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

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core Ultra 5 225F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.5 vs 136.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $231 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core Ultra 5 225F

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $98 less on MSRP ($231 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 19.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 136.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($231 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,541 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core Ultra 5 225F

2025

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core Ultra 5 225F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $98 less on MSRP ($231 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 19.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 136.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($231 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.5 vs 136.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $231 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,541 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core Ultra 5 225F?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 19.4% 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 2.0% more average FPS across 2 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 19.4% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i5-13600K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 225F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-13600K is 42.4% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $231 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 225F is also 19.3% better value on MSRP (136.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1851 + DDR5 setup, Core Ultra 5 225F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 225F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022). 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 Ultra 5 225F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	281 FPS	256 FPS
medium	264 FPS	244 FPS
high	220 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	219 FPS
medium	198 FPS	187 FPS
high	158 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	150 FPS
medium	133 FPS	127 FPS
high	102 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	632 FPS	603 FPS
medium	533 FPS	512 FPS
high	450 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	501 FPS
medium	474 FPS	441 FPS
high	403 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	301 FPS
medium	282 FPS	266 FPS
high	269 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	663 FPS	789 FPS
medium	543 FPS	680 FPS
high	477 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	725 FPS
medium	499 FPS	588 FPS
high	434 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	504 FPS
medium	381 FPS	422 FPS
high	344 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	941 FPS	789 FPS
medium	941 FPS	789 FPS
high	923 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	699 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	789 FPS
medium	850 FPS	716 FPS
high	738 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	560 FPS
medium	588 FPS	510 FPS
high	529 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core Ultra 5 225F

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 Ultra 5 225F

The Core Ultra 5 225F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 31,541 points. Launch price was $231.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225F — a 4% 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 Ultra 5 225F uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core Ultra 5 225F's 31,541 — a 17.7% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225F.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+40%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+4%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+6%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+20%	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+50%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	37,655+19%	31,541
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,050
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,653
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,028

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225F uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 225F supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225F) — the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 225F).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+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 Ultra 5 225F 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 Ultra 5 225F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 225F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	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 Ultra 5 225F debuted at $231. On MSRP ($329 vs $231), the Core Ultra 5 225F is $98 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 136.5 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 225F — making the Core Ultra 5 225F the 17.6% better value option.