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 i5-11260H

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,459 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, 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

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +67.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-11260H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Core i5-11260H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core i5-11260H

2021

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +67.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-11260H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,459 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, 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.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Core i5-11260H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i5-11260H?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 67.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 143.6% 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 67.6% more average FPS across 4 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 143.6% 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 $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 67.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787, 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. 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 i5-11260H Benchmark Check

Core i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	187 FPS	281 FPS
medium	153 FPS	264 FPS
high	126 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	235 FPS
medium	120 FPS	198 FPS
high	98 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	159 FPS
medium	73 FPS	133 FPS
high	58 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-13600K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	362 FPS	632 FPS
medium	292 FPS	533 FPS
high	262 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	227 FPS	416 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	540 FPS
medium	268 FPS	474 FPS
high	246 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	351 FPS
4K
low	281 FPS	316 FPS
medium	235 FPS	282 FPS
high	214 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-13600K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	386 FPS	663 FPS
medium	386 FPS	543 FPS
high	386 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	414 FPS
1440p
low	386 FPS	600 FPS
medium	386 FPS	499 FPS
high	386 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	386 FPS	441 FPS
medium	373 FPS	381 FPS
high	312 FPS	344 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	295 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-13600K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	386 FPS	941 FPS
medium	386 FPS	941 FPS
high	386 FPS	923 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	831 FPS
1440p
low	386 FPS	941 FPS
medium	386 FPS	850 FPS
high	386 FPS	738 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	386 FPS	651 FPS
medium	386 FPS	588 FPS
high	386 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-13600K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11260H and Core i5-13600K

Core i5-11260H

The Core i5-11260H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,459 points. Launch price was $299.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-11260H packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-13600K offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-11260H versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-11260H uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i5-13600K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11260H scores 15,459 against the Core i5-13600K's 37,655 — a 83.6% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11260H vs 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-13600K
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 20+133%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.5 GHz+35%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB+100%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm SuperFin	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	15,459	37,655+144%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11260H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-13600K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-13600K
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	—	192 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-11260H) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-11260H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.