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 i7-11850HE

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $9 less on MSRP ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,365 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 53.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Delivers 109.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 53.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
2.3% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$400 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core i7-11850HE

2021

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $9 less on MSRP ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Delivers 109.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 53.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,365 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 53.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
2.3% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$400 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i7-11850HE?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 30.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 114.3% better 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 30.9% 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 i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 114.3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 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 2.3% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it gives you a 30.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 109.6% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 53.4 PassMark/$), 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), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787, 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 8/16. 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 i7-11850HE Benchmark Check

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	165 FPS	284 FPS
medium	145 FPS	268 FPS
high	118 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	238 FPS
medium	120 FPS	200 FPS
high	97 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	159 FPS
medium	71 FPS	134 FPS
high	56 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-13700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	297 FPS	689 FPS
medium	257 FPS	580 FPS
high	217 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	255 FPS	595 FPS
medium	228 FPS	525 FPS
high	198 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	348 FPS
medium	143 FPS	314 FPS
high	135 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-13700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	534 FPS	648 FPS
medium	534 FPS	530 FPS
high	524 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	534 FPS	591 FPS
medium	518 FPS	491 FPS
high	445 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	444 FPS	434 FPS
medium	375 FPS	374 FPS
high	331 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-13700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	534 FPS	970 FPS
medium	534 FPS	883 FPS
high	534 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	534 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	534 FPS	829 FPS
medium	534 FPS	740 FPS
high	534 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	512 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	534 FPS	567 FPS
medium	482 FPS	515 FPS
high	429 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-13700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11850HE and Core i7-13700K

Core i7-11850HE

The Core i7-11850HE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 August 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,365 points. Launch price was $400.

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 i7-11850HE packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-13700K offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-11850HE versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K — a 13.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-11850HE uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-13700K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11850HE scores 21,365 against the Core i7-13700K's 45,784 — a 72.7% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,984 vs 2,846, a 35.7% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11850HE vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K.

Feature	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	16 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz	5.4 GHz+15%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+62%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	21,365	45,784+114%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	31,000
Geekbench 6 Single	1,984	2,846+43%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,980

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11850HE uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-13700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-11850HE versus DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% 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 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RM590E,QM580E (Core i7-11850HE) and Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K).

Feature	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-11850HE supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11850HE) vs true (Core i7-13700K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics (Core i7-11850HE) 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 i7-11850HE targets Embedded/Industrial. Direct competitor: Core i7-11850HE rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000; Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-13700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	true
Target Use	Embedded/Industrial	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-11850HE launched at $400 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($400 vs $409), the Core i7-11850HE is $9 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-11850HE delivers 53.4 pts/$ vs 111.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700K — making the Core i7-13700K the 70.8% better value option.