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 i9-13900K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $599 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7945HX3D mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

2023

Why buy it

✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (57,803 vs 58,373).

Core i9-13900K

2022

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $599 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7945HX3D mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (57,803 vs 58,373).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900K better than Ryzen 9 7945HX3D?

Yes. Core i9-13900K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13900K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.9% 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 i9-13900K is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Core i9-13900K is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13900K is at an unclear MSRP at $599 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (97.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and 255.6% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 36 MB). That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 i9-13900K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
1080p
low	325 FPS	279 FPS
medium	314 FPS	257 FPS
high	249 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	178 FPS
1440p
low	281 FPS	263 FPS
medium	241 FPS	220 FPS
high	179 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	149 FPS
4K
low	194 FPS	183 FPS
medium	165 FPS	152 FPS
high	123 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	103 FPS

Open Core i9-13900K Open Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
1080p
low	756 FPS	673 FPS
medium	658 FPS	580 FPS
high	529 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	363 FPS
1440p
low	635 FPS	559 FPS
medium	573 FPS	499 FPS
high	472 FPS	385 FPS
ultra	390 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	355 FPS	314 FPS
medium	324 FPS	284 FPS
high	304 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	270 FPS	211 FPS

Open Core i9-13900K Open Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
1080p
low	765 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	628 FPS	1077 FPS
high	545 FPS	1022 FPS
ultra	468 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	683 FPS	884 FPS
medium	570 FPS	805 FPS
high	488 FPS	740 FPS
ultra	426 FPS	647 FPS
4K
low	503 FPS	539 FPS
medium	441 FPS	464 FPS
high	394 FPS	418 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	355 FPS

Open Core i9-13900K Open Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
1080p
low	1034 FPS	1051 FPS
medium	926 FPS	951 FPS
high	812 FPS	833 FPS
ultra	722 FPS	745 FPS
1440p
low	859 FPS	831 FPS
medium	757 FPS	736 FPS
high	663 FPS	645 FPS
ultra	582 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	634 FPS	607 FPS
medium	568 FPS	544 FPS
high	503 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	416 FPS

Open Core i9-13900K Open Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900K and Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Core i9-13900K

The Core i9-13900K 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 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 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: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 58,373 points. Launch price was $589.

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2023-07-27. It is based on the Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 57,803 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-13900K packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13900K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.7 GHz on the Core i9-13900K versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900K (base: 3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i9-13900K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D uses Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13900K scores 58,373 against the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D's 57,803 — a 1% lead for the Core i9-13900K. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900K vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D.

Feature	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.7 GHz+6%	5.4 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+30%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	128 MB (total)+256%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024)
PassMark	58,373	57,803
Cinebench R23 Multi	40,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,985	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	19,967	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i9-13900K versus 5200 on the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D — the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-13900K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900K) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 7945HX3D) — the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel Z690 (Core i9-13900K) and FL1 (Ryzen 9 7945HX3D).

Feature	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
Socket	LGA1700	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	5200+103900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+157286300%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i9-13900K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 9 7945HX3D). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-13900K) and AMD Radeon 610M (Ryzen 9 7945HX3D) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-13900K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7945HX3D rivals Core Ultra 9 285HX.

Feature	Core i9-13900K	Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	AMD Radeon 610M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13900K launched at $599 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D debuted at $0. On MSRP ($599 vs $0), the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is $599 cheaper.