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

✅Costs $5,480 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $5,889 MSRP).
✅Delivers 628.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 15.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $5,889 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon w9-3495X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w9-3495X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (31,000 vs 72,560).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w9-3495X, which brings 56 cores / 112 threads and 112 PCIe lanes.

Xeon w9-3495X

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +81.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 56 cores / 112 threads, plus 112 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅460% more PCIe lanes (112 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($5,889 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Xeon w9-3495X

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $5,480 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $5,889 MSRP).
✅Delivers 628.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 15.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $5,889 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon w9-3495X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +81.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 56 cores / 112 threads, plus 112 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅460% more PCIe lanes (112 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w9-3495X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (31,000 vs 72,560).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w9-3495X, which brings 56 cores / 112 threads and 112 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($5,889 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon w9-3495X better than Core i7-13700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w9-3495X 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 gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon w9-3495X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 81.8% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 105 MB vs 30 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon w9-3495X is the better fit. You are getting 134.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 56 cores and 112 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 250% larger total L3 cache (105 MB vs 30 MB).

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

Xeon w9-3495X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon w9-3495X is 1339.9% more expensive on MSRP at $5,889 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 81.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-13700K is also 628.9% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 15.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon w9-3495X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 105 MB L3 cache instead of 30 MB, more multi-core headroom with 56 cores / 112 threads instead of 16/24, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 w9-3495X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
1080p
low	284 FPS	316 FPS
medium	268 FPS	306 FPS
high	223 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	207 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	274 FPS
medium	200 FPS	237 FPS
high	159 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	186 FPS
medium	134 FPS	159 FPS
high	103 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	108 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w9-3495X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
1080p
low	689 FPS	384 FPS
medium	580 FPS	332 FPS
high	484 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	236 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	308 FPS
medium	525 FPS	273 FPS
high	441 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	190 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	181 FPS
medium	314 FPS	162 FPS
high	295 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	133 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w9-3495X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
1080p
low	648 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	530 FPS	1086 FPS
high	467 FPS	1020 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	1009 FPS
medium	491 FPS	913 FPS
high	427 FPS	839 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	605 FPS
medium	374 FPS	521 FPS
high	339 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	400 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w9-3495X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
1080p
low	970 FPS	1141 FPS
medium	883 FPS	1015 FPS
high	766 FPS	896 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	797 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	924 FPS
medium	740 FPS	809 FPS
high	642 FPS	712 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	625 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	675 FPS
medium	515 FPS	602 FPS
high	463 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w9-3495X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon w9-3495X

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 w9-3495X

The Xeon w9-3495X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 105 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 90,441 points. Launch price was $5,889.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon w9-3495X offers 56 cores / 112 threads — the Xeon w9-3495X has 40 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.8 GHz on the Xeon w9-3495X — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon w9-3495X uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Xeon w9-3495X's 90,441 — a 65.6% lead for the Xeon w9-3495X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 72,560 (80.3% advantage for the Xeon w9-3495X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,136, a 28.5% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 18,600 (2% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 105 MB on the Xeon w9-3495X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	56 / 112+250%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+13%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+79%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	105 MB+250%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	45,784	90,441+98%
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	72,560+134%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+33%	2,136
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+2%	18,600

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon w9-3495X uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Xeon w9-3495X supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (Xeon w9-3495X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 112 (Xeon w9-3495X) — the Xeon w9-3495X offers 92 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 W790 (Xeon w9-3495X).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	4096 GB+2033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	112+460%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Xeon w9-3495X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support true virtualization. The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon w9-3495X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon w9-3495X targets Ultimate Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon w9-3495X rivals Threadripper PRO 7995WX.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w9-3495X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	true
Target Use	—	Ultimate Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon w9-3495X debuted at $5889. On MSRP ($409 vs $5889), the Core i7-13700K is $5480 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Xeon w9-3495X — making the Core i7-13700K the 151.7% better value option.