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: +22.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 131.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌1983.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 6W.

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $259 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 17.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 131.3 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 6W instead of 125W, a 119W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,210 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $259 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 17.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 131.3 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 6W instead of 125W, a 119W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 131.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌1983.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 6W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,210 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Ryzen 5 PRO 230?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 22.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 163.2% better Geekbench multi-core, and 132.4% 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 22.3% more average FPS across 4 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 163.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i7-13700K is 172.7% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it gives you a 22.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 PRO 230 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 22.3% in the shared gaming data.

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

Ryzen 5 PRO 230 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

Ryzen 5 PRO 230 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	284 FPS	265 FPS
medium	268 FPS	240 FPS
high	223 FPS	201 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	173 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	232 FPS
medium	200 FPS	191 FPS
high	159 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	161 FPS
medium	134 FPS	134 FPS
high	103 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	689 FPS	390 FPS
medium	580 FPS	323 FPS
high	484 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	250 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	328 FPS
medium	525 FPS	282 FPS
high	441 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	220 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	246 FPS
medium	314 FPS	216 FPS
high	295 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	170 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	648 FPS	493 FPS
medium	530 FPS	493 FPS
high	467 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	493 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	493 FPS
medium	491 FPS	493 FPS
high	427 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	493 FPS
medium	374 FPS	434 FPS
high	339 FPS	370 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	305 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	970 FPS	493 FPS
medium	883 FPS	493 FPS
high	766 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	493 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	493 FPS
medium	740 FPS	493 FPS
high	642 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	493 FPS
medium	515 FPS	493 FPS
high	463 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	381 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 5 PRO 230

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.

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

The Ryzen 5 PRO 230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,702 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 230's 19,702 — a 79.7% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,320, a 20.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 7,210 (89.9% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+167%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+10%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+88%	16 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	6 MB+200%
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)
PassMark	45,784+132%	19,702
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+23%	2,320
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+163%	7,210

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 PRO 230 supports up to 256 GB 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 Socket FP7 (Ryzen 5 PRO 230).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Socket	LGA1700	FP7/FP7r2/FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
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. Only the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 5 PRO 230). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Radeon 760M (Ryzen 5 PRO 230) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 760M
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	AMD-V, AMD-Vi

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 debuted at $150. On MSRP ($409 vs $150), the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 is $259 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 131.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 the 16% better value option.