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: +34.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $121 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 171.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌635.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 17W.

Core Ultra 7 258V

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 125W, a 108W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,947 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 42.1 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core Ultra 7 258V

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $121 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 171.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 125W, a 108W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌635.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 17W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,947 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 42.1 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core Ultra 7 258V?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 98.7% 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 34.7% 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 98.7% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 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 $121 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $450 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 171.8% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 42.1 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 7 258V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 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 7 258V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
1080p
low	281 FPS	272 FPS
medium	264 FPS	243 FPS
high	220 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	230 FPS
medium	198 FPS	185 FPS
high	158 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	161 FPS
medium	133 FPS	130 FPS
high	102 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 7 258V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
1080p
low	632 FPS	217 FPS
medium	533 FPS	179 FPS
high	450 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	142 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	184 FPS
medium	474 FPS	157 FPS
high	403 FPS	145 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	125 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	141 FPS
medium	282 FPS	124 FPS
high	269 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	102 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 7 258V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
1080p
low	663 FPS	474 FPS
medium	543 FPS	474 FPS
high	477 FPS	474 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	474 FPS
medium	499 FPS	474 FPS
high	434 FPS	474 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	468 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	474 FPS
medium	381 FPS	462 FPS
high	344 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 7 258V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
1080p
low	941 FPS	474 FPS
medium	941 FPS	474 FPS
high	923 FPS	474 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	474 FPS
medium	850 FPS	474 FPS
high	738 FPS	474 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	474 FPS
medium	588 FPS	474 FPS
high	529 FPS	474 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	418 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 7 258V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core Ultra 7 258V

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 7 258V

The Core Ultra 7 258V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,947 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 258V offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 258V — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 258V uses Lunar Lake (2024) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core Ultra 7 258V's 18,947 — a 66.1% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 258V.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 8
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+6%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+59%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+100%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2.5 MB (per core)+25%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Lunar Lake (2024)
PassMark	37,655+99%	18,947
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	10,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,750
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 258V uses FCBGA2833 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i5-13600K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 8 (Core Ultra 7 258V) — the Core i5-13600K offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 7 258V).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2833
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	LPDDR5X-8533
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+500%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20+150%	8

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Arc 140V (Core Ultra 7 258V) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core Ultra 7 258V targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 258V rivals Ryzen 7 8840U.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 7 258V
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Arc 140V
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 7 258V debuted at $450. On MSRP ($329 vs $450), the Core i5-13600K is $121 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 42.1 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 7 258V — making the Core i5-13600K the 92.4% better value option.