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

✅+20.9% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌380.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 26W.

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.1% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 26W instead of 125W, a 99W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,700 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅+20.9% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.1% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 26W instead of 125W, a 99W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌380.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 26W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,700 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255H better than Core i7-13700K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 7 255H is ahead with a 6.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K pulls ahead with 20.9% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i7-13700K also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 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 20.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Core Ultra 7 255H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 7 255H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-13700K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 20.9% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i7-13700K is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 7 255H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022). 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 Ultra 7 255H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	284 FPS	309 FPS
medium	268 FPS	278 FPS
high	223 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	199 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	251 FPS
medium	200 FPS	201 FPS
high	159 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	143 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	173 FPS
medium	134 FPS	139 FPS
high	103 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	689 FPS	773 FPS
medium	580 FPS	637 FPS
high	484 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	460 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	715 FPS
medium	525 FPS	570 FPS
high	441 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	391 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	419 FPS
medium	314 FPS	342 FPS
high	295 FPS	316 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	271 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	648 FPS	773 FPS
medium	530 FPS	773 FPS
high	467 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	662 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	773 FPS
medium	491 FPS	735 FPS
high	427 FPS	635 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	544 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	642 FPS
medium	374 FPS	534 FPS
high	339 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	409 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 255H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	970 FPS	773 FPS
medium	883 FPS	773 FPS
high	766 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	773 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	773 FPS
medium	740 FPS	773 FPS
high	642 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	609 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	612 FPS
medium	515 FPS	540 FPS
high	463 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	427 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core Ultra 7 255H

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 Ultra 7 255H

The Core Ultra 7 255H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 26 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 30,932 points. Launch price was $514.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the Core Ultra 7 255H's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255H — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arrow Lake-H (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core Ultra 7 255H's 30,932 — a 38.7% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,800, a 1.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 15,700 (18.9% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 24 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255H.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 16
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+6%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	4.4 GHz+29%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+25%	24 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Arrow Lake-H (2025)
PassMark	45,784+48%	30,932
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+2%	2,800
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+21%	15,700

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 28 (Core Ultra 7 255H) — the Core Ultra 7 255H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255H).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

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 Ultra 7 255H). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Intel Arc Graphics 140T (Core Ultra 7 255H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 255H targets High-End Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 255H
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Graphics 140T
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	High-End Laptop