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: +14.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $886 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $1,295 MSRP).
✅Delivers 126.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 49.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $1,295 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 210W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon 6520P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (18,980 vs 25,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 144 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6520P, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Xeon 6520P

2025

Why buy it

✅+31.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+380% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 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 49.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($1,295 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌68% higher power demand at 210W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Xeon 6520P

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $886 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $1,295 MSRP).
✅Delivers 126.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 49.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $1,295 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 210W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon 6520P needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+31.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+380% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (18,980 vs 25,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 144 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6520P, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 88 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 49.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($1,295 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌68% higher power demand at 210W vs 125W.
❌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 Xeon 6520P?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon 6520P 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, Xeon 6520P is the better fit. You are getting 31.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 380% larger total L3 cache (144 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 $886 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $1,295 MSRP, and it gives you a 14.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon 6520P is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 31.7% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 126.5% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 49.4 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon 6520P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 380% larger total L3 cache (144 MB vs 30 MB), more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 16/24, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

Xeon 6520P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
1080p
low	284 FPS	188 FPS
medium	268 FPS	165 FPS
high	223 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	155 FPS
medium	200 FPS	131 FPS
high	159 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	70 FPS
medium	134 FPS	63 FPS
high	103 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon 6520P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
1080p
low	689 FPS	520 FPS
medium	580 FPS	460 FPS
high	484 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	309 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	425 FPS
medium	525 FPS	383 FPS
high	441 FPS	321 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	256 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	262 FPS
medium	314 FPS	239 FPS
high	295 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	176 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon 6520P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
1080p
low	648 FPS	910 FPS
medium	530 FPS	838 FPS
high	467 FPS	791 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	698 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	782 FPS
medium	491 FPS	716 FPS
high	427 FPS	673 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	601 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	528 FPS
medium	374 FPS	444 FPS
high	339 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon 6520P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
1080p
low	970 FPS	985 FPS
medium	883 FPS	887 FPS
high	766 FPS	767 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	666 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	804 FPS
medium	740 FPS	700 FPS
high	642 FPS	603 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	580 FPS
medium	515 FPS	521 FPS
high	463 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	398 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon 6520P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon 6520P

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.

Xeon 6520P

The Xeon 6520P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 144 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 210 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 64,010 points. Launch price was $1,295.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon 6520P offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon 6520P has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4 GHz on the Xeon 6520P — a 29.8% 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 Xeon 6520P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Xeon 6520P's 64,010 — a 33.2% lead for the Xeon 6520P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 1,900, a 39.9% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 25,000 (27.4% advantage for the Xeon 6520P). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 144 MB (total) on the Xeon 6520P.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 48+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+35%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+42%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	144 MB (total)+380%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Granite Rapids (2024−2025)
PassMark	45,784	64,010+40%
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+50%	1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	25,000+32%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon 6520P uses LGA4710 (PCIe 5.0) — 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 4 TB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (Xeon 6520P). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 88 (Xeon 6520P) — the Xeon 6520P offers 68 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 FCLGA4710 (Xeon 6520P).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4710
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	4 TB+2033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	88+340%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon 6520P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6520P). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon 6520P requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon 6520P targets Server. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon 6520P rivals EPYC 9254.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon 6520P
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon 6520P debuted at $1295. On MSRP ($409 vs $1295), the Core i7-13700K is $886 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 49.4 pts/$ for the Xeon 6520P — making the Core i7-13700K the 77.5% better value option.