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 $259 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 67.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 66.9 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,846 vs 3,000).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (31,000 vs 35,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900HX.

Core i9-14900HX

2024

Why buy it

✅+5.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.9 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core i9-14900HX

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $259 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 67.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 66.9 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+5.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,846 vs 3,000).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (31,000 vs 35,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900HX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.9 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-14900HX better than Core i7-13700K?

Yes. Core i9-14900HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 12.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 i9-14900HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% 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 i9-14900HX is the better fit. You are getting 12.9% 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 i9-14900HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-14900HX is 63.3% more expensive on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-13700K is also 67.3% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 66.9 PassMark/$), 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 i9-14900HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 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 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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-14900HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
1080p
low	284 FPS	318 FPS
medium	268 FPS	309 FPS
high	223 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	206 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	276 FPS
medium	200 FPS	238 FPS
high	159 FPS	176 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	190 FPS
medium	134 FPS	162 FPS
high	103 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	109 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-14900HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
1080p
low	689 FPS	497 FPS
medium	580 FPS	436 FPS
high	484 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	314 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	422 FPS
medium	525 FPS	381 FPS
high	441 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	258 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	236 FPS
medium	314 FPS	217 FPS
high	295 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	180 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-14900HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
1080p
low	648 FPS	761 FPS
medium	530 FPS	626 FPS
high	467 FPS	542 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	466 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	681 FPS
medium	491 FPS	568 FPS
high	427 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	425 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	501 FPS
medium	374 FPS	439 FPS
high	339 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	334 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-14900HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
1080p
low	970 FPS	1001 FPS
medium	883 FPS	896 FPS
high	766 FPS	783 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	696 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	831 FPS
medium	740 FPS	731 FPS
high	642 FPS	639 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	561 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	613 FPS
medium	515 FPS	549 FPS
high	463 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	425 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-14900HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core i9-14900HX

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 i9-14900HX

The Core i9-14900HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 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: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 44,685 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i9-14900HX offers 24 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-14900HX has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.7 GHz on the Core i9-14900HX — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-14900HX (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-14900HX uses Raptor Lake-HX Refresh (2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core i9-14900HX's 44,685 — a 2.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 35,000 (12.1% advantage for the Core i9-14900HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 3,000, a 5.3% lead for the Core i9-14900HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 17,500 (8.1% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-14900HX.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 32+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz	5.7 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+55%	2.2 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-HX Refresh (2024)
PassMark	45,784+2%	44,685
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	35,000+13%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	3,000+5%
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+8%	17,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-14900HX uses FCBGA1964 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. 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 HM770,WM790 (Core i9-14900HX).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1964
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200
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. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-14900HX). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-14900HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-14900HX targets Flagship Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Core i9-14900HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-14900HX
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Flagship Gaming Laptop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core i9-14900HX debuted at $668. On MSRP ($409 vs $668), the Core i7-13700K is $259 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 66.9 pts/$ for the Core i9-14900HX — making the Core i7-13700K the 50.4% better value option.