Core i5-13600K vs M2 Pro

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: +32.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌247.2% higher power demand at 125W vs 36W.

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 36W instead of 125W, a 89W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,939 vs 37,655).

Core i5-13600K

2022

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +32.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 36W instead of 125W, a 89W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌247.2% higher power demand at 125W vs 36W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,939 vs 37,655).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than M2 Pro?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 32.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 71.6% 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 32.1% 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, Core i5-13600K is the better fit. You are getting 71.6% 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 the smarter buy today. Core i5-13600K is at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 32.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M2 Pro can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

M2 Pro 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 i5-13600K Benchmark Check

M2 Pro Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	281 FPS	176 FPS
medium	264 FPS	142 FPS
high	220 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	141 FPS
medium	198 FPS	111 FPS
high	158 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	70 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	66 FPS
medium	133 FPS	56 FPS
high	102 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open M2 Pro

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	632 FPS	380 FPS
medium	533 FPS	327 FPS
high	450 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	216 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	324 FPS
medium	474 FPS	289 FPS
high	403 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	208 FPS
medium	282 FPS	188 FPS
high	269 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	128 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open M2 Pro

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	663 FPS	548 FPS
medium	543 FPS	548 FPS
high	477 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	545 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	548 FPS
medium	499 FPS	478 FPS
high	434 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	420 FPS
medium	381 FPS	326 FPS
high	344 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open M2 Pro

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
1080p
low	941 FPS	548 FPS
medium	941 FPS	548 FPS
high	923 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	548 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	548 FPS
medium	850 FPS	548 FPS
high	738 FPS	525 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	451 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	476 FPS
medium	588 FPS	426 FPS
high	529 FPS	380 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	332 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open M2 Pro

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and M2 Pro

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.

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the M2 Pro offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro — a 37.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.42 GHz). The Core i5-13600K is built on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the M2 Pro's 21,939 — a 52.7% lead for the Core i5-13600K. Both processors carry 24 MB of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 12
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+46%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+45%	2.42 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	24 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	36 MB+1700%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	—
PassMark	37,655+72%	21,939
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,650
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	14,450

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M2 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — 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 0 (M2 Pro) — the Core i5-13600K offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and Apple Silicon (M2 Pro).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+500%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	0

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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 (Core i5-13600K) vs ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Apple M2 Pro GPU (M2 Pro) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	M2 Pro
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Apple M2 Pro GPU
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	ARM Virtualization
Target Use	Desktop	Professional Laptop