Core i5-13500HX vs Core i9-7960X
Core i5-13500HX
Core i9-7960X
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-13500HX
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-7960X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-13500HX | Core i9-7960X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-HX (2023) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-13500HX | Core i9-7960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13500HX and Core i9-7960X
Core i5-13500HX
The Core i5-13500HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,827 points. Launch price was $326.
Core i9-7960X
The Core i9-7960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 28,020 points. Launch price was $1,699.
Processing Power
The Core i5-13500HX packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i9-7960X offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-7960X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i5-13500HX versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i9-7960X — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-13500HX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-13500HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-7960X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13500HX scores 27,827 against the Core i9-7960X's 28,020 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i9-7960X. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13500HX vs 22 MB (total) on the Core i9-7960X.
| Feature | Core i5-13500HX | Core i9-7960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 20 | 16 / 32+14% |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+7% | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.8 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+9% | 22 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake-HX (2023) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 27,827 | 28,020 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 22,189 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,394 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-13500HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-7960X uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-13500HX | Core i9-7960X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1964 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 44 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-13500HX) / true (Core i9-7960X).
| Feature | Core i5-13500HX | Core i9-7960X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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