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

✅Costs $410 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 58.9 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 43,528).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i9-12900KS

2022

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.9 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($739 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i9-12900KS

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $410 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 58.9 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 43,528).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.9 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($739 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900KS better than Core i5-13600K?

Yes. Core i9-12900KS is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 15.6% 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 i9-12900KS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.0% 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 i9-12900KS is the better fit. You are getting 15.6% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Core i9-12900KS is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-12900KS is 124.6% more expensive on MSRP at $739 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 94.3% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 58.9 PassMark/$), 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 i9-12900KS is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 14/20. 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 i9-12900KS Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	281 FPS	283 FPS
medium	264 FPS	269 FPS
high	220 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	235 FPS
medium	198 FPS	199 FPS
high	158 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	142 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	158 FPS
medium	133 FPS	134 FPS
high	102 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-12900KS

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	632 FPS	716 FPS
medium	533 FPS	603 FPS
high	450 FPS	501 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	443 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	617 FPS
medium	474 FPS	541 FPS
high	403 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	380 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	363 FPS
medium	282 FPS	326 FPS
high	269 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	263 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-12900KS

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	663 FPS	866 FPS
medium	543 FPS	686 FPS
high	477 FPS	605 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	502 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	748 FPS
medium	499 FPS	602 FPS
high	434 FPS	523 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	523 FPS
medium	381 FPS	432 FPS
high	344 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	332 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-12900KS

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	941 FPS	973 FPS
medium	941 FPS	879 FPS
high	923 FPS	763 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	693 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	812 FPS
medium	850 FPS	723 FPS
high	738 FPS	626 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	556 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	555 FPS
medium	588 FPS	502 FPS
high	529 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i9-12900KS

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i9-12900KS

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 i9-12900KS

The Core i9-12900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 43,528 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i9-12900KS offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900KS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.3 GHz on the Core i9-12900KS — a 3.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900KS (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-12900KS uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i9-12900KS's 43,528 — a 14.5% lead for the Core i9-12900KS. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900KS.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-12900KS
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	16 / 24+14%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.3 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+3%	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	30 MB (total)+25%
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	43,528+16%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	27,796
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,082

🧠

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 LGA1700 (Core i9-12900KS).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i9-12900KS
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-12900KS 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 770 (Core i9-12900KS) — 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 i9-12900KS
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	UHD 770
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
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 i9-12900KS debuted at $739. On MSRP ($329 vs $739), the Core i5-13600K is $410 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 58.9 pts/$ for the Core i9-12900KS — making the Core i5-13600K the 64.1% better value option.