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 i5-13490F

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $94 less on MSRP ($235 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Stock), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (26,670 vs 37,655).
❌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: +11.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
40% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$235 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13490F.

Core i5-13490F

2023

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $94 less on MSRP ($235 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Stock), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (26,670 vs 37,655).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
40% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$235 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i5-13490F?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 41.2% 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 11.2% 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 i5-13600K is the better fit. You are getting 41.2% 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 40.0% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $235 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 0.8% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 113.5 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13490F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i5-13490F Benchmark Check

Core i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	246 FPS	281 FPS
medium	231 FPS	264 FPS
high	196 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	215 FPS	235 FPS
medium	183 FPS	198 FPS
high	151 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	149 FPS	159 FPS
medium	127 FPS	133 FPS
high	98 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i5-13600K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	590 FPS	632 FPS
medium	501 FPS	533 FPS
high	422 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	416 FPS
1440p
low	485 FPS	540 FPS
medium	427 FPS	474 FPS
high	370 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	351 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	316 FPS
medium	263 FPS	282 FPS
high	248 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i5-13600K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	667 FPS	663 FPS
medium	667 FPS	543 FPS
high	667 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	414 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	600 FPS
medium	667 FPS	499 FPS
high	667 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	596 FPS	441 FPS
medium	502 FPS	381 FPS
high	447 FPS	344 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	295 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i5-13600K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	667 FPS	941 FPS
medium	667 FPS	941 FPS
high	667 FPS	923 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	831 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	941 FPS
medium	667 FPS	850 FPS
high	667 FPS	738 FPS
ultra	592 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	661 FPS	651 FPS
medium	585 FPS	588 FPS
high	514 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	436 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i5-13600K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13490F and Core i5-13600K

Core i5-13490F

The Core i5-13490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 26,670 points. Launch price was $235.

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 i5-13490F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-13600K offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-13490F versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13490F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-13600K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13490F scores 26,670 against the Core i5-13600K's 37,655 — a 34.2% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13490F vs 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	14 / 20+40%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5.1 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	24 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	26,670	37,655+41%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,844	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,200	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B660,B760,H610,H670,Z690,Z790 (Core i5-13490F) and Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K).

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
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, EPT (Core i5-13490F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-13490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13490F targets Gaming, Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core i5-13600K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13490F launched at $235 MSRP, while the Core i5-13600K debuted at $329. On MSRP ($235 vs $329), the Core i5-13490F is $94 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13490F delivers 113.5 pts/$ vs 114.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-13600K — making the Core i5-13600K the 0.8% better value option.