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

✅+32.9% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.5 vs 142.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌177.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 45W.

Ryzen 7 260

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 142.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 45W instead of 125W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (28,339 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen 7 260

2025

Why buy it

✅+32.9% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 142.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 45W instead of 125W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 114.5 vs 142.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌177.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (28,339 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Ryzen 7 260?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 32.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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 32.9% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i5-13600K is 65.3% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 260 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 2.2% in the shared gaming data.

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

Ryzen 7 260 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

Ryzen 7 260 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
1080p
low	281 FPS	265 FPS
medium	264 FPS	240 FPS
high	220 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	234 FPS
medium	198 FPS	192 FPS
high	158 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	162 FPS
medium	133 FPS	135 FPS
high	102 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 260

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
1080p
low	632 FPS	486 FPS
medium	533 FPS	399 FPS
high	450 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	304 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	424 FPS
medium	474 FPS	367 FPS
high	403 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	267 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	280 FPS
medium	282 FPS	253 FPS
high	269 FPS	237 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	204 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 260

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
1080p
low	663 FPS	708 FPS
medium	543 FPS	708 FPS
high	477 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	623 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	708 FPS
medium	499 FPS	644 FPS
high	434 FPS	544 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	467 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	540 FPS
medium	381 FPS	474 FPS
high	344 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	357 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 260

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
1080p
low	941 FPS	708 FPS
medium	941 FPS	708 FPS
high	923 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	708 FPS
medium	850 FPS	708 FPS
high	738 FPS	657 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	572 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	574 FPS
medium	588 FPS	511 FPS
high	529 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	393 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 260

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 260

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.

Ryzen 7 260

The Ryzen 7 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 28,339 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 260 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 260 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 260 uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 7 260's 28,339 — a 28.2% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 260.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.8 GHz+9%
L3 Cache	24 MB+50%	16 MB (total)
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)	Hawk Point (2024−2025)
PassMark	37,655+33%	28,339

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 260 uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — 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 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
Socket	LGA1700	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+200%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 260 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 260). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 260) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 260 targets Mobile.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 260
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Mobile

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 260 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($329 vs $199), the Ryzen 7 260 is $130 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 142.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 260 — making the Ryzen 7 260 the 21.8% better value option.