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: +25.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $55 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 39.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 82.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 33 MB).
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-14700T.

Core i7-14700T

2024

Why buy it

✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W 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 (31,604 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 82.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i7-14700T

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $55 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 39.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 82.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 33 MB).
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-14700T.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (31,604 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 82.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i7-14700T?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 25.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 19.1% 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 25.3% 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 19.1% 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 $384 MSRP, and it gives you a 25.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 39.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 82.3 PassMark/$), 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 i7-14700T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and 37.5% larger total L3 cache (33 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 i7-14700T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	281 FPS	315 FPS
medium	264 FPS	306 FPS
high	220 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	272 FPS
medium	198 FPS	235 FPS
high	158 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	153 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	186 FPS
medium	133 FPS	160 FPS
high	102 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-14700T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	632 FPS	345 FPS
medium	533 FPS	294 FPS
high	450 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	225 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	300 FPS
medium	474 FPS	265 FPS
high	403 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	193 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 i7-14700T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	663 FPS	646 FPS
medium	543 FPS	528 FPS
high	477 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	403 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	588 FPS
medium	499 FPS	488 FPS
high	434 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	431 FPS
medium	381 FPS	371 FPS
high	344 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	288 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-14700T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
1080p
low	941 FPS	790 FPS
medium	941 FPS	790 FPS
high	923 FPS	717 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	644 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	772 FPS
medium	850 FPS	688 FPS
high	738 FPS	592 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	522 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	545 FPS
medium	588 FPS	494 FPS
high	529 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-14700T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i7-14700T

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 i7-14700T

The Core i7-14700T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 20 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 31,604 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i7-14700T offers 20 cores / 28 threads — the Core i7-14700T has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-14700T — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-14700T (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-14700T uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i7-14700T's 31,604 — a 17.5% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 33 MB (total) on the Core i7-14700T.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	20 / 28+43%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+169%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	33 MB (total)+38%
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-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	37,655+19%	31,604
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,723
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,390

🧠

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,H770,Z690,B660,H610 (Core i7-14700T).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
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. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-14700T). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and UHD 770 (Core i7-14700T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core i7-14700T targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-14700T rivals Ryzen 7 7700.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-14700T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	UHD 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core i7-14700T 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 82.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-14700T — making the Core i5-13600K the 32.7% better value option.