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Raptor Lake-HX in the test: Intel's notebook CPU draws level with AMD's Ryzen 9 7900X

Feb 7, 2023

Intel Raptor Lake is now also available in notebooks: the HX variant with up to 32 threads and 5.6 GHz is extremely fast if required. With generous power limits in thick (gaming) notebooks, it is even enough to dig the water out of an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X desktop processor in places. The basis for this: the desktop die.

Table of contents

In the 13th gen, HX stands for up to 24 cores
1. Raptor Lake and Alder Lake in one series
2. Up to 157 watts and more
The test samples from MSI and XMG at a glance
1. MSI Titan GT77 HX 13VI with Core i9-13950HX
2. XMG Neo 16 (E23) with Core i7-13700HX
3. Special features of the test samples
Power limits: Up to 140 watts permanently
Performance
Conclusion

In the 13th gen, HX stands for up to 24 cores

The three large models of the new HX series are unique because only they offer the full configuration with 8 P- + 16 E cores. In addition, there is a significantly higher clock in peaks – these are exactly the parameters for which the real Raptor Lake also stand in the desktop.

Raptor Lake and Alder Lake in a series

Ultimately, this is not surprising, since this is the same processor die as the Intel Core i9-13900K (test), just optimized for mobile use on a BGA package with a slightly adjusted V/F curve . The rest of the platform also moves to an updated level, as the block diagram reveals.

As the fourth CPU in the group, the Core i7-13850HX also relies on the new large desktop die, which is a “real” Raptor Lake, because its 12 E-Cores would not be possible otherwise.

The two smaller Core i7s and the three Core i5s, on the other hand, increase less than their predecessors, if there was one at all, because Intel does not follow every existing HX processor with a new one. The assumption, which has not been finally confirmed by Intel, is that in this case it is not a heavily trimmed Raptor Lake die with 8+16 cores that is used, but the old Alder Lake die of the last generation, which is now significantly better on the basis of the better production creates higher clock rates. This is also supported by the fact that only the four large CPUs now support DDR5-5600, while the smaller ones remain at DDR5-4800 – as was the case with Alder Lake in the 12th gen.

Up to 157 watts and more

The power limits in the notebook are lower than in the desktop, even if Intel's official specification of PL1 = 55 and PL2 = 157 watts is not dated OEM must be carried. For example, the MSI Titan GT77 HX sets PL1 = 150 watts and PL2 = 220 watts in the top performance profiles. That comes pretty close to many desktop processors – not exactly the flagships there, but at least the second row.

Figure 1 of 4

Speaking of predecessors: a year ago, slightly fewer models were sold. The differences to the predecessor are very clear in places, but sometimes only very small. Overall, the HX series has taken a step forward in terms of performance, as the overview shows.

Intel Core i-13000HX and predecessor 12000HX Model Cores/Threads Clock /with turbo
(P-Core) clock/with turbo
(E-Core) L3 cache graphics PBP
(TDP/PL1) MTP
(PL2) Base** Core i9-13980HX 24 (8P + 16E)/32 2.2/5.6GHz 1.6/4.0GHz 36MB 32 EU, 1.65GHz 55W 157W RPL Core i9-13950HX* 24 (8P + 16E)/32 2.2/5.5GHz 1.6/4.0GHz 36MB 32 EU, 1.65GHz 55W 157W RPL Core i9-12950HX* 16 (8P + 8E)/24 2.3/5.0GHz 1.7/3.6GHz 30MB 32 EU, 1.55GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i9-13900HX 24 (8P+16E)/32 2.2/5.4GHz 1.6/3.9GHz 36MB 32 EU, 1.65GHz 55W 157W RPL Core i9-12900HX 16(8P+8E)/24 2.3/5.0GHz 1.7/3.6GHz 30MB 32 EU, 1.55GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i7-13850HX* 20(8P+12E)/28 2.1/5.3GHz 1.5/3.8GHz 30MB 32 EU, 1.60GHz 55W 157W RPL Core i7-12850HX* 16(8P+8E)/24 2.0/4.8GHz 1.5/3.4GHz 25MB 32 EU, 1.45GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i7- 12800HX 16(8P+8E)/24 2.0/4.8GHz 1.5/3.4GHz 25MB 32 EU, 1.45GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i7-13700HX16(8P+8E)/24 2.1/5.0GHz 1.5/3.7GHz 30MB 32 EU 1.55GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i7-13650HX 14 (6P+8E)/20 2.6/4.9GHz 1.9/3.6GHz 24MB 16 EU, 1.55GHz 55W 130W ADL Core i7-12650HX 14 (6P+8E)/20 2nd .0/4.7GHz 1.5/3.3GHz 24MB 32 EU, 1.45GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i5-13600HX* 14 (6P+8E)/20 2nd .6/4.8GHz 1.9/3.6GHz 24MB 32 EU, 1.50GHz 55W 130W ADL Core i5-12600HX* 12 (4P + 8E)/16 2.5/4.6GHz 1.8/3.3GHz 18MB 32 EU, 1.35GHz 55W 157W ADL Core i5-13500HX 14(6P+8E)/20 2.5/4.7GHz 1.8/3.5GHz 24MB 16 EU, 1.50GHz 55W 130W ADL Core i5-13450HX 10(6P+4E)/16 2.4/4.6GHz 1.8/3.4GHz 20MB 16 EU, 1.45GHz 55W 130W ADL Core i5-12450HX 8 (4P+4E)/12 2.4/4.4GHz 1.8/3.1GHz 12MB 16EU 1.30GHz 55W 157W ADL * with vPro-Enterprise- Support and ECC support ** RPL = Raptor Lake, ADL = Alder Lake

Overview of the test patterns of MSI and XMG

MSI Titan GT77 HX 13VI with Core i9-13950HX

Intel and MSI have provided the Titan GT77 with the current version of one of their flagships. However, the test configuration with a Core i9-13950HX paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 will not be available in retail, MSI is going “all in” with the flagship and is relying on the even larger Core i9-13980HX. Alternatively, there is a number smaller – but then directly with the CPU and GPU. The MSI page gives an overview of the specifications, including for smaller models.

Intel and MSI emphasize the cooling of the new notebook as a special feature. It consists of four fans, eight heat pipes and many outlets, so that heated air can be discharged quickly. This also works quite well in the test, but the volume is still high under full load.

XMG Neo 16 (E23) with Core i7-13700HX

Schenker launched the Raptor -Lake-HX family provided an XMG Neo 16 (E23) with “new” Core i7-13700HX, which offers 8 P and 8 E cores and is probably based on the same die as the 12th generation core. PL1 (TDP) = PL2 can be increased to up to 160 watts via the Control Center.

Special features of the test samples

On the CPU side, the MSI notebook does what it should, and the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 also shows what it can do in a separate test. However, the BIOS seems extremely rudimentary, for example the working memory cannot be shaken, and there is also no trace of an overclocking function.