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 i5-13600

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $74 less on MSRP ($255 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (31,499 vs 37,655).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.8% higher average FPS across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌
29% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$255 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13600.

Core i5-13600

2023

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $74 less on MSRP ($255 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.8% higher average FPS across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (31,499 vs 37,655).

Trade-offs

❌
29% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$255 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13600.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i5-13600?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.8% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data and 19.5% better PassMark, 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 10.8% more average FPS across 25 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 19.5% 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 still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-13600K is 29.0% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $255 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.8% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600 is also 7.9% better value on MSRP (123.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13600 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.

Core i5-13600 Benchmark Check

Core i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	260 FPS	281 FPS
medium	250 FPS	264 FPS
high	208 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	235 FPS
medium	191 FPS	198 FPS
high	153 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	159 FPS
medium	131 FPS	133 FPS
high	101 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-13600 Open Core i5-13600K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	609 FPS	632 FPS
medium	518 FPS	533 FPS
high	440 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	416 FPS
1440p
low	525 FPS	540 FPS
medium	465 FPS	474 FPS
high	396 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	341 FPS	351 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	316 FPS
medium	277 FPS	282 FPS
high	263 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	231 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-13600 Open Core i5-13600K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	648 FPS	663 FPS
medium	527 FPS	543 FPS
high	467 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	414 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	600 FPS
medium	486 FPS	499 FPS
high	425 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	441 FPS
medium	373 FPS	381 FPS
high	334 FPS	344 FPS
ultra	285 FPS	295 FPS

Open Core i5-13600 Open Core i5-13600K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	787 FPS	941 FPS
medium	787 FPS	941 FPS
high	726 FPS	923 FPS
ultra	645 FPS	831 FPS
1440p
low	787 FPS	941 FPS
medium	702 FPS	850 FPS
high	608 FPS	738 FPS
ultra	529 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	651 FPS
medium	504 FPS	588 FPS
high	449 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	390 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13600 Open Core i5-13600K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600 and Core i5-13600K

Core i5-13600

The Core i5-13600 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 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 31,499 points. Launch price was $255.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-13600 and Core i5-13600K share an identical 14-core/20-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i5-13600 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13600 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-13600K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600 scores 31,499 against the Core i5-13600K's 37,655 — a 17.8% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13600 vs 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	14 / 20
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3.5 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	24 MB
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	31,499	37,655+20%
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,900	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,000	—

🧠

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: Z790,B760,Z690,B660 (Core i5-13600) and Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K).

Feature	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
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	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, EPT (Core i5-13600) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600) and UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600 targets High-end Productivity Desktop, Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13600 rivals Ryzen 7 7700.

Feature	Core i5-13600	Core i5-13600K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	High-end Productivity Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600 launched at $255 MSRP, while the Core i5-13600K debuted at $329. On MSRP ($255 vs $329), the Core i5-13600 is $74 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600 delivers 123.5 pts/$ vs 114.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-13600K — making the Core i5-13600 the 7.6% better value option.