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: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 494.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 250W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 48,140).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3345, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-3345

2021

Why buy it

✅+27.8% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 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 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 250W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 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 W-3345

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 494.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 250W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+27.8% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 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 48,140).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3345, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 250W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 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 W-3345?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-3345 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, Xeon W-3345 is the better fit. You are getting 27.8% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 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 $2,170 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $2,499 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon W-3345 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 27.8% better PassMark. It is also 494.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 19.3 PassMark/$), 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 2021) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189. 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 W-3345 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	281 FPS	194 FPS
medium	264 FPS	155 FPS
high	220 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	159 FPS
medium	198 FPS	124 FPS
high	158 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	73 FPS
medium	133 FPS	60 FPS
high	102 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon W-3345

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	632 FPS	497 FPS
medium	533 FPS	431 FPS
high	450 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	285 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	425 FPS
medium	474 FPS	376 FPS
high	403 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	245 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	264 FPS
medium	282 FPS	237 FPS
high	269 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	174 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon W-3345

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	663 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	543 FPS	973 FPS
high	477 FPS	914 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	826 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	841 FPS
medium	499 FPS	744 FPS
high	434 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	626 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	540 FPS
medium	381 FPS	444 FPS
high	344 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	320 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon W-3345

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
1080p
low	941 FPS	938 FPS
medium	941 FPS	847 FPS
high	923 FPS	732 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	635 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	735 FPS
medium	850 FPS	645 FPS
high	738 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	481 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	534 FPS
medium	588 FPS	477 FPS
high	529 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	362 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Xeon W-3345

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Xeon W-3345

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 W-3345

The Xeon W-3345 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-W (2021) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 48,140 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon W-3345 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon W-3345 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4 GHz on the Xeon W-3345 — a 24.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon W-3345 uses Ice Lake-W (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Xeon W-3345's 48,140 — a 24.4% lead for the Xeon W-3345. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 36 MB (total) on the Xeon W-3345.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	24 / 48+71%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+27%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	36 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Ice Lake-W (2021)
PassMark	37,655	48,140+28%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-3345 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus 3200 on the Xeon W-3345 — the Xeon W-3345 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-3345 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 8 (Xeon W-3345). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 128 (Xeon W-3345) — the Xeon W-3345 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and SP3,C621A (Xeon W-3345).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+4915100%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon W-3345 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 W-3345 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon W-3345 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Xeon W-3345
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 W-3345 debuted at $2499. On MSRP ($329 vs $2499), the Core i5-13600K is $2170 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 19.3 pts/$ for the Xeon W-3345 — making the Core i5-13600K the 142.4% better value option.