Core i5-13600K vs EPYC 9355P

CPU

GPU

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9355P

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2024

Popular choices:

••••••i5-13600K•••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-13600K

14 / 20

37,655

0.0%

97,249

+158.3%

Ryzen 9 7945HX

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

About PassMark

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: +6.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,669 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,998 MSRP).
✅Delivers 252.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 32.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,998 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9355P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 97,249).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9355P, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9355P

2024

Why buy it

✅+158.3% higher PassMark.
✅+966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($2,998 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

EPYC 9355P

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,669 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,998 MSRP).
✅Delivers 252.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 32.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,998 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9355P needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+158.3% higher PassMark.
✅+966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 97,249).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9355P, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($2,998 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9355P better than Core i5-13600K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9355P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13600K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9355P is the better fit. You are getting 158.3% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB).

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

EPYC 9355P is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9355P is 811.2% more expensive on MSRP at $2,998 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you 158.3% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i5-13600K is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 252.8% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 32.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 9355P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 14/20. 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

EPYC 9355P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
1080p
low	281 FPS	174 FPS
medium	264 FPS	144 FPS
high	220 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	101 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	152 FPS
medium	198 FPS	123 FPS
high	158 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	85 FPS
medium	133 FPS	73 FPS
high	102 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	48 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9355P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
1080p
low	632 FPS	658 FPS
medium	533 FPS	566 FPS
high	450 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	397 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	548 FPS
medium	474 FPS	483 FPS
high	403 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	333 FPS
medium	282 FPS	295 FPS
high	269 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	236 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9355P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
1080p
low	663 FPS	752 FPS
medium	543 FPS	638 FPS
high	477 FPS	593 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	521 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	561 FPS
medium	499 FPS	474 FPS
high	434 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	405 FPS
medium	381 FPS	326 FPS
high	344 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9355P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
1080p
low	941 FPS	1018 FPS
medium	941 FPS	914 FPS
high	923 FPS	788 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	711 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	813 FPS
medium	850 FPS	707 FPS
high	738 FPS	606 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	535 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	577 FPS
medium	588 FPS	512 FPS
high	529 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	394 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 9355P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and EPYC 9355P

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.

EPYC 9355P

The EPYC 9355P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.55 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 97,249 points. Launch price was $2,998.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 9355P offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 9355P has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.4 GHz on the EPYC 9355P — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.55 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9355P uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the EPYC 9355P's 97,249 — a 88.4% lead for the EPYC 9355P. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9355P.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	32 / 64+129%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+16%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.55 GHz+1%
L3 Cache	24 MB	256 MB (total)+967%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	37,655	97,249+158%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9355P uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — 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 6 TB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 12 (EPYC 9355P). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 128 (EPYC 9355P) — the EPYC 9355P offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and SP5 (EPYC 9355P).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6000
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	6 TB+3100%
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9355P). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9355P requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, EPYC 9355P targets Data Center / Single Socket. Direct competitor: EPYC 9355P rivals Xeon 6740P.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 9355P
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Desktop	Data Center / Single Socket

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the EPYC 9355P debuted at $2998. On MSRP ($329 vs $2998), the Core i5-13600K is $2669 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 32.4 pts/$ for the EPYC 9355P — making the Core i5-13600K the 111.7% better value option.