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 i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅+18.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $340 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Delivers 117.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 51.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3950X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3950X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Ryzen 9 3950X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (38,519 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 51.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($749 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Ryzen 9 3950X

2019

Why buy it

✅+18.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $340 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Delivers 117.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 51.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3950X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3950X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (38,519 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 51.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($749 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Ryzen 9 3950X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 9 3950X is ahead with a 8.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K pulls ahead with 18.9% better PassMark. Ryzen 9 3950X also has the bigger cache pool with 113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 18.9% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $340 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $749 MSRP, and it gives you 18.9% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 9 3950X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 8.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 117.7% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 51.4 PassMark/$), 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 3950X 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 i7-13700K 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 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 16/32. 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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3950X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	284 FPS	207 FPS
medium	268 FPS	182 FPS
high	223 FPS	147 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	167 FPS
medium	200 FPS	138 FPS
high	159 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	89 FPS
medium	134 FPS	79 FPS
high	103 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	50 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 3950X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	689 FPS	701 FPS
medium	580 FPS	616 FPS
high	484 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	438 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	580 FPS
medium	525 FPS	519 FPS
high	441 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	360 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	340 FPS
medium	314 FPS	306 FPS
high	295 FPS	283 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	252 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 3950X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	648 FPS	871 FPS
medium	530 FPS	701 FPS
high	467 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	520 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	710 FPS
medium	491 FPS	572 FPS
high	427 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	494 FPS
medium	374 FPS	412 FPS
high	339 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	307 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 3950X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	970 FPS	963 FPS
medium	883 FPS	963 FPS
high	766 FPS	887 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	796 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	883 FPS
medium	740 FPS	772 FPS
high	642 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	597 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	649 FPS
medium	515 FPS	577 FPS
high	463 FPS	513 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 3950X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 9 3950X

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K 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 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). 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: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

Ryzen 9 3950X

The Ryzen 9 3950X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 38,519 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the Ryzen 9 3950X's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3950X — a 13.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3950X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 9 3950X's 38,519 — a 17.2% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3950X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+15%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	64 MB+113%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	45,784+19%	38,519
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 3950X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3950X — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-13700K 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 i7-13700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3950X) — the Ryzen 9 3950X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and X570,B550 (Ryzen 9 3950X).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
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: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3950X). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 3950X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 3950X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3950X debuted at $749. On MSRP ($409 vs $749), the Core i7-13700K is $340 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 51.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3950X — making the Core i7-13700K the 74.1% better value option.