Core i5-13420H vs Ryzen 5 6600U

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 i5-13420H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.

Ryzen 5 6600U

2022

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13420H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,992 vs 17,205).

Core i5-13420H

2023

Ryzen 5 6600U

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13420H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,992 vs 17,205).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13420H better than Ryzen 5 6600U?

Yes. Core i5-13420H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.3% 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 i5-13420H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 19.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13420H is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-13420H still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i5-13420H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 19.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i5-13420H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i5-13420H Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 6600U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13420H	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	190 FPS	167 FPS
medium	158 FPS	145 FPS
high	133 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	108 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	142 FPS
medium	120 FPS	121 FPS
high	98 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	79 FPS
medium	73 FPS	72 FPS
high	59 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-13420H Open Ryzen 5 6600U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13420H	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	219 FPS	353 FPS
medium	182 FPS	294 FPS
high	164 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	228 FPS
1440p
low	190 FPS	304 FPS
medium	162 FPS	258 FPS
high	150 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	129 FPS	202 FPS
4K
low	148 FPS	226 FPS
medium	130 FPS	195 FPS
high	124 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	146 FPS

Open Core i5-13420H Open Ryzen 5 6600U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13420H	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	430 FPS	425 FPS
medium	430 FPS	425 FPS
high	430 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	344 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	425 FPS
medium	430 FPS	400 FPS
high	430 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	340 FPS
medium	399 FPS	284 FPS
high	351 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	279 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i5-13420H Open Ryzen 5 6600U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13420H	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	430 FPS	425 FPS
medium	430 FPS	425 FPS
high	430 FPS	425 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	425 FPS
medium	430 FPS	425 FPS
high	430 FPS	425 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	425 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	425 FPS
medium	430 FPS	425 FPS
high	430 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	359 FPS

Open Core i5-13420H Open Ryzen 5 6600U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13420H and Ryzen 5 6600U

Core i5-13420H

The Core i5-13420H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 17,205 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 6600U

The Ryzen 5 6600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,992 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13420H packs 8 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 6600U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13420H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13420H versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 6600U — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13420H (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-13420H uses the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13420H scores 17,205 against the Ryzen 5 6600U's 16,992 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-13420H. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-13420H vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 6600U.

Feature	Core i5-13420H	Ryzen 5 6600U
Cores / Threads	8 / 12+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+2%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.9 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	6 nm-14%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)	Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	17,205+1%	16,992

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13420H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.