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

✅+24% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $140 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 67.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core Ultra 9 285T

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,916 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.2 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core Ultra 9 285T

2025

Why buy it

✅+24% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $140 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 67.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 36 MB).
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,916 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.2 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285T better than Core i7-13700K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 9 285T is ahead with a 3.7% 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 24% better PassMark. Core Ultra 9 285T 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 24% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core Ultra 9 285T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 9 285T is 34.2% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-13700K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 24% better PassMark. Core i7-13700K is also 66.5% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 67.2 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i7-13700K can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 9 285T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022) and 20% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB). 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 9 285T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	284 FPS	309 FPS
medium	268 FPS	299 FPS
high	223 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	208 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	269 FPS
medium	200 FPS	228 FPS
high	159 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	179 FPS
medium	134 FPS	151 FPS
high	103 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	101 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 9 285T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	689 FPS	429 FPS
medium	580 FPS	375 FPS
high	484 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	267 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	364 FPS
medium	525 FPS	328 FPS
high	441 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	220 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	204 FPS
medium	314 FPS	187 FPS
high	295 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	154 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 9 285T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	648 FPS	844 FPS
medium	530 FPS	690 FPS
high	467 FPS	612 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	525 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	723 FPS
medium	491 FPS	594 FPS
high	427 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	512 FPS
medium	374 FPS	434 FPS
high	339 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	335 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 9 285T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	970 FPS	923 FPS
medium	883 FPS	923 FPS
high	766 FPS	829 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	744 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	853 FPS
medium	740 FPS	747 FPS
high	642 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	575 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	629 FPS
medium	515 FPS	559 FPS
high	463 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	435 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 9 285T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core Ultra 9 285T

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 9 285T

The Core Ultra 9 285T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 36,916 points. Launch price was $549.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285T offers 24 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 9 285T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285T — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 285T uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core Ultra 9 285T's 36,916 — a 21.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285T.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 24+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz	5.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+143%	1.4 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+50%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	45,784+24%	36,916
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 9 285T uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus 6400 on the Core Ultra 9 285T — the Core Ultra 9 285T supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 9 285T supports up to 256 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% 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 Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 9 285T).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+78643100%	256
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 Ultra 9 285T). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics (Core Ultra 9 285T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Core Ultra 9 285T rivals Ryzen 9 7900.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 9 285T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 9 285T debuted at $549. On MSRP ($409 vs $549), the Core i7-13700K is $140 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 67.2 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 9 285T — making the Core i7-13700K the 49.9% better value option.