Core i5-13600K vs FX-6350

CPU

GPU

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

FX-6350

6 Cores6 Thrd125 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2013

Popular choices:

••••••i5-13600K•••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-13600K

14 / 20

37,655

+711.5%

4,640

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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

✅Better for gaming: +168.3% higher average FPS across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 225.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 35.2 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $132 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM3+ and older memory support.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while FX-6350 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
149.2% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$132 MSRP

FX-6350

2013

Why buy it

✅Costs $197 less on MSRP ($132 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,640 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($132 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM3+, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

FX-6350

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +168.3% higher average FPS across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 225.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 35.2 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $132 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM3+ and older memory support.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while FX-6350 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $197 less on MSRP ($132 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
149.2% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$132 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,640 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($132 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM3+, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than FX-6350?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 168.3% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data, 711.5% 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 i5-13600K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 168.3% more average FPS across 33 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 711.5% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is 149.2% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $132 MSRP, and it gives you a 168.3% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 225.6% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 35.2 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2013), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM3+, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/6. 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

FX-6350 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
1080p
low	281 FPS	116 FPS
medium	264 FPS	116 FPS
high	220 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	116 FPS
medium	198 FPS	116 FPS
high	158 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	65 FPS
medium	133 FPS	58 FPS
high	102 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open FX-6350

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
1080p
low	632 FPS	116 FPS
medium	533 FPS	116 FPS
high	450 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	116 FPS
medium	474 FPS	116 FPS
high	403 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	116 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	116 FPS
medium	282 FPS	116 FPS
high	269 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	116 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open FX-6350

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
1080p
low	663 FPS	116 FPS
medium	543 FPS	116 FPS
high	477 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	116 FPS
medium	499 FPS	116 FPS
high	434 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	116 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	116 FPS
medium	381 FPS	116 FPS
high	344 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	116 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open FX-6350

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
1080p
low	941 FPS	116 FPS
medium	941 FPS	116 FPS
high	923 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	116 FPS
medium	850 FPS	116 FPS
high	738 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	116 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	116 FPS
medium	588 FPS	116 FPS
high	529 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	116 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open FX-6350

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and FX-6350

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.

FX-6350

The FX-6350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 April 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 6144 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,640 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the FX-6350 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.2 GHz on the FX-6350 — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the FX-6350 uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the FX-6350's 4,640 — a 156.1% lead for the Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+133%	6 / 6
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+21%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.9 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	24 MB	—
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	6144 kB+200%
Process	Intel 7 nm-78%	32 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Vishera (2012−2015)
PassMark	37,655+712%	4,640

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the FX-6350 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
Socket	LGA1700	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+150%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) / not specified (FX-6350). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the FX-6350 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	FX-6350
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the FX-6350 debuted at $132. On MSRP ($329 vs $132), the FX-6350 is $197 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 35.2 pts/$ for the FX-6350 — making the Core i5-13600K the 106% better value option.