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

✅+19% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 19.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 96.2 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700G across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8700G.

Ryzen 7 8700G

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Spire), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,649 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 96.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen 7 8700G

2024

Why buy it

✅+19% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 19.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 96.2 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Spire), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700G across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8700G.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,649 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 96.2 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8700G better than Core i5-13600K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 8700G is ahead with a 6.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13600K pulls ahead with 19% better PassMark. Core i5-13600K also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

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% 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?

Ryzen 7 8700G is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 8700G is in basically the same MSRP band at $329 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-13600K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 19% better PassMark. Core i5-13600K is also 19.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 96.2 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-13600K 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?

Ryzen 7 8700G 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

Ryzen 7 8700G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	281 FPS	267 FPS
medium	264 FPS	240 FPS
high	220 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	236 FPS
medium	198 FPS	192 FPS
high	158 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	163 FPS
medium	133 FPS	135 FPS
high	102 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	632 FPS	483 FPS
medium	533 FPS	398 FPS
high	450 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	423 FPS
medium	474 FPS	367 FPS
high	403 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	269 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	280 FPS
medium	282 FPS	254 FPS
high	269 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	206 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	663 FPS	791 FPS
medium	543 FPS	791 FPS
high	477 FPS	690 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	581 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	730 FPS
medium	499 FPS	609 FPS
high	434 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	435 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	506 FPS
medium	381 FPS	441 FPS
high	344 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	941 FPS	791 FPS
medium	941 FPS	791 FPS
high	923 FPS	791 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	791 FPS
medium	850 FPS	764 FPS
high	738 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	574 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	579 FPS
medium	588 FPS	514 FPS
high	529 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	395 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 8700G

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 8700G

The Ryzen 7 8700G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 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: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,649 points. Launch price was $329.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8700G 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 8700G — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8700G uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 7 8700G's 31,649 — a 17.3% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700G.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4.2 GHz+20%
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)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	37,655+19%	31,649
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,720
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	14,326

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8700G uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 8700G 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and X670,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700G).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8700G 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 8700G). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 8700G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 8700G targets High-end Desktop APU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8700G rivals Core i7-13700.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8700G
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	High-end Desktop APU

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 8700G debuted at $329. On MSRP ($329 vs $329), the Ryzen 7 8700G is $0 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 96.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 8700G — making the Core i5-13600K the 17.3% better value option.