Core i7-13700K vs EPYC 7742

CPU

GPU

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 7742

64 Cores128 Thrd225 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

••••••••i7-13700K•

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-13700K

16 / 24

45,784

0.0%

69,448

+51.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

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: +17.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $6,541 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1020.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 225W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (45,784 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7742, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7742

2019

Why buy it

✅+51.7% higher PassMark.
✅+753.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 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 per dollar, at 10.0 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌80% higher power demand at 225W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 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.

Core i7-13700K

2022

EPYC 7742

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $6,541 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1020.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 225W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+51.7% higher PassMark.
✅+753.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (45,784 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7742, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌80% higher power demand at 225W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 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 7742?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7742 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7742 is the better fit. You are getting 51.7% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 753.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 30 MB).

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $6,541 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $6,950 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7742 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 51.7% better PassMark. It is also 1020.3% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 10.0 PassMark/$), 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 newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of TR4. 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

EPYC 7742 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	284 FPS	192 FPS
medium	268 FPS	172 FPS
high	223 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	157 FPS
medium	200 FPS	132 FPS
high	159 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	72 FPS
medium	134 FPS	65 FPS
high	103 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7742

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	689 FPS	247 FPS
medium	580 FPS	221 FPS
high	484 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	148 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	202 FPS
medium	525 FPS	186 FPS
high	441 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	126 FPS
medium	314 FPS	118 FPS
high	295 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	84 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7742

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	648 FPS	629 FPS
medium	530 FPS	536 FPS
high	467 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	415 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	524 FPS
medium	491 FPS	446 FPS
high	427 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	338 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	389 FPS
medium	374 FPS	312 FPS
high	339 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	224 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7742

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	970 FPS	907 FPS
medium	883 FPS	828 FPS
high	766 FPS	713 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	618 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	713 FPS
medium	740 FPS	623 FPS
high	642 FPS	534 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	454 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	504 FPS
medium	515 FPS	454 FPS
high	463 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	346 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7742

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and EPYC 7742

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.

EPYC 7742

The EPYC 7742 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 69,448 points. Launch price was $6,950.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the EPYC 7742 offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the EPYC 7742 has 48 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7742 — a 45.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.25 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7742 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the EPYC 7742's 69,448 — a 41.1% lead for the EPYC 7742. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7742.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	64 / 128+300%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+59%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+51%	2.25 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	256 MB (total)+753%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	45,784	69,448+52%
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 7742 uses TR4 (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 7742 — the EPYC 7742 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7742 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 7742). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 128 (EPYC 7742) — the EPYC 7742 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 7742).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
Socket	LGA1700	TR4
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. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (EPYC 7742). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 7742 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; EPYC 7742 rivals Xeon Platinum 8280.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7742
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
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 EPYC 7742 debuted at $6950. On MSRP ($409 vs $6950), the Core i7-13700K is $6541 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 10.0 pts/$ for the EPYC 7742 — making the Core i7-13700K the 167.2% better value option.