Core i3-13100F vs Core i7-13700K

Intel

Core i3-13100F

4 Cores8 Thrd58 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2023

Popular choices:

i7-13700K
VS
Intel

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 i3-13100F

2023

Why buy it

  • Costs $300 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • Delivers 20.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 134.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • Draws 58W instead of 125W, a 67W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,577 vs 18,980).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +113.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i3-13100F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 134.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).
  • 115.5% higher power demand at 125W vs 58W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-13100F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i3-13100F?
Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 113.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 150.5% better Geekbench multi-core, and 212.5% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 113.9% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.
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 150.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i7-13700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i3-13100F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700K is 275.2% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $109 MSRP, and it gives you a 113.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-13100F is also 20.1% better value on MSRP (134.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i3-13100F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
1080p
low171 FPS284 FPS
medium150 FPS268 FPS
high120 FPS223 FPS
ultra101 FPS190 FPS
1440p
low145 FPS238 FPS
medium123 FPS200 FPS
high97 FPS159 FPS
ultra81 FPS139 FPS
4K
low81 FPS159 FPS
medium73 FPS134 FPS
high57 FPS103 FPS
ultra45 FPS90 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
1080p
low291 FPS689 FPS
medium243 FPS580 FPS
high220 FPS484 FPS
ultra193 FPS439 FPS
1440p
low250 FPS595 FPS
medium210 FPS525 FPS
high196 FPS441 FPS
ultra169 FPS378 FPS
4K
low185 FPS348 FPS
medium158 FPS314 FPS
high133 FPS295 FPS
ultra106 FPS261 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
1080p
low366 FPS648 FPS
medium366 FPS530 FPS
high366 FPS467 FPS
ultra346 FPS405 FPS
1440p
low366 FPS591 FPS
medium366 FPS491 FPS
high342 FPS427 FPS
ultra309 FPS371 FPS
4K
low343 FPS434 FPS
medium297 FPS374 FPS
high257 FPS339 FPS
ultra209 FPS290 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
1080p
low366 FPS970 FPS
medium366 FPS883 FPS
high366 FPS766 FPS
ultra366 FPS689 FPS
1440p
low366 FPS829 FPS
medium366 FPS740 FPS
high366 FPS642 FPS
ultra366 FPS566 FPS
4K
low366 FPS567 FPS
medium366 FPS515 FPS
high366 FPS463 FPS
ultra366 FPS404 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-13100F and Core i7-13700K

Intel

Core i3-13100F

The Core i3-13100F 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 14,649 points. Launch price was $109.

Intel

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.

Processing Power

The Core i3-13100F packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-13700K offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i3-13100F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i3-13100F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-13100F scores 14,649 against the Core i7-13700K's 45,784 — a 103% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,272 vs 2,846, a 22.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,577 vs 18,980 (85.9% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-13100F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K.

FeatureCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
16 / 24+300%
Boost Clock
4.5 GHz
5.4 GHz+20%
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
3.4 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
30 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)
2 MB (per core)+60%
Process
Intel 7 nm
Intel 7 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark
14,649
45,784+213%
Cinebench R23 Multi
31,000
Geekbench 6 Single
2,272
2,846+25%
Geekbench 6 Multi
7,577
18,980+150%
🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i3-13100F) and Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K).

FeatureCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
Socket
LGA1700
LGA1700
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB
192 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i3-13100F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-13100F) vs true (Core i7-13700K). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i3-13100F requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

FeatureCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
true
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-13100F launched at $109 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($109 vs $409), the Core i3-13100F is $300 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-13100F delivers 134.4 pts/$ vs 111.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700K — making the Core i3-13100F the 18.2% better value option.

FeatureCore i3-13100FCore i7-13700K
MSRP
$109-73%
$409
Performance per Dollar
134.4+20%
111.9
Release Date
2023
2022