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: +29.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌
31.6% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$250 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $79 less on MSRP ($250 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 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,055 vs 37,655).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Costs $79 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌
31.6% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$250 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,055 vs 37,655).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i7-12700?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 29.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 25.3% 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 29.4% 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 25.3% 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 i7-12700 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-13600K is 31.6% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it gives you a 29.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700 is also 5.0% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 12/20. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	281 FPS	257 FPS
medium	264 FPS	248 FPS
high	220 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	226 FPS
medium	198 FPS	194 FPS
high	158 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	157 FPS
medium	133 FPS	134 FPS
high	102 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-12700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	632 FPS	312 FPS
medium	533 FPS	265 FPS
high	450 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	257 FPS
medium	474 FPS	228 FPS
high	403 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	157 FPS
medium	282 FPS	141 FPS
high	269 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-12700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	663 FPS	751 FPS
medium	543 FPS	610 FPS
high	477 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	458 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	683 FPS
medium	499 FPS	547 FPS
high	434 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	411 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	493 FPS
medium	381 FPS	412 FPS
high	344 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	311 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-12700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	941 FPS	751 FPS
medium	941 FPS	751 FPS
high	923 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	590 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	730 FPS
medium	850 FPS	651 FPS
high	738 FPS	560 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	487 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	513 FPS
medium	588 FPS	468 FPS
high	529 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-12700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i7-12700

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 i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i7-12700 offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 — a 4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-12700 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i7-12700's 30,055 — a 22.4% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 20
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+4%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+67%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	25 MB (total)+4%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+60%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	37,655+25%	30,055
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	21,568
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,497
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,448

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i5-13600K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. 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,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
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+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	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 (Core i5-13600K) vs VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core i7-12700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-12700
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x / VT-d / EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700 debuted at $250. On MSRP ($329 vs $250), the Core i7-12700 is $79 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 120.2 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700 — making the Core i7-12700 the 4.9% better value option.