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: +34.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 99.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 57.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $295 MSRP).
✅150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
11.5% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$295 MSRP
❌635.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 17W.

Core Ultra 5 228V

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $34 less on MSRP ($295 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 125W, a 108W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,955 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 57.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($295 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Core Ultra 5 228V

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 99.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 57.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $295 MSRP).
✅150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $34 less on MSRP ($295 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 125W, a 108W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
11.5% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$295 MSRP
❌635.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 17W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,955 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 57.5 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($295 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core Ultra 5 228V?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 122.1% 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 34.3% more average FPS across 50 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 122.1% 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 11.5% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $295 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 99.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 57.5 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 5 228V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). 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 Ultra 5 228V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	281 FPS	180 FPS
medium	264 FPS	145 FPS
high	220 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	148 FPS
medium	198 FPS	117 FPS
high	158 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	83 FPS
medium	133 FPS	71 FPS
high	102 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 228V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	632 FPS	212 FPS
medium	533 FPS	176 FPS
high	450 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	181 FPS
medium	474 FPS	154 FPS
high	403 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	137 FPS
medium	282 FPS	122 FPS
high	269 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 228V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	663 FPS	424 FPS
medium	543 FPS	424 FPS
high	477 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	424 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	424 FPS
medium	499 FPS	424 FPS
high	434 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	424 FPS
medium	381 FPS	384 FPS
high	344 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	272 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 228V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	941 FPS	424 FPS
medium	941 FPS	424 FPS
high	923 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	424 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	424 FPS
medium	850 FPS	424 FPS
high	738 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	424 FPS
medium	588 FPS	424 FPS
high	529 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	408 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Core Ultra 5 228V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Core Ultra 5 228V

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 Ultra 5 228V

The Core Ultra 5 228V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,955 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 228V offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 228V — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 228V uses Lunar Lake (2024) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Core Ultra 5 228V's 16,955 — a 75.8% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 228V.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 8
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+13%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+67%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+200%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2.5 MB (per core)+25%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Lunar Lake (2024)
PassMark	37,655+122%	16,955
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,932
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,585
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,053

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 228V uses FCBGA2833 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i5-13600K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 8 (Core Ultra 5 228V) — the Core i5-13600K offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and SoC (Core Ultra 5 228V).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2833
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	LPDDR5X-8533
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+500%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20+150%	8

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs Yes (Core Ultra 5 228V). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Arc 130V (Core Ultra 5 228V) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Core Ultra 5 228V
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Arc 130V
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 228V debuted at $295. On MSRP ($329 vs $295), the Core Ultra 5 228V is $34 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 57.5 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 228V — making the Core i5-13600K the 66.3% better value option.