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 i9-13900

2023

Why buy it

✅+2.6% higher PassMark.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 5900XT needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900XT across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 82.4 vs 126.4 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Ryzen 9 5900XT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 126.4 vs 82.4 PassMark/$ ($349 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (44,105 vs 45,252).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13900

2023

Ryzen 9 5900XT

2024

Why buy it

✅+2.6% higher PassMark.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 5900XT needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 126.4 vs 82.4 PassMark/$ ($349 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900XT across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 82.4 vs 126.4 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (44,105 vs 45,252).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13900 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900XT better than Core i9-13900?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 9 5900XT is ahead with a 9.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13900 pulls ahead with 2.6% better PassMark. Ryzen 9 5900XT also has the bigger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13900 is the better fit. You are getting 2.6% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 5900XT is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 5900XT is $200 cheaper on MSRP at $349 MSRP versus $549 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i9-13900 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 2.6% better PassMark. It is also 53.3% better value on MSRP (126.4 vs 82.4 PassMark/$), 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 LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i9-13900 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 i9-13900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4 and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 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 i9-13900 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5900XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	321 FPS	285 FPS
medium	311 FPS	260 FPS
high	247 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	261 FPS
medium	240 FPS	216 FPS
high	178 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	148 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	181 FPS
medium	164 FPS	150 FPS
high	123 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	102 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	497 FPS	667 FPS
medium	434 FPS	573 FPS
high	354 FPS	456 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	402 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	538 FPS
medium	380 FPS	475 FPS
high	316 FPS	398 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	325 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	316 FPS
medium	216 FPS	280 FPS
high	205 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	228 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	762 FPS	839 FPS
medium	626 FPS	667 FPS
high	543 FPS	594 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	665 FPS
medium	567 FPS	527 FPS
high	485 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	474 FPS
medium	430 FPS	392 FPS
high	383 FPS	349 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	1012 FPS	1073 FPS
medium	905 FPS	972 FPS
high	792 FPS	850 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	766 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	846 FPS
medium	739 FPS	751 FPS
high	646 FPS	657 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	570 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	622 FPS
medium	555 FPS	556 FPS
high	491 FPS	491 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	425 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900 and Ryzen 9 5900XT

Core i9-13900

The Core i9-13900 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 2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 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: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 45,252 points. Launch price was $549.

Ryzen 9 5900XT

The Ryzen 9 5900XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 July 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 44,105 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13900 packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900XT offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13900 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13900 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900XT — a 13.6% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i9-13900 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900XT uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900 scores 45,252 against the Ryzen 9 5900XT's 44,105 — a 2.6% lead for the Core i9-13900. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900XT.

Feature	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+15%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.3 GHz+65%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	64 MB+78%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	45,252+3%	44,105
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	22,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,320
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	14,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900XT uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13900 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900XT — the Core i9-13900 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900XT) — the Ryzen 9 5900XT offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i9-13900) and X570,B550,A520,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 5900XT).

Feature	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+139900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13900) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900XT). The Core i9-13900 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 5900XT requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900XT targets High End Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i9-13900 rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i9-13900	Ryzen 9 5900XT
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High End Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13900 launched at $549 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900XT debuted at $349. On MSRP ($549 vs $349), the Ryzen 9 5900XT is $200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13900 delivers 82.4 pts/$ vs 126.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900XT — making the Ryzen 9 5900XT the 42.1% better value option.