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: +19.0% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $55 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 21.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 94.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-13700.

Core i7-13700

2023

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅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 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (36,230 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 94.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i7-13700

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.0% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $55 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 21.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 94.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-13700.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (36,230 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 94.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i7-13700?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.0% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data and 3.9% 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 19.0% more average FPS across 11 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 3.9% 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 $55 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $384 MSRP, and it gives you a 19.0% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 21.3% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 94.3 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13700 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB). 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 i7-13700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
1080p
low	281 FPS	264 FPS
medium	264 FPS	254 FPS
high	220 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	225 FPS
medium	198 FPS	193 FPS
high	158 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	154 FPS
medium	133 FPS	131 FPS
high	102 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-13700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
1080p
low	632 FPS	344 FPS
medium	533 FPS	293 FPS
high	450 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	225 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	299 FPS
medium	474 FPS	264 FPS
high	403 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	177 FPS
medium	282 FPS	160 FPS
high	269 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	133 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-13700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
1080p
low	663 FPS	647 FPS
medium	543 FPS	530 FPS
high	477 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	590 FPS
medium	499 FPS	491 FPS
high	434 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	370 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	433 FPS
medium	381 FPS	373 FPS
high	344 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	289 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-13700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
1080p
low	941 FPS	906 FPS
medium	941 FPS	851 FPS
high	923 FPS	735 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	660 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	799 FPS
medium	850 FPS	712 FPS
high	738 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	542 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	548 FPS
medium	588 FPS	497 FPS
high	529 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	388 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-13700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i7-13700

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 i7-13700

The Core i7-13700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 36,230 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i7-13700 offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-13700 — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700 (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 i7-13700 uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i7-13700's 36,230 — a 3.9% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	16 / 24+14%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+67%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	30 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	37,655+4%	36,230

🧠

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 Z790,B760 (Core i7-13700).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 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. Only the Core i7-13700 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-13700
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700 debuted at $384. On MSRP ($329 vs $384), the Core i5-13600K is $55 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 94.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700 — making the Core i5-13600K the 19.3% better value option.