Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen Z2 Extreme

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

✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Z2 Extreme needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Extreme mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1462.5% higher power demand at 125W vs 8W.

Ryzen Z2 Extreme

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 8W instead of 125W, a 117W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,177 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Ryzen Z2 Extreme

2025

Why buy it

✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Z2 Extreme needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 8W instead of 125W, a 117W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Extreme mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1462.5% higher power demand at 125W vs 8W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,177 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).
❌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 Ryzen Z2 Extreme?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data and 89.4% better 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 2.9% more average FPS across 3 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 89.4% better PassMark, 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 today. Core i7-13700K is at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen Z2 Extreme 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 Z2 Extreme Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Z2 Extreme
1080p
low	284 FPS	271 FPS
medium	268 FPS	241 FPS
high	223 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	225 FPS
medium	200 FPS	181 FPS
high	159 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	158 FPS
medium	134 FPS	128 FPS
high	103 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Z2 Extreme

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Z2 Extreme
1080p
low	689 FPS	272 FPS
medium	580 FPS	229 FPS
high	484 FPS	201 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	241 FPS
medium	525 FPS	213 FPS
high	441 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	161 FPS
medium	314 FPS	148 FPS
high	295 FPS	141 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	120 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Z2 Extreme

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Z2 Extreme
1080p
low	648 FPS	604 FPS
medium	530 FPS	604 FPS
high	467 FPS	604 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	540 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	604 FPS
medium	491 FPS	599 FPS
high	427 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	435 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	535 FPS
medium	374 FPS	439 FPS
high	339 FPS	387 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	320 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Z2 Extreme

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Z2 Extreme
1080p
low	970 FPS	604 FPS
medium	883 FPS	604 FPS
high	766 FPS	604 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	604 FPS
medium	740 FPS	604 FPS
high	642 FPS	604 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	552 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	572 FPS
medium	515 FPS	510 FPS
high	463 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	401 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Z2 Extreme

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen Z2 Extreme

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 Z2 Extreme

The Ryzen Z2 Extreme is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,177 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme — a 7.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen Z2 Extreme's 24,177 — a 61.8% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Z2 Extreme
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+8%	5 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+70%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+88%	16 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	8 MB+300%
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025)
PassMark	45,784+89%	24,177
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Z2 Extreme
Socket	LGA1700	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i7-13700K) / not specified (Ryzen Z2 Extreme). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.