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

✅Costs $2,170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 163.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 43.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Threadripper 9970X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 108,377).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 92 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 92 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅360% more PCIe lanes (92 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 43.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 163.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 43.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Threadripper 9970X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 92 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅360% more PCIe lanes (92 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 108,377).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 9970X, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 92 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 43.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 9970X better than Core i5-13600K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 9970X 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, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 24 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the better fit. You are getting 187.8% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 24 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is 659.6% more expensive on MSRP at $2,499 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 163.9% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 43.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 24 MB, more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 14/20, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 9970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	281 FPS	314 FPS
medium	264 FPS	289 FPS
high	220 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	278 FPS
medium	198 FPS	231 FPS
high	158 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	191 FPS
medium	133 FPS	158 FPS
high	102 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	632 FPS	818 FPS
medium	533 FPS	697 FPS
high	450 FPS	542 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	674 FPS
medium	474 FPS	599 FPS
high	403 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	388 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	377 FPS
medium	282 FPS	339 FPS
high	269 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	271 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	663 FPS	891 FPS
medium	543 FPS	723 FPS
high	477 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	552 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	714 FPS
medium	499 FPS	580 FPS
high	434 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	508 FPS
medium	381 FPS	419 FPS
high	344 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	311 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
1080p
low	941 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	941 FPS	1002 FPS
high	923 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	872 FPS
medium	850 FPS	768 FPS
high	738 FPS	674 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	587 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	636 FPS
medium	588 FPS	568 FPS
high	529 FPS	504 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

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 9970X

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 108,377 points. Launch price was $2,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X's 108,377 — a 96.9% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	32 / 64+129%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	24 MB	128 MB (total)+433%
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)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	37,655	108,377+188%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	76,136
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,220
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	29,244

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses sTR5 (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 1 TB — 197.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 92 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X offers 72 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 9970X).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Socket	LGA1700	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	1 TB+433%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	92+360%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X 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 Threadripper 9970X). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop, Ryzen Threadripper 9970X targets HEDT / Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 9970X rivals Xeon w7-3465X.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	Desktop	HEDT / Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X debuted at $2499. On MSRP ($329 vs $2499), the Core i5-13600K is $2170 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 43.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X — making the Core i5-13600K the 90.1% better value option.