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

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 8600G needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
43.7% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$229 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 8600G

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (25,248 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen 5 8600G

2024

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 8600G needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
43.7% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$229 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (25,248 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Ryzen 5 8600G?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.2% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data and 49.1% 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 0.2% more average FPS across 45 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 49.1% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 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 43.7% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $229 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 3.8% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 110.3 PassMark/$), 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 AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 8600G 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?

Ryzen 5 8600G 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

Ryzen 5 8600G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
1080p
low	281 FPS	265 FPS
medium	264 FPS	239 FPS
high	220 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	232 FPS
medium	198 FPS	190 FPS
high	158 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	158 FPS
medium	133 FPS	130 FPS
high	102 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 5 8600G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
1080p
low	632 FPS	426 FPS
medium	533 FPS	358 FPS
high	450 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	275 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	371 FPS
medium	474 FPS	325 FPS
high	403 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	244 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	268 FPS
medium	282 FPS	240 FPS
high	269 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	187 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 5 8600G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
1080p
low	663 FPS	631 FPS
medium	543 FPS	631 FPS
high	477 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	631 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	631 FPS
medium	499 FPS	603 FPS
high	434 FPS	522 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	446 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	492 FPS
medium	381 FPS	431 FPS
high	344 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	303 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 5 8600G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
1080p
low	941 FPS	631 FPS
medium	941 FPS	631 FPS
high	923 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	631 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	631 FPS
medium	850 FPS	631 FPS
high	738 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	601 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	610 FPS
medium	588 FPS	548 FPS
high	529 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	426 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 5 8600G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 5 8600G

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.

Ryzen 5 8600G

The Ryzen 5 8600G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 25,248 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 8600G offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8600G — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8600G uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 5 8600G's 25,248 — a 39.4% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8600G.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+133%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+2%	5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4.3 GHz+23%
L3 Cache	24 MB+50%	16 MB (total)
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)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	37,655+49%	25,248

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 8600G uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) / not specified (Ryzen 5 8600G). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 5 8600G requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 5 8600G
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 8600G debuted at $229. On MSRP ($329 vs $229), the Ryzen 5 8600G is $100 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 110.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8600G — making the Core i5-13600K the 3.7% better value option.