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 i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.7% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 225U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌792.9% higher power demand at 125W vs 14W.

Core Ultra 5 225U

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 14W instead of 125W, a 111W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,434 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core Ultra 5 225U

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.7% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

Why buy it

✅Draws 14W instead of 125W, a 111W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 225U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌792.9% higher power demand at 125W vs 14W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,434 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core Ultra 5 225U?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 23.7% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data and 104.3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-13600K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 23.7% more average FPS across 11 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13600K is the better fit. You are getting 104.3% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 23.7% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core Ultra 5 225U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022). 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 i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
1080p
low	281 FPS	277 FPS
medium	264 FPS	248 FPS
high	220 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	230 FPS
medium	198 FPS	185 FPS
high	158 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	161 FPS
medium	133 FPS	131 FPS
high	102 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
1080p
low	632 FPS	420 FPS
medium	533 FPS	335 FPS
high	450 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	259 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	358 FPS
medium	474 FPS	296 FPS
high	403 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	227 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	278 FPS
medium	282 FPS	237 FPS
high	269 FPS	219 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	188 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
1080p
low	663 FPS	461 FPS
medium	543 FPS	461 FPS
high	477 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	461 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	461 FPS
medium	499 FPS	461 FPS
high	434 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	461 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	461 FPS
medium	381 FPS	461 FPS
high	344 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
1080p
low	941 FPS	461 FPS
medium	941 FPS	461 FPS
high	923 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	461 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	461 FPS
medium	850 FPS	461 FPS
high	738 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	461 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	461 FPS
medium	588 FPS	461 FPS
high	529 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	410 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core Ultra 5 225U

Core i5-13600K

The Core i5-13600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 37,655 points. Launch price was $319.

Core Ultra 5 225U

The Core Ultra 5 225U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,434 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225U — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 225U uses Arrow Lake-U (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core Ultra 5 225U's 18,434 — a 68.5% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 12 MB on the Core Ultra 5 225U.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 14
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+6%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+46%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+100%	12 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Arrow Lake-U (2025)
PassMark	37,655+104%	18,434
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,374
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	7,846

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i5-13600K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Meteor Lake SoC (Core Ultra 5 225U).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400 / LPDDR5x-8400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core Ultra 5 225U). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Intel Graphics (4 Xe Cores) (Core Ultra 5 225U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core Ultra 5 225U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225U rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225U
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Intel Graphics (4 Xe Cores)
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x / VT-d / EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Productivity