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 i9-13900TE

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (20,602 vs 21,845).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($554 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $255 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).
✅Delivers 96.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 37.2 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900TE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900TE moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13900TE

2023

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $255 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).
✅Delivers 96.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 37.2 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $554 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (20,602 vs 21,845).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($554 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900TE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900TE moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

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

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i9-13900TE is ahead with a 18.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600X pulls ahead with 6% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better fit. You are getting 6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i9-13900TE is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13900TE is 85.3% more expensive on MSRP at $554 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 6% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 96.5% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 37.2 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds 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 i9-13900TE is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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 i9-13900TE Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900TE	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	306 FPS	203 FPS
medium	288 FPS	174 FPS
high	235 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	268 FPS	169 FPS
medium	229 FPS	141 FPS
high	174 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	154 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	184 FPS	85 FPS
medium	157 FPS	76 FPS
high	118 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i9-13900TE Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900TE	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	415 FPS	464 FPS
medium	363 FPS	387 FPS
high	296 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	352 FPS	397 FPS
medium	316 FPS	334 FPS
high	263 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	212 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	198 FPS	263 FPS
medium	180 FPS	226 FPS
high	171 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	146 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i9-13900TE Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900TE	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	515 FPS	546 FPS
medium	515 FPS	473 FPS
high	515 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	483 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	515 FPS	508 FPS
medium	515 FPS	413 FPS
high	498 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	427 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	348 FPS
medium	429 FPS	292 FPS
high	380 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i9-13900TE Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900TE	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	515 FPS	546 FPS
medium	515 FPS	546 FPS
high	515 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	515 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	515 FPS	546 FPS
medium	515 FPS	546 FPS
high	515 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	515 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	515 FPS	529 FPS
medium	515 FPS	484 FPS
high	498 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i9-13900TE Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

Core i9-13900TE

The Core i9-13900TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 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 1 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 20,602 points. Launch price was $299.

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 i9-13900TE packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-13900TE has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-13900TE versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900TE (base: 1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-13900TE uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900TE scores 20,602 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 5.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900TE vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i9-13900TE	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+300%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+9%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	1 GHz	3.7 GHz+270%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)+13%	32 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	20,602	21,845+6%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900TE 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 i9-13900TE versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Core i9-13900TE supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900TE) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i9-13900TE) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i9-13900TE	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	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-13900TE supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13900TE) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Core i9-13900TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i9-13900TE	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13900TE launched at $554 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($554 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $255 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13900TE delivers 37.2 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 65.1% better value option.