Core i7-13700K vs M2 Pro

CPU

GPU

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

M2 Pro

12 Cores12 Thrd36 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2023

Popular choices:

••••••••i7-13700K•

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-13700K

16 / 24

45,784

+108.7%

21,939

0.0%

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: +33.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌247.2% higher power demand at 125W vs 36W.

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 36W instead of 125W, a 89W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (14,450 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700K

2022

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 36W instead of 125W, a 89W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌247.2% higher power demand at 125W vs 36W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (14,450 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than M2 Pro?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 33.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 31.3% better Geekbench multi-core, and 108.7% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

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 33.4% 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 31.3% 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 i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 33.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M2 Pro 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?

M2 Pro is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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

M2 Pro Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	284 FPS	176 FPS
medium	268 FPS	142 FPS
high	223 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	141 FPS
medium	200 FPS	111 FPS
high	159 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	70 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	66 FPS
medium	134 FPS	56 FPS
high	103 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M2 Pro

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	689 FPS	380 FPS
medium	580 FPS	327 FPS
high	484 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	216 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	324 FPS
medium	525 FPS	289 FPS
high	441 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	208 FPS
medium	314 FPS	188 FPS
high	295 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	128 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M2 Pro

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	648 FPS	548 FPS
medium	530 FPS	548 FPS
high	467 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	545 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	548 FPS
medium	491 FPS	478 FPS
high	427 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	420 FPS
medium	374 FPS	326 FPS
high	339 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M2 Pro

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	970 FPS	548 FPS
medium	883 FPS	548 FPS
high	766 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	548 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	548 FPS
medium	740 FPS	548 FPS
high	642 FPS	525 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	451 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	476 FPS
medium	515 FPS	426 FPS
high	463 FPS	380 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	332 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M2 Pro

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and M2 Pro

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.

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the M2 Pro offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro — a 42.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.42 GHz). The Core i7-13700K is built on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the M2 Pro's 21,939 — a 70.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,650, a 7.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 14,450 (27.1% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 24 MB on the M2 Pro.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+33%	12 / 12
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+54%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+40%	2.42 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+25%	24 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	36 MB+1700%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	—
PassMark	45,784+109%	21,939
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+7%	2,650
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+31%	14,450

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M2 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — 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 32 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 0 (M2 Pro) — the Core i7-13700K offers 20 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 Apple Silicon (M2 Pro).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+500%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	0

🔧

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 ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Apple M2 Pro GPU (M2 Pro) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M2 Pro
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Apple M2 Pro GPU
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	ARM Virtualization
Target Use	—	Professional Laptop