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: +4.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-14490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.5 vs 132.2 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-14490F.

Core i5-14490F

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($209 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 132.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (27,621 vs 37,655).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i5-14490F

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-14490F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($209 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 132.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.5 vs 132.2 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-14490F.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (27,621 vs 37,655).
❌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 Core i5-14490F?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 36.3% 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 4.5% 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 36.3% 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 still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-14490F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-13600K is 57.4% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $209 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-14490F is also 15.5% better value on MSRP (132.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-14490F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 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 i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Core i5-14490F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	281 FPS	246 FPS
medium	264 FPS	231 FPS
high	220 FPS	196 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	169 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	215 FPS
medium	198 FPS	183 FPS
high	158 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	149 FPS
medium	133 FPS	127 FPS
high	102 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i5-14490F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	632 FPS	645 FPS
medium	533 FPS	549 FPS
high	450 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	411 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	555 FPS
medium	474 FPS	493 FPS
high	403 FPS	418 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	352 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	326 FPS
medium	282 FPS	293 FPS
high	269 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i5-14490F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	663 FPS	691 FPS
medium	543 FPS	691 FPS
high	477 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	691 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	691 FPS
medium	499 FPS	691 FPS
high	434 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	596 FPS
medium	381 FPS	502 FPS
high	344 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	376 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i5-14490F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	941 FPS	691 FPS
medium	941 FPS	691 FPS
high	923 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	691 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	691 FPS
medium	850 FPS	691 FPS
high	738 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	592 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	661 FPS
medium	588 FPS	585 FPS
high	529 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	436 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i5-14490F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i5-14490F

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 i5-14490F

The Core i5-14490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 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. Passmark benchmark score: 27,621 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i5-14490F offers 10 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5 GHz on the Core i5-14490F — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i5-14490F's 27,621 — a 30.7% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-14490F.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+40%	10 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+2%	5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+40%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+60%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	37,655+36%	27,621
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	2,510
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,600
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-5600 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: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and H610,B660,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i5-14490F).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
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. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-14490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core i5-14490F targets Mid-Range. Direct competitor: Core i5-14490F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i5-14490F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Mid-Range

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core i5-14490F debuted at $209. On MSRP ($329 vs $209), the Core i5-14490F is $120 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 132.2 pts/$ for the Core i5-14490F — making the Core i5-14490F the 14.4% better value option.