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 i5-13500

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.5% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $257 less on MSRP ($242 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 109.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 128.5 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($242 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13500 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,700 vs 20,924).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 128.5 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $242 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13500 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13500

2023

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.5% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $257 less on MSRP ($242 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 109.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 128.5 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($242 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13500 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,700 vs 20,924).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 128.5 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $242 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13500 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13500 better than Ryzen 9 3900?

Yes. Core i5-13500 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 3.5% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 18.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 1.7% higher 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 i5-13500 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.5% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13500 is the better fit. You are getting 18.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i5-13500 is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13500 is $257 cheaper on MSRP at $242 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.5% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 109.7% better value on MSRP (128.5 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), 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 9 3900 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Core i5-13500 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 12/24. 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 i5-13500 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	260 FPS	159 FPS
medium	250 FPS	130 FPS
high	208 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	144 FPS
medium	191 FPS	115 FPS
high	153 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	78 FPS
medium	131 FPS	67 FPS
high	101 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Ryzen 9 3900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	556 FPS	534 FPS
medium	471 FPS	470 FPS
high	400 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	460 FPS
medium	403 FPS	411 FPS
high	350 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	289 FPS
4K
low	281 FPS	288 FPS
medium	248 FPS	261 FPS
high	234 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	208 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Ryzen 9 3900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	648 FPS	709 FPS
medium	527 FPS	589 FPS
high	467 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	590 FPS	541 FPS
medium	486 FPS	448 FPS
high	425 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	347 FPS
4K
low	433 FPS	394 FPS
medium	372 FPS	315 FPS
high	333 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	285 FPS	224 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Ryzen 9 3900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	778 FPS	765 FPS
medium	778 FPS	765 FPS
high	726 FPS	711 FPS
ultra	644 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	725 FPS
medium	702 FPS	644 FPS
high	608 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	528 FPS	486 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	516 FPS
medium	504 FPS	469 FPS
high	449 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	390 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Ryzen 9 3900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13500 and Ryzen 9 3900

Core i5-13500

The Core i5-13500 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 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,109 points. Launch price was $242.

Ryzen 9 3900

The Ryzen 9 3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,588 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13500 packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i5-13500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-13500 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 — a 11% clock advantage for the Core i5-13500 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-13500 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13500 scores 31,109 against the Ryzen 9 3900's 30,588 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i5-13500. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 20,924 vs 17,700 (16.7% advantage for the Core i5-13500). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,419 vs 1,713, a 34.2% lead for the Core i5-13500 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,160 vs 10,983 (10.2% advantage for the Core i5-13500). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13500 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900.

Feature	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+12%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.1 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	64 MB+167%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	31,109+2%	30,588
Cinebench R23 Multi	20,924+18%	17,700
Geekbench 6 Single	2,419+41%	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,160+11%	10,983

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13500 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-13500 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3900 — the Core i5-13500 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13500 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 i5-13500) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3900) — the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760,Z690,B660 (Core i5-13500) and X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900).

Feature	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 3900 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-13500) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900). The Core i5-13500 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 3900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13500 targets High-end Productivity / Gaming, Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power). Direct competitor: Core i5-13500 rivals Ryzen 7 7700; Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Core i5-13500	Ryzen 9 3900
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	High-end Productivity / Gaming	Workstation Desktop (low power)

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13500 launched at $242 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3900 debuted at $499. On MSRP ($242 vs $499), the Core i5-13500 is $257 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13500 delivers 128.5 pts/$ vs 61.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3900 — making the Core i5-13500 the 70.8% better value option.