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 $1,008 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 145.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (24 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 62,261).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 128 MB vs 24 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,008 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 145.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 128 MB vs 24 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (24 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 62,261).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($1,337 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX better than Core i5-13600K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX 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 PRO 3975WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 50 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 PRO 3975WX is the better fit. You are getting 65.3% 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 PRO 3975WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is 306.4% more expensive on MSRP at $1,337 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 145.8% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 46.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8. 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 PRO 3975WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	281 FPS	183 FPS
medium	264 FPS	149 FPS
high	220 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	160 FPS
medium	198 FPS	127 FPS
high	158 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	73 FPS
medium	133 FPS	61 FPS
high	102 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	632 FPS	579 FPS
medium	533 FPS	499 FPS
high	450 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	485 FPS
medium	474 FPS	425 FPS
high	403 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	304 FPS
medium	282 FPS	270 FPS
high	269 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	202 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	663 FPS	681 FPS
medium	543 FPS	564 FPS
high	477 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	570 FPS
medium	499 FPS	479 FPS
high	434 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	417 FPS
medium	381 FPS	333 FPS
high	344 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	941 FPS	1020 FPS
medium	941 FPS	917 FPS
high	923 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	664 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	802 FPS
medium	850 FPS	701 FPS
high	738 FPS	584 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	496 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	559 FPS
medium	588 FPS	504 FPS
high	529 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

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 PRO 3975WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2020-07-14. It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,261 points. Launch price was $4,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — a 19.4% 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 PRO 3975WX uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's 62,261 — a 49.3% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	32 / 64+129%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+21%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	128 MB+433%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	37,655	62,261+65%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	42,986
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,260
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	25,211

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — the Core i5-13600K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and AMD WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Socket	LGA1700	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	2048 GB+967%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX rivals Xeon W-3375.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX debuted at $1337. On MSRP ($329 vs $1337), the Core i5-13600K is $1008 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 46.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — making the Core i5-13600K the 84.3% better value option.