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 i7-12700TE

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $31 less on MSRP ($378 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 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,744 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 52.2 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Delivers 114.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 52.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i7-12700TE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
8.2% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$378 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core i7-12700TE

2022

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $31 less on MSRP ($378 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Delivers 114.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 52.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i7-12700TE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,744 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 52.2 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
8.2% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$378 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 33.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 131.9% 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 33.5% more average FPS across 3 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 131.9% better PassMark, 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 the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is 8.2% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $378 MSRP, and it gives you a 33.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 114.3% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 52.2 PassMark/$), 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 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 i7-12700TE Benchmark Check

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	169 FPS	284 FPS
medium	153 FPS	268 FPS
high	128 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	238 FPS
medium	121 FPS	200 FPS
high	99 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	159 FPS
medium	71 FPS	134 FPS
high	57 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core i7-13700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	319 FPS	689 FPS
medium	273 FPS	580 FPS
high	230 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	273 FPS	595 FPS
medium	241 FPS	525 FPS
high	210 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	168 FPS	348 FPS
medium	150 FPS	314 FPS
high	142 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core i7-13700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	494 FPS	648 FPS
medium	494 FPS	530 FPS
high	494 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	448 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	494 FPS	591 FPS
medium	494 FPS	491 FPS
high	445 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	387 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	450 FPS	434 FPS
medium	363 FPS	374 FPS
high	323 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	266 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core i7-13700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	494 FPS	970 FPS
medium	494 FPS	883 FPS
high	494 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	494 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	494 FPS	829 FPS
medium	494 FPS	740 FPS
high	494 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	494 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	494 FPS	567 FPS
medium	474 FPS	515 FPS
high	423 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core i7-13700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-12700TE

The Core i7-12700TE 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 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 19,744 points. Launch price was $299.

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 i7-12700TE 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 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-12700TE versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K — a 16% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 1.4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-12700TE uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-13700K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700TE scores 19,744 against the Core i7-13700K's 45,784 — a 79.5% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700TE vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K.

Feature	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	16 / 24+33%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.4 GHz+17%
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	3.4 GHz+143%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	19,744	45,784+132%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	31,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,846
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,980

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	—	192 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-12700TE) / true (Core i7-13700K). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i7-12700TE requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-12700TE	Core i7-13700K
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700TE launched at $378 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($378 vs $409), the Core i7-12700TE is $31 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700TE delivers 52.2 pts/$ vs 111.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700K — making the Core i7-13700K the 72.7% better value option.