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 i9-13900KS

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +49.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 18.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($699 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
133.8% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $400 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 60,543).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 86.6 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900KS moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900KS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13900KS

2023

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +49.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 18.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($699 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $400 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
133.8% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 60,543).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 86.6 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900KS moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900KS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900KS better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Core i9-13900KS is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 49.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 177.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13900KS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 49.6% 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 i9-13900KS is the better fit. You are getting 177.1% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Core i9-13900KS is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13900KS is 133.8% more expensive on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 49.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 18.6% better value on MSRP (86.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), 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 AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600X 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?

Core i9-13900KS is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12. 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 i9-13900KS Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	325 FPS	203 FPS
medium	314 FPS	174 FPS
high	246 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	281 FPS	169 FPS
medium	241 FPS	141 FPS
high	177 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	194 FPS	85 FPS
medium	165 FPS	76 FPS
high	122 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	790 FPS	464 FPS
medium	688 FPS	387 FPS
high	550 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	662 FPS	397 FPS
medium	597 FPS	334 FPS
high	490 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	400 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	368 FPS	263 FPS
medium	336 FPS	226 FPS
high	312 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	794 FPS	546 FPS
medium	660 FPS	473 FPS
high	572 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	711 FPS	508 FPS
medium	599 FPS	413 FPS
high	512 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	348 FPS
medium	463 FPS	292 FPS
high	412 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	1089 FPS	546 FPS
medium	975 FPS	546 FPS
high	853 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	760 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	899 FPS	546 FPS
medium	791 FPS	546 FPS
high	690 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	607 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	661 FPS	529 FPS
medium	592 FPS	484 FPS
high	523 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i9-13900KS Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900KS and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i9-13900KS

The Core i9-13900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.8 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 60,543 points. Launch price was $699.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13900KS packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-13900KS has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.8 GHz on the Core i9-13900KS versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 23.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900KS (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-13900KS uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900KS scores 60,543 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 93.9% lead for the Core i9-13900KS. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900KS vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+300%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.8 GHz+26%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.7 GHz+16%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)+13%	32 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	60,543+177%	21,845
Cinebench R23 Multi	40,998	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,123	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	21,421	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900KS uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i9-13900KS versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Core i9-13900KS supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-13900KS supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900KS) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i9-13900KS) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i9-13900KS) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Core i9-13900KS includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i9-13900KS rivals Ryzen 9 7950X.

Feature	Core i9-13900KS	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13900KS launched at $699 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($699 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $400 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13900KS delivers 86.6 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Core i9-13900KS the 17% better value option.