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: +33.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 125W instead of 129W, a 4W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA2579 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon D-2799 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-2799, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 32 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Xeon D-2799 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon D-2799

2022

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 32 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (32 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (33,792 vs 37,655).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA2579 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Xeon D-2799

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 125W instead of 129W, a 4W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA2579 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon D-2799 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 20 cores / 40 threads, plus 32 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (32 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-2799, which brings 20 cores / 40 threads and 32 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Xeon D-2799 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (33,792 vs 37,655).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA2579 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌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 Xeon D-2799?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon D-2799 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 gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-13600K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 33.1% more average FPS across 50 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 11.4% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 33.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA2579 and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 20/40. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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

Xeon D-2799 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
1080p
low	281 FPS	184 FPS
medium	264 FPS	154 FPS
high	220 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	147 FPS
medium	198 FPS	118 FPS
high	158 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	70 FPS
medium	133 FPS	59 FPS
high	102 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon D-2799

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
1080p
low	632 FPS	364 FPS
medium	533 FPS	316 FPS
high	450 FPS	262 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	213 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	313 FPS
medium	474 FPS	281 FPS
high	403 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	190 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	202 FPS
medium	282 FPS	183 FPS
high	269 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	124 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon D-2799

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
1080p
low	663 FPS	721 FPS
medium	543 FPS	581 FPS
high	477 FPS	504 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	441 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	587 FPS
medium	499 FPS	478 FPS
high	434 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	362 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	429 FPS
medium	381 FPS	333 FPS
high	344 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon D-2799

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
1080p
low	941 FPS	845 FPS
medium	941 FPS	785 FPS
high	923 FPS	680 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	585 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	682 FPS
medium	850 FPS	596 FPS
high	738 FPS	513 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	466 FPS
medium	588 FPS	418 FPS
high	529 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	326 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon D-2799

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Xeon D-2799

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.

Xeon D-2799

The Xeon D-2799 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Ice Lake-D (2022−2023) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2579. Thermal design power (TDP): 129 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 33,792 points. Launch price was $1,972.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon D-2799 offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon D-2799 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon D-2799 — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon D-2799 uses Ice Lake-D (2022−2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Xeon D-2799's 33,792 — a 10.8% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon D-2799.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	20 / 40+43%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+50%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+46%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	30 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+60%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Ice Lake-D (2022−2023)
PassMark	37,655+11%	33,792
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	20,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,959
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,895

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon D-2799 uses FCBGA2579 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus DDR4-3200 on the Xeon D-2799 — the Core i5-13600K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon D-2799 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 136.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 4 (Xeon D-2799). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 32 (Xeon D-2799) — the Xeon D-2799 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Ice Lake-D (Xeon D-2799).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2579
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	1024 GB+433%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	32+60%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon D-2799 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon D-2799). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon D-2799 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Xeon D-2799 targets Edge Server / Networking. Direct competitor: Xeon D-2799 rivals EPYC 7302.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon D-2799
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, EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Edge Server / Networking