Core i5-13600K vs EPYC 4545P

CPU

GPU

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 4545P

16 Cores32 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2025

Popular choices:

••••••i5-13600K•••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-13600K

14 / 20

37,655

0.0%

54,255

+44.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

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 i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $220 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 54,255).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4545P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

EPYC 4545P

2025

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 98.8 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Core i5-13600K

2022

EPYC 4545P

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $220 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 54,255).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4545P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 98.8 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4545P better than Core i5-13600K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 4545P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13600K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 4545P is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 4545P is the better fit. You are getting 44.1% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).

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

EPYC 4545P is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 4545P is 66.9% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 15.8% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 98.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

EPYC 4545P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 14/20, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

EPYC 4545P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	281 FPS	286 FPS
medium	264 FPS	262 FPS
high	220 FPS	215 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	262 FPS
medium	198 FPS	218 FPS
high	158 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	148 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	182 FPS
medium	133 FPS	151 FPS
high	102 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	102 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 4545P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	632 FPS	674 FPS
medium	533 FPS	580 FPS
high	450 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	567 FPS
medium	474 FPS	506 FPS
high	403 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	320 FPS
medium	282 FPS	289 FPS
high	269 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	219 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 4545P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	663 FPS	850 FPS
medium	543 FPS	679 FPS
high	477 FPS	601 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	515 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	679 FPS
medium	499 FPS	543 FPS
high	434 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	398 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	484 FPS
medium	381 FPS	401 FPS
high	344 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 4545P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	941 FPS	1072 FPS
medium	941 FPS	966 FPS
high	923 FPS	843 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	760 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	842 FPS
medium	850 FPS	747 FPS
high	738 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	619 FPS
medium	588 FPS	553 FPS
high	529 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 4545P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and EPYC 4545P

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.

EPYC 4545P

The EPYC 4545P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 May 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Grado (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,255 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 4545P offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 4545P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.4 GHz on the EPYC 4545P — a 5.7% clock advantage for the EPYC 4545P (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 4545P uses Grado (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the EPYC 4545P's 54,255 — a 36.1% lead for the EPYC 4545P. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 4545P.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	16 / 32+14%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	64 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Grado (2025)
PassMark	37,655	54,255+44%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 4545P uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus 5600 on the EPYC 4545P — the EPYC 4545P supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 28 (EPYC 4545P) — the EPYC 4545P offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and AM5 (EPYC 4545P).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+104857500%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the EPYC 4545P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 4545P). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and AMD Radeon Graphics (EPYC 4545P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 4545P rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 4545P
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	AMD Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the EPYC 4545P debuted at $549. On MSRP ($329 vs $549), the Core i5-13600K is $220 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 98.8 pts/$ for the EPYC 4545P — making the Core i5-13600K the 14.7% better value option.