzen 7 8840HX?

Yes. Core i7-13790F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13790F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13790F is the better fit. You are getting 3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-13790F is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13790F is at an unclear MSRP at $392 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 9.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 7 8840HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and 93.9% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 33 MB). That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-13790F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 8840HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13790F	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	276 FPS	267 FPS
medium	258 FPS	244 FPS
high	214 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	183 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	256 FPS	252 FPS
medium	215 FPS	206 FPS
high	167 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	173 FPS	175 FPS
medium	145 FPS	143 FPS
high	108 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i7-13790F Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13790F	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	361 FPS	654 FPS
medium	309 FPS	566 FPS
high	259 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	367 FPS
1440p
low	314 FPS	554 FPS
medium	278 FPS	494 FPS
high	235 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	303 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	312 FPS
medium	168 FPS	283 FPS
high	160 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	212 FPS

Open Core i7-13790F Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13790F	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	1025 FPS	847 FPS
medium	1011 FPS	677 FPS
high	933 FPS	599 FPS
ultra	803 FPS	514 FPS
1440p
low	969 FPS	676 FPS
medium	858 FPS	541 FPS
high	775 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	397 FPS
4K
low	588 FPS	483 FPS
medium	506 FPS	400 FPS
high	455 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	387 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core i7-13790F Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13790F	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	1089 FPS	1057 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	966 FPS
high	876 FPS	843 FPS
ultra	767 FPS	760 FPS
1440p
low	960 FPS	842 FPS
medium	844 FPS	747 FPS
high	722 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	620 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	684 FPS	619 FPS
medium	605 FPS	553 FPS
high	536 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core i7-13790F Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13790F and Ryzen 7 8840HX

Core i7-13790F

The Core i7-13790F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 43,549 points. Launch price was $441.

Ryzen 7 8840HX

The Ryzen 7 8840HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 April 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Dragon Range (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 42,275 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13790F packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13790F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-13790F versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8840HX — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-13790F (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-13790F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13790F scores 43,549 against the Ryzen 7 8840HX's 42,275 — a 3% lead for the Core i7-13790F. L3 cache: 33 MB (total) on the Core i7-13790F vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8840HX.

Feature	Core i7-13790F	Ryzen 7 8840HX
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+33%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+2%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.9 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	33 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+94%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	5 nm-50%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Dragon Range (2025)
PassMark	43,549+3%	42,275
Cinebench R23 Multi	26,247	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,815	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,673	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13790F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13790F versus 5600 on the Ryzen 7 8840HX — the Ryzen 7 8840HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-13790F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 64 — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-13790F) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 8840HX) — the Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i7-13790F) and FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 7 8840HX).

Feature	Core i7-13790F	Ryzen 7 8840HX
Socket	LGA1700	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+314572700%	64
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-13790F) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8840HX). The Ryzen 7 8840HX includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon 780M), while the Core i7-13790F requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8840HX rivals Core i7-13700H.