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: +7.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

2022

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (34,549 vs 37,655).
❌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 PRO 5945

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 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.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (34,549 vs 37,655).
❌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 PRO 5945?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 9% 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 7.8% more average FPS across 4 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 9% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 5945 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 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 PRO 5945 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	281 FPS	164 FPS
medium	264 FPS	136 FPS
high	220 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	149 FPS
medium	198 FPS	119 FPS
high	158 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	83 FPS
medium	133 FPS	72 FPS
high	102 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	632 FPS	630 FPS
medium	533 FPS	544 FPS
high	450 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	381 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	524 FPS
medium	474 FPS	460 FPS
high	403 FPS	385 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	315 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	307 FPS
medium	282 FPS	271 FPS
high	269 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	663 FPS	845 FPS
medium	543 FPS	670 FPS
high	477 FPS	586 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	676 FPS
medium	499 FPS	535 FPS
high	434 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	387 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	480 FPS
medium	381 FPS	398 FPS
high	344 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	941 FPS	864 FPS
medium	941 FPS	864 FPS
high	923 FPS	836 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	743 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	864 FPS
medium	850 FPS	757 FPS
high	738 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	626 FPS
medium	588 FPS	557 FPS
high	529 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	423 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

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 PRO 5945

The Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 34,549 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 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 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945's 34,549 — a 8.6% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+9%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 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
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	37,655+9%	34,549
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	23,200
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,175
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 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 PRO 5945 — 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and X570,B550,A520,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
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	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 targets High-end Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 rivals Core i9-12900.