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

✅Costs $260 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 67,482).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
79% HIGHER MSRP
$589 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $260 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $589 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 67,482).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
79% HIGHER MSRP
$589 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285K better than Core i5-13600K?

Yes. Core Ultra 9 285K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 79.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 9 285K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 19.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 9 285K is the better fit. You are getting 79.2% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Core Ultra 9 285K is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 9 285K is 79.0% more expensive on MSRP at $589 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 19.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 0.1% better value on MSRP (114.6 vs 114.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-13600K can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Core Ultra 9 285K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 24 threads instead of 14/20. 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 9 285K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	281 FPS	341 FPS
medium	264 FPS	323 FPS
high	220 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	226 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	288 FPS
medium	198 FPS	239 FPS
high	158 FPS	184 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	162 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	188 FPS
medium	133 FPS	155 FPS
high	102 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	103 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 9 285K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	632 FPS	899 FPS
medium	533 FPS	778 FPS
high	450 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	544 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	756 FPS
medium	474 FPS	677 FPS
high	403 FPS	557 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	447 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	421 FPS
medium	282 FPS	383 FPS
high	269 FPS	358 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	310 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 9 285K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	663 FPS	879 FPS
medium	543 FPS	718 FPS
high	477 FPS	637 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	545 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	750 FPS
medium	499 FPS	616 FPS
high	434 FPS	534 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	458 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	534 FPS
medium	381 FPS	459 FPS
high	344 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 9 285K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	941 FPS	1202 FPS
medium	941 FPS	1015 FPS
high	923 FPS	939 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	846 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	930 FPS
medium	850 FPS	811 FPS
high	738 FPS	713 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	633 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	685 FPS
medium	588 FPS	606 FPS
high	529 FPS	539 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 9 285K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core Ultra 9 285K

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 9 285K

The Core Ultra 9 285K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 67,482 points. Launch price was $589.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 24 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 9 285K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285K — a 9.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 285K uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core Ultra 9 285K's 67,482 — a 56.7% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285K.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	24 / 24+71%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.6 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	24 MB	36 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+50%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	37,655	67,482+79%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	45,563
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,200
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	22,563

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 9 285K uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 24 (Core Ultra 9 285K) — the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Z890 (Core Ultra 9 285K).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs true (Core Ultra 9 285K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Intel Arc Graphics 64EU (Core Ultra 9 285K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 9 285K rivals Ryzen 9 9950X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 9 285K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Graphics 64EU
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 9 285K debuted at $589. On MSRP ($329 vs $589), the Core i5-13600K is $260 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 114.6 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 9 285K — making the Core Ultra 9 285K the 0.1% better value option.