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 i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $159 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,568 vs 31,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
63.6% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$250 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Core i7-12700

2022

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $159 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,568 vs 31,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
63.6% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$250 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i7-12700?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 17.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 43.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 52.3% 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 17.9% 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 43.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).

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

Core i7-13700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700K is 63.6% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700 is also 7.4% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 111.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds 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 20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 12/20. 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 i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	257 FPS	284 FPS
medium	248 FPS	268 FPS
high	207 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	238 FPS
medium	194 FPS	200 FPS
high	156 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	159 FPS
medium	134 FPS	134 FPS
high	103 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-13700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	312 FPS	689 FPS
medium	265 FPS	580 FPS
high	224 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	257 FPS	595 FPS
medium	228 FPS	525 FPS
high	198 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	348 FPS
medium	141 FPS	314 FPS
high	133 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-13700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	751 FPS	648 FPS
medium	610 FPS	530 FPS
high	540 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	683 FPS	591 FPS
medium	547 FPS	491 FPS
high	479 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	493 FPS	434 FPS
medium	412 FPS	374 FPS
high	369 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-13700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	751 FPS	970 FPS
medium	751 FPS	883 FPS
high	664 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	590 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	829 FPS
medium	651 FPS	740 FPS
high	560 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	513 FPS	567 FPS
medium	468 FPS	515 FPS
high	414 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-13700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700 and Core i7-13700K

Core i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

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 i7-12700 packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i7-13700K offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-12700 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700 scores 30,055 against the Core i7-13700K's 45,784 — a 41.5% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 21,568 vs 31,000 (35.9% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,497 vs 2,846, a 13.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,448 vs 18,980 (41.6% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700 vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	16 / 24+33%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.4 GHz+10%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+62%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	30,055	45,784+52%
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,568	31,000+44%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,497	2,846+14%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448	18,980+52%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 memory speed. 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: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700) and Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K).

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	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. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700) vs true (Core i7-13700K). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700) 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 i7-12700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X; Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i7-13700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	true
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($250 vs $409), the Core i7-12700 is $159 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700 delivers 120.2 pts/$ vs 111.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700K — making the Core i7-12700 the 7.1% better value option.