Core i5-13600K vs EPYC 9555P

CPU

GPU

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9555P

64 Cores128 Thrd360 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2024

Popular choices:

••••••i5-13600K•••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-13600K

14 / 20

37,655

0.0%

135,441

+259.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX

About PassMark

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 $7,654 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $7,983 MSRP).
✅Delivers 574.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 17.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $7,983 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 360W, a 235W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9555P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (24 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 135,441).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9555P, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9555P

2024

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 256 MB vs 24 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.0 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($7,983 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌188% higher power demand at 360W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

EPYC 9555P

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,654 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $7,983 MSRP).
✅Delivers 574.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 17.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $7,983 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 360W, a 235W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9555P needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 256 MB vs 24 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (24 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 135,441).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9555P, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.0 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($7,983 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌188% higher power demand at 360W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9555P better than Core i5-13600K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9555P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13600K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9555P is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 24 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9555P is the better fit. You are getting 259.7% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB).

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

EPYC 9555P is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9555P is 2326.4% more expensive on MSRP at $7,983 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 574.6% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 17.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 9555P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 24 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 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

EPYC 9555P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
1080p
low	281 FPS	171 FPS
medium	264 FPS	142 FPS
high	220 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	150 FPS
medium	198 FPS	121 FPS
high	158 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	84 FPS
medium	133 FPS	73 FPS
high	102 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9555P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
1080p
low	632 FPS	655 FPS
medium	533 FPS	566 FPS
high	450 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	397 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	546 FPS
medium	474 FPS	483 FPS
high	403 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	331 FPS
medium	282 FPS	295 FPS
high	269 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	236 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9555P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
1080p
low	663 FPS	747 FPS
medium	543 FPS	634 FPS
high	477 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	519 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	561 FPS
medium	499 FPS	474 FPS
high	434 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	405 FPS
medium	381 FPS	326 FPS
high	344 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9555P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
1080p
low	941 FPS	1005 FPS
medium	941 FPS	902 FPS
high	923 FPS	778 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	702 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	809 FPS
medium	850 FPS	704 FPS
high	738 FPS	603 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	533 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	574 FPS
medium	588 FPS	510 FPS
high	529 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	392 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9555P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and EPYC 9555P

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.

EPYC 9555P

The EPYC 9555P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 360 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 135,441 points. Launch price was $7,983.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 9555P offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the EPYC 9555P has 50 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.4 GHz on the EPYC 9555P — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9555P uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the EPYC 9555P's 135,441 — a 113% lead for the EPYC 9555P. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9555P.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	64 / 128+357%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+16%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	256 MB (total)+967%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	37,655	135,441+260%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,815
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	29,406

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9555P uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — 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 6 TB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 12 (EPYC 9555P). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 128 (EPYC 9555P) — the EPYC 9555P offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and SP5 (EPYC 9555P).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6000
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	6 TB+3100%
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9555P). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9555P requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, EPYC 9555P targets Data Center / Single Socket. Direct competitor: EPYC 9555P rivals Xeon 6979P.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9555P
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Desktop	Data Center / Single Socket

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the EPYC 9555P debuted at $7983. On MSRP ($329 vs $7983), the Core i5-13600K is $7654 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 17.0 pts/$ for the EPYC 9555P — making the Core i5-13600K the 148.4% better value option.