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

✅+24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $455 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Delivers 224.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 35.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 165W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i9-10940X

2019

Why buy it

✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (27,684 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($784 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌32% higher power demand at 165W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i9-10940X

2019

Why buy it

✅+24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $455 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Delivers 224.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 35.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 165W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (27,684 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($784 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌32% higher power demand at 165W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i9-10940X?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 36% 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 2.8% 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 36% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is $455 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $784 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 224.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 35.3 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, 24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 14/28. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 i9-10940X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
1080p
low	281 FPS	279 FPS
medium	264 FPS	249 FPS
high	220 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	233 FPS
medium	198 FPS	189 FPS
high	158 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	164 FPS
medium	133 FPS	134 FPS
high	102 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-10940X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
1080p
low	632 FPS	550 FPS
medium	533 FPS	457 FPS
high	450 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	456 FPS
medium	474 FPS	394 FPS
high	403 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	287 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	283 FPS
medium	282 FPS	246 FPS
high	269 FPS	226 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	197 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-10940X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
1080p
low	663 FPS	692 FPS
medium	543 FPS	692 FPS
high	477 FPS	692 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	692 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	692 FPS
medium	499 FPS	692 FPS
high	434 FPS	692 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	595 FPS
medium	381 FPS	500 FPS
high	344 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-10940X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
1080p
low	941 FPS	692 FPS
medium	941 FPS	692 FPS
high	923 FPS	692 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	692 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	692 FPS
medium	850 FPS	692 FPS
high	738 FPS	639 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	560 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	580 FPS
medium	588 FPS	516 FPS
high	529 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	408 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-10940X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i9-10940X

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 i9-10940X

The Core i9-10940X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 27,684 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, matching the Core i9-10940X's 14 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10940X — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-10940X uses Cascade Lake-X (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i9-10940X's 27,684 — a 30.5% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-10940X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	14 / 28
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+6%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+6%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+25%	19.25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Cascade Lake-X (2019)
PassMark	37,655+36%	27,684
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	19,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,450
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-10940X uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus DDR4-2933 on the Core i9-10940X — the Core i5-13600K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-10940X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 4 (Core i9-10940X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 48 (Core i9-10940X) — the Core i9-10940X offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and X299 (Core i9-10940X).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-10940X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i9-10940X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core i9-10940X targets High-End Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-10940X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	High-End Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core i9-10940X debuted at $784. On MSRP ($329 vs $784), the Core i5-13600K is $455 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 35.3 pts/$ for the Core i9-10940X — making the Core i5-13600K the 105.7% better value option.