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

✅Costs $271 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 59.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 43,174).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.0 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $271 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 59.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 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 Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 43,174).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.0 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 better than Core i5-13600K?

Yes. Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 14.7% 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, Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.1% 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, Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the better fit. You are getting 14.7% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is 82.4% more expensive on MSRP at $600 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 59.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 72.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 14/20. 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 AI Max PRO 390 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	281 FPS	286 FPS
medium	264 FPS	253 FPS
high	220 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	185 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	266 FPS
medium	198 FPS	211 FPS
high	158 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	147 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	184 FPS
medium	133 FPS	147 FPS
high	102 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	97 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	632 FPS	778 FPS
medium	533 FPS	656 FPS
high	450 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	654 FPS
medium	474 FPS	572 FPS
high	403 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	368 FPS
medium	282 FPS	326 FPS
high	269 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	264 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	663 FPS	1021 FPS
medium	543 FPS	783 FPS
high	477 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	580 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	818 FPS
medium	499 FPS	635 FPS
high	434 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	565 FPS
medium	381 FPS	460 FPS
high	344 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	941 FPS	1079 FPS
medium	941 FPS	1015 FPS
high	923 FPS	912 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	895 FPS
medium	850 FPS	788 FPS
high	738 FPS	689 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	605 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	658 FPS
medium	588 FPS	582 FPS
high	529 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

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 AI Max PRO 390

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP11. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 43,174 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 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 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390's 43,174 — a 13.7% lead for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+2%	5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	64 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	37,655	43,174+15%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus 8000 on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports 199.8% 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 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 4 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 28 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Socket	LGA1700	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	8000+159900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+157286300%	128
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and AMD Radeon 8050S (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 rivals Apple M4 Max.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	AMD Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 debuted at $600. On MSRP ($329 vs $600), the Core i5-13600K is $271 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — making the Core i5-13600K the 45.6% better value option.