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

✅+15.4% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8745HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Ryzen 7 8745HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (32,620 vs 37,655).

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen 7 8745HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+15.4% higher PassMark.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i5-13600K.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8745HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (32,620 vs 37,655).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Ryzen 7 8745HX?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 15.4% 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 15.4% 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 $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 8745HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022) and 33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB). 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 7 8745HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	281 FPS	254 FPS
medium	264 FPS	236 FPS
high	220 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	218 FPS
medium	198 FPS	183 FPS
high	158 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	152 FPS
medium	133 FPS	127 FPS
high	102 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	632 FPS	620 FPS
medium	533 FPS	518 FPS
high	450 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	387 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	529 FPS
medium	474 FPS	463 FPS
high	403 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	332 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	310 FPS
medium	282 FPS	277 FPS
high	269 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	663 FPS	816 FPS
medium	543 FPS	735 FPS
high	477 FPS	653 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	560 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	701 FPS
medium	499 FPS	564 FPS
high	434 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	415 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	486 FPS
medium	381 FPS	405 FPS
high	344 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	304 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	941 FPS	816 FPS
medium	941 FPS	816 FPS
high	923 FPS	816 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	772 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	816 FPS
medium	850 FPS	755 FPS
high	738 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	579 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	568 FPS
medium	588 FPS	509 FPS
high	529 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 8745HX

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 7 8745HX

The Ryzen 7 8745HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 April 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Dragon Range (2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 32,620 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8745HX 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 8745HX — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8745HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen 7 8745HX's 32,620 — a 14.3% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	24 MB	32 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Dragon Range (2025)
PassMark	37,655+15%	32,620
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8745HX uses FL1 (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 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 8745HX) — the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and FL1 (Ryzen 7 8745HX).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Socket	LGA1700	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+200%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8745HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8745HX). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13600K) and Radeon 610M (Ryzen 7 8745HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 8745HX targets High-end Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8745HX rivals Core i7-14700HX.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 610M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	High-end Gaming Laptop