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: +78.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $957 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,286 MSRP).
✅Delivers 771.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,286 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5117, which brings 14 cores / 28 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 5117

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 14 cores / 28 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 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 (16,897 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($1,286 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Xeon Gold 5117

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +78.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $957 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,286 MSRP).
✅Delivers 771.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,286 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 14 cores / 28 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 5117, which brings 14 cores / 28 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,897 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($1,286 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Xeon Gold 5117?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 5117 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 78.6% more average FPS across 4 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 122.9% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 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 $957 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $1,286 MSRP, and it gives you a 78.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 771.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2017), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647, 24.7% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 19 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 14/28. 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

Xeon Gold 5117 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
1080p
low	281 FPS	175 FPS
medium	264 FPS	140 FPS
high	220 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	139 FPS
medium	198 FPS	109 FPS
high	158 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	68 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	66 FPS
medium	133 FPS	55 FPS
high	102 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon Gold 5117

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
1080p
low	632 FPS	189 FPS
medium	533 FPS	168 FPS
high	450 FPS	145 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	163 FPS
medium	474 FPS	149 FPS
high	403 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	104 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	106 FPS
medium	282 FPS	97 FPS
high	269 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	68 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon Gold 5117

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
1080p
low	663 FPS	422 FPS
medium	543 FPS	422 FPS
high	477 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	406 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	422 FPS
medium	499 FPS	422 FPS
high	434 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	335 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	401 FPS
medium	381 FPS	310 FPS
high	344 FPS	264 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon Gold 5117

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
1080p
low	941 FPS	422 FPS
medium	941 FPS	422 FPS
high	923 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	422 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	422 FPS
medium	850 FPS	422 FPS
high	738 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	415 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	422 FPS
medium	588 FPS	401 FPS
high	529 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	306 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon Gold 5117

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Xeon Gold 5117

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 Gold 5117

The Xeon Gold 5117 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 16,897 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, matching the Xeon Gold 5117's 14 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5117 — a 58.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5117 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Xeon Gold 5117's 16,897 — a 76.1% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5117.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	14 / 28
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+82%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+75%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+25%	19.25 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	14 MB+600%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	37,655+123%	16,897

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 5117 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus 2400 on the Xeon Gold 5117 — the Xeon Gold 5117 supports 199.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5117 supports up to 768 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 5117). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 5117) — the Xeon Gold 5117 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and C621 (Xeon Gold 5117).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
Socket	LGA1700	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	2400+47900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+26214300%	768
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 5117 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 5117 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5117 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon Gold 5117
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 5117 debuted at $1286. On MSRP ($329 vs $1286), the Core i5-13600K is $957 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5117 — making the Core i5-13600K the 158.8% better value option.