Core i5-13600K vs Ryzen 7 7840HS

Intel

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 7840HS

8 Cores16 Thrd35 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2023

Popular choices:

i5-13600K

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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

  • +31.9% higher PassMark.
  • +50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7840HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Ryzen 7 7840HS

2023

Why buy it

  • Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (28,538 vs 37,655).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Ryzen 7 7840HS?
Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 31.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.
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 31.9% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 7840HS 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
1080p
low281 FPS267 FPS
medium264 FPS242 FPS
high220 FPS203 FPS
ultra188 FPS176 FPS
1440p
low235 FPS235 FPS
medium198 FPS193 FPS
high158 FPS157 FPS
ultra138 FPS139 FPS
4K
low159 FPS163 FPS
medium133 FPS136 FPS
high102 FPS105 FPS
ultra90 FPS92 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
1080p
low632 FPS493 FPS
medium533 FPS406 FPS
high450 FPS347 FPS
ultra416 FPS309 FPS
1440p
low540 FPS431 FPS
medium474 FPS374 FPS
high403 FPS320 FPS
ultra351 FPS272 FPS
4K
low316 FPS284 FPS
medium282 FPS258 FPS
high269 FPS242 FPS
ultra238 FPS208 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
1080p
low663 FPS713 FPS
medium543 FPS713 FPS
high477 FPS713 FPS
ultra414 FPS624 FPS
1440p
low600 FPS713 FPS
medium499 FPS646 FPS
high434 FPS545 FPS
ultra376 FPS467 FPS
4K
low441 FPS544 FPS
medium381 FPS475 FPS
high344 FPS422 FPS
ultra295 FPS357 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
1080p
low941 FPS713 FPS
medium941 FPS713 FPS
high923 FPS713 FPS
ultra831 FPS713 FPS
1440p
low941 FPS713 FPS
medium850 FPS713 FPS
high738 FPS658 FPS
ultra651 FPS573 FPS
4K
low651 FPS574 FPS
medium588 FPS511 FPS
high529 FPS456 FPS
ultra437 FPS394 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 7840HS

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 7 7840HS

The Ryzen 7 7840HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 28,538 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7840HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7840HS — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7840HS uses Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 7 7840HS's 28,538 — a 27.5% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7840HS.

FeatureCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
Cores / Threads
14 / 20+75%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
5.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz
3.8 GHz+9%
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-HS (Zen 4) (2023)
PassMark
37,655+32%
28,538
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,854
Geekbench 6 Single
1,962
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,898
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7840HS uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 7840HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 7 7840HS).

FeatureCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
Socket
LGA1700
FP8
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600
LPDDR5-7500 / DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB
256 GB+33%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
No
PCIe Lanes
20
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 7840HS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 7 7840HS). Both include integrated graphics UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 7840HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 7840HS targets High-performance Laptop / Mini-PC. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 7840HS rivals Core i7-13700H.

FeatureCore i5-13600KRyzen 7 7840HS
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 770
Radeon 780M
Unlocked
Yes
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V, SVM
Target Use
Desktop
High-performance Laptop / Mini-PC