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: +18.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $320 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 195.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 38.7 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 180W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3r2 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,148 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 38.7 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($649 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌44% higher power demand at 180W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3r2 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $320 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 195.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 38.7 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 180W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3r2 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,148 vs 37,655).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 38.7 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($649 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌44% higher power demand at 180W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3r2 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2920X 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, Core i5-13600K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.4% 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 49.7% 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 $320 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $649 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 195.4% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 38.7 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3r2, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 12/24. 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 Threadripper 2920X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	281 FPS	192 FPS
medium	264 FPS	168 FPS
high	220 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	155 FPS
medium	198 FPS	129 FPS
high	158 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	78 FPS
medium	133 FPS	70 FPS
high	102 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	632 FPS	485 FPS
medium	533 FPS	433 FPS
high	450 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	328 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	429 FPS
medium	474 FPS	388 FPS
high	403 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	286 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	276 FPS
medium	282 FPS	248 FPS
high	269 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	663 FPS	629 FPS
medium	543 FPS	626 FPS
high	477 FPS	566 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	495 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	629 FPS
medium	499 FPS	522 FPS
high	434 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	399 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	460 FPS
medium	381 FPS	369 FPS
high	344 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	941 FPS	629 FPS
medium	941 FPS	629 FPS
high	923 FPS	629 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	626 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	629 FPS
medium	850 FPS	629 FPS
high	738 FPS	563 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	503 FPS
medium	588 FPS	463 FPS
high	529 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	361 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

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 Threadripper 2920X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: SP3r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 25,148 points. Launch price was $649.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X — a 17% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses ZEN+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X's 25,148 — a 39.8% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 32 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+19%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	32 MB+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	ZEN+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	37,655+50%	25,148

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses SP3r2 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Socket	LGA1700	SP3r2
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 Threadripper 2920X). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
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 Threadripper 2920X debuted at $649. On MSRP ($329 vs $649), the Core i5-13600K is $320 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 38.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X — making the Core i5-13600K the 98.8% better value option.