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

✅Costs $190 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 97.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (31,000 vs 40,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).

Core i9-13900K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 97.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core i9-13900K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $190 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 97.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (31,000 vs 40,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 97.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i9-13900K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 8.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 29% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 27.5% 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 i9-13900K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.3% 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 i9-13900K is the better fit. You are getting 29% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).

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

Core i9-13900K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13900K is 46.5% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-13700K is also 14.9% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 97.5 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13900K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 16/24. 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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-13900K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
1080p
low	284 FPS	325 FPS
medium	268 FPS	314 FPS
high	223 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	281 FPS
medium	200 FPS	241 FPS
high	159 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	194 FPS
medium	134 FPS	165 FPS
high	103 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	112 FPS

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

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
1080p
low	689 FPS	756 FPS
medium	580 FPS	658 FPS
high	484 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	635 FPS
medium	525 FPS	573 FPS
high	441 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	390 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	355 FPS
medium	314 FPS	324 FPS
high	295 FPS	304 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	270 FPS

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

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
1080p
low	648 FPS	765 FPS
medium	530 FPS	628 FPS
high	467 FPS	545 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	468 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	683 FPS
medium	491 FPS	570 FPS
high	427 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	426 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	503 FPS
medium	374 FPS	441 FPS
high	339 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	336 FPS

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

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
1080p
low	970 FPS	1034 FPS
medium	883 FPS	926 FPS
high	766 FPS	812 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	722 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	859 FPS
medium	740 FPS	757 FPS
high	642 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	582 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	634 FPS
medium	515 FPS	568 FPS
high	463 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	437 FPS

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

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 i9-13900K

The Core i9-13900K 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 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 36 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: 58,373 points. Launch price was $589.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i9-13900K offers 24 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13900K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.7 GHz on the Core i9-13900K — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). Both are built on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture using a Intel 7 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core i9-13900K's 58,373 — a 24.2% lead for the Core i9-13900K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 40,000 (25.4% advantage for the Core i9-13900K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,985, a 4.8% lead for the Core i9-13900K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 19,967 (5.1% advantage for the Core i9-13900K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900K.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 32+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz	5.7 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+13%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	45,784	58,373+27%
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	40,000+29%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	2,985+5%
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	19,967+5%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. 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 Intel Z790,Intel Z690 (Core i9-13900K).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support true virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-13900K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-13900K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	true
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core i9-13900K debuted at $599. On MSRP ($409 vs $599), the Core i7-13700K is $190 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 97.5 pts/$ for the Core i9-13900K — making the Core i7-13700K the 13.8% better value option.