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: +79.0% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $21 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $350 MSRP).
✅Delivers 348.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 25.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $350 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌37.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 91W.

Core i7-6700K

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 91W instead of 125W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,933 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($350 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core i7-6700K

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +79.0% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $21 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $350 MSRP).
✅Delivers 348.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 25.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $350 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Draws 91W instead of 125W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌37.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 91W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,933 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($350 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i7-6700K?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 79.0% average FPS lead across 23 shared CPU game tests in our data, 321.5% 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 79.0% more average FPS across 23 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 321.5% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-13600K is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is $21 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $350 MSRP, and it gives you a 79.0% average FPS lead across 23 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 348.4% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 25.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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 newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2015), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 200% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 4/8. 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

Core i7-6700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
1080p
low	281 FPS	207 FPS
medium	264 FPS	164 FPS
high	220 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	179 FPS
medium	198 FPS	141 FPS
high	158 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	72 FPS
medium	133 FPS	60 FPS
high	102 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-6700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
1080p
low	632 FPS	223 FPS
medium	533 FPS	220 FPS
high	450 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	168 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	223 FPS
medium	474 FPS	196 FPS
high	403 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	150 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	182 FPS
medium	282 FPS	159 FPS
high	269 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	110 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-6700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
1080p
low	663 FPS	223 FPS
medium	543 FPS	223 FPS
high	477 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	223 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	223 FPS
medium	499 FPS	223 FPS
high	434 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	223 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	223 FPS
medium	381 FPS	223 FPS
high	344 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	223 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-6700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
1080p
low	941 FPS	223 FPS
medium	941 FPS	223 FPS
high	923 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	223 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	223 FPS
medium	850 FPS	223 FPS
high	738 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	223 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	223 FPS
medium	588 FPS	223 FPS
high	529 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	223 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core i7-6700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core i7-6700K

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.

Core i7-6700K

The Core i7-6700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,933 points. Launch price was $339.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i7-6700K offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-6700K — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-6700K uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core i7-6700K's 8,933 — a 123.3% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+250%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+21%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	24 MB+200%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	37,655+322%	8,933

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-6700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i7-6700K — 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 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 16 (Core i7-6700K) — the Core i5-13600K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+200%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and HD Graphics 530 (Core i7-6700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Core i7-6700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core i7-6700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	HD Graphics 530
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core i7-6700K debuted at $350. On MSRP ($329 vs $350), the Core i5-13600K is $21 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 25.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-6700K — making the Core i5-13600K the 127.1% better value option.