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 i5-12600K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($289 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,472 vs 2,846).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,500 vs 31,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 95.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($289 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅+15.1% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Delivers 17.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 95.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $289 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
41.5% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$289 MSRP

Core i5-12600K

2021

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($289 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+15.1% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Delivers 17.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 95.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $289 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,472 vs 2,846).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,500 vs 31,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 95.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($289 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
41.5% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$289 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i5-12600K?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.7% average FPS lead across 28 shared CPU game tests in our data, 77.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 66.0% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 28 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 77.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is 41.5% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $289 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 28 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 17.3% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 95.5 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 10/16. 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 i5-12600K Benchmark Check

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	311 FPS	284 FPS
medium	292 FPS	268 FPS
high	244 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	267 FPS	238 FPS
medium	223 FPS	200 FPS
high	181 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	159 FPS
medium	142 FPS	134 FPS
high	109 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-12600K Open Core i7-13700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	577 FPS	689 FPS
medium	487 FPS	580 FPS
high	405 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	369 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	467 FPS	595 FPS
medium	411 FPS	525 FPS
high	352 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	305 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	348 FPS
medium	249 FPS	314 FPS
high	233 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i5-12600K Open Core i7-13700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	690 FPS	648 FPS
medium	635 FPS	530 FPS
high	561 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	476 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	690 FPS	591 FPS
medium	566 FPS	491 FPS
high	495 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	425 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	434 FPS
medium	426 FPS	374 FPS
high	382 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i5-12600K Open Core i7-13700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	690 FPS	970 FPS
medium	690 FPS	883 FPS
high	690 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	644 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	690 FPS	829 FPS
medium	689 FPS	740 FPS
high	599 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	526 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	542 FPS	567 FPS
medium	495 FPS	515 FPS
high	444 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i5-12600K Open Core i7-13700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12600K and Core i7-13700K

Core i5-12600K

The Core i5-12600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 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: 27,586 points. Launch price was $289.

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K 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 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). 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: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12600K packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-13700K offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i5-12600K versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-12600K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12600K scores 27,586 against the Core i7-13700K's 45,784 — a 49.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,500 vs 31,000 (55.7% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,472 vs 2,846, a 14.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,863 vs 18,980 (46.1% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600K vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K.

Feature	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	16 / 24+60%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.4 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+9%	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	27,586	45,784+66%
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,500	31,000+77%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,472	2,846+15%
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,863	18,980+60%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i5-12600K versus DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K — the Core i5-12600K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-13700K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i5-12600K) and Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K).

Feature	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128	192 GB+157286300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12600K) vs true (Core i7-13700K). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-12600K) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600K targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600K rivals Ryzen 5 5600X; Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i5-12600K	Core i7-13700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12600K launched at $289 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($289 vs $409), the Core i5-12600K is $120 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12600K delivers 95.5 pts/$ vs 111.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700K — making the Core i7-13700K the 15.9% better value option.