Core i7-13700K vs EPYC 7303P

Intel

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

EPYC 7303P

16 Cores32 Thrd130 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

i7-13700K

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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

  • Better for gaming: +30.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Costs $185 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $594 MSRP).
  • Delivers 82.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 61.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $594 MSRP).
  • Draws 125W instead of 130W, a 5W reduction.
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7303P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
  • No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

EPYC 7303P

2023

Why buy it

  • +113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
  • 540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (36,487 vs 45,784).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($594 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than EPYC 7303P?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7303P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-13700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 30.1% 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 i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 25.5% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $185 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $594 MSRP, and it gives you a 30.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 82.2% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 61.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i7-13700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3 and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 16/32. 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
1080p
low284 FPS159 FPS
medium268 FPS130 FPS
high223 FPS109 FPS
ultra190 FPS86 FPS
1440p
low238 FPS141 FPS
medium200 FPS113 FPS
high159 FPS89 FPS
ultra139 FPS71 FPS
4K
low159 FPS68 FPS
medium134 FPS57 FPS
high103 FPS45 FPS
ultra90 FPS37 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
1080p
low689 FPS390 FPS
medium580 FPS346 FPS
high484 FPS283 FPS
ultra439 FPS225 FPS
1440p
low595 FPS329 FPS
medium525 FPS297 FPS
high441 FPS251 FPS
ultra378 FPS192 FPS
4K
low348 FPS203 FPS
medium314 FPS186 FPS
high295 FPS158 FPS
ultra261 FPS127 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
1080p
low648 FPS644 FPS
medium530 FPS526 FPS
high467 FPS469 FPS
ultra405 FPS411 FPS
1440p
low591 FPS499 FPS
medium491 FPS406 FPS
high427 FPS356 FPS
ultra371 FPS310 FPS
4K
low434 FPS368 FPS
medium374 FPS286 FPS
high339 FPS244 FPS
ultra290 FPS197 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
1080p
low970 FPS885 FPS
medium883 FPS806 FPS
high766 FPS696 FPS
ultra689 FPS610 FPS
1440p
low829 FPS696 FPS
medium740 FPS608 FPS
high642 FPS521 FPS
ultra566 FPS446 FPS
4K
low567 FPS498 FPS
medium515 FPS445 FPS
high463 FPS390 FPS
ultra404 FPS337 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and EPYC 7303P

Intel

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.

AMD

EPYC 7303P

The EPYC 7303P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 36,487 points. Launch price was $594.

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the EPYC 7303P's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303P — a 45.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7303P uses Milan (2021−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the EPYC 7303P's 36,487 — a 22.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303P.

FeatureCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
Cores / Threads
16 / 24
16 / 32
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+59%
3.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz+42%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
30 MB (total)
64 MB (total)+113%
L2 Cache
2 MB (per core)+300%
512 kB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
Milan (2021−2023)
PassMark
45,784+25%
36,487
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 EPYC 7303P uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus 3200 on the EPYC 7303P — the EPYC 7303P supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7303P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 GB 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (EPYC 7303P). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 128 (EPYC 7303P) — the EPYC 7303P offers 108 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 SP3 (EPYC 7303P).

FeatureCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
Socket
LGA1700
SP3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600
3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB+4915100%
4096
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
128+540%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the EPYC 7303P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V, IOMMU (EPYC 7303P). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 7303P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; EPYC 7303P rivals Xeon Gold 6330.

FeatureCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
None
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
true
AMD-V, IOMMU
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the EPYC 7303P debuted at $594. On MSRP ($409 vs $594), the Core i7-13700K is $185 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 61.4 pts/$ for the EPYC 7303P — making the Core i7-13700K the 58.3% better value option.

FeatureCore i7-13700KEPYC 7303P
MSRP
$409-31%
$594
Performance per Dollar
111.9+82%
61.4
Release Date
2022
2023