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 i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅+26.5% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $145 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900E across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core i9-13900E

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 18,980).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($554 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core i9-13900E

2023

Why buy it

✅+26.5% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $145 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900E across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 18,980).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($554 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900E better than Core i7-13700K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i9-13900E is ahead with a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K pulls ahead with 26.5% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i9-13900E also has the bigger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).

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 26.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i9-13900E is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13900E is 35.5% more expensive on MSRP at $554 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-13700K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 26.5% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i7-13700K is also 53.2% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13900E is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and 20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-13900E Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
1080p
low	284 FPS	305 FPS
medium	268 FPS	288 FPS
high	223 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	199 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	268 FPS
medium	200 FPS	229 FPS
high	159 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	184 FPS
medium	134 FPS	157 FPS
high	103 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	106 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900E

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
1080p
low	689 FPS	412 FPS
medium	580 FPS	360 FPS
high	484 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	257 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	350 FPS
medium	525 FPS	314 FPS
high	441 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	210 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	197 FPS
medium	314 FPS	179 FPS
high	295 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	146 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900E

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
1080p
low	648 FPS	1012 FPS
medium	530 FPS	1012 FPS
high	467 FPS	977 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	838 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	991 FPS
medium	491 FPS	881 FPS
high	427 FPS	793 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	599 FPS
medium	374 FPS	519 FPS
high	339 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900E

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
1080p
low	970 FPS	1012 FPS
medium	883 FPS	1012 FPS
high	766 FPS	935 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	810 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	1010 FPS
medium	740 FPS	881 FPS
high	642 FPS	761 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	756 FPS
medium	515 FPS	662 FPS
high	463 FPS	578 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900E

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core i9-13900E

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.

Core i9-13900E

The Core i9-13900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 40,476 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i9-13900E offers 24 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13900E has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-13900E — a 3.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-13900E uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core i9-13900E's 40,476 — a 12.3% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,606, a 8.8% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 15,000 (23.4% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900E.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 32+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+4%	5.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+89%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	45,784+13%	40,476
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+9%	2,606
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+27%	15,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-5600 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: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and W680,Q670,Z790,H770 (Core i9-13900E).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
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: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13900E). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-13900E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-13900E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900E
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Embedded

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core i9-13900E debuted at $554. On MSRP ($409 vs $554), the Core i7-13700K is $145 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Core i9-13900E — making the Core i7-13700K the 42% better value option.