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 i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 86.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,588 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 86.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with 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).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,588 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Ryzen 9 3900?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 6.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 23.1% 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 i5-13600K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.7% 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 i5-13600K is the better fit. You are getting 23.1% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is $170 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 86.7% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 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 i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	281 FPS	159 FPS
medium	264 FPS	130 FPS
high	220 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	144 FPS
medium	198 FPS	115 FPS
high	158 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	78 FPS
medium	133 FPS	67 FPS
high	102 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 3900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	632 FPS	534 FPS
medium	533 FPS	470 FPS
high	450 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	460 FPS
medium	474 FPS	411 FPS
high	403 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	289 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	288 FPS
medium	282 FPS	261 FPS
high	269 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 3900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	663 FPS	709 FPS
medium	543 FPS	589 FPS
high	477 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	541 FPS
medium	499 FPS	448 FPS
high	434 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	347 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	394 FPS
medium	381 FPS	315 FPS
high	344 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	224 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 3900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	941 FPS	765 FPS
medium	941 FPS	765 FPS
high	923 FPS	711 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	725 FPS
medium	850 FPS	644 FPS
high	738 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	486 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	516 FPS
medium	588 FPS	469 FPS
high	529 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 3900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 9 3900

Core i5-13600K

The Core i5-13600K 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 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. 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: 37,655 points. Launch price was $319.

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 i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 — a 17% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 9 3900's 30,588 — a 20.7% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+19%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+13%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	64 MB+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	37,655+23%	30,588
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,700
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,983

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K 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 DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3900 — the Core i5-13600K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13600K 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 i5-13600K) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3900) — the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
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	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 3900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power). Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 3900
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Workstation Desktop (low power)

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3900 debuted at $499. On MSRP ($329 vs $499), the Core i5-13600K is $170 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 61.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3900 — making the Core i5-13600K the 60.5% better value option.