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 i5-7640X

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,060 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +195.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 303.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 28.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
32.1% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$249 MSRP

Core i5-7640X

2017

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +195.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 303.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 28.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,060 vs 37,655).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.4 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
32.1% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$249 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13600K better than Core i5-7640X?

Yes. Core i5-13600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 195.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 433.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

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 195.8% 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 433.4% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 6 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 32.1% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and it gives you a 195.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 303.7% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 28.4 PassMark/$), 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 2017), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, 300% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 4/4. 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 i5-7640X Benchmark Check

Core i5-13600K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	176 FPS	281 FPS
medium	170 FPS	264 FPS
high	135 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	235 FPS
medium	136 FPS	198 FPS
high	107 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	159 FPS
medium	62 FPS	133 FPS
high	48 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-7640X Open Core i5-13600K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	176 FPS	632 FPS
medium	176 FPS	533 FPS
high	176 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	416 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	540 FPS
medium	176 FPS	474 FPS
high	176 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	351 FPS
4K
low	176 FPS	316 FPS
medium	174 FPS	282 FPS
high	146 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-7640X Open Core i5-13600K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	176 FPS	663 FPS
medium	176 FPS	543 FPS
high	176 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	414 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	600 FPS
medium	176 FPS	499 FPS
high	176 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	176 FPS	441 FPS
medium	176 FPS	381 FPS
high	176 FPS	344 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	295 FPS

Open Core i5-7640X Open Core i5-13600K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
1080p
low	176 FPS	941 FPS
medium	176 FPS	941 FPS
high	176 FPS	923 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	831 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	941 FPS
medium	176 FPS	850 FPS
high	176 FPS	738 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	176 FPS	651 FPS
medium	176 FPS	588 FPS
high	176 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-7640X Open Core i5-13600K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-7640X and Core i5-13600K

Core i5-7640X

The Core i5-7640X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-X (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 112 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 7,060 points. Launch price was $242.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-7640X packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-13600K offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i5-13600K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-7640X versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-7640X uses the Kaby Lake-X (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-13600K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7640X scores 7,060 against the Core i5-13600K's 37,655 — a 136.8% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7640X vs 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	14 / 20+250%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	5.1 GHz+21%
Base Clock	4 GHz+14%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	24 MB+300%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+700%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Kaby Lake-X (2017)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	7,060	37,655+433%
Cinebench R23 Multi	3,726	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,419	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,726	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-7640X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-13600K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-7640X versus DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K — the Core i5-13600K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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: 16 (Core i5-7640X) vs 20 (Core i5-13600K) — the Core i5-13600K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i5-7640X) and Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K).

Feature	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
Socket	LGA2066	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	192 GB+200%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-7640X) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-7640X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7640X targets Desktop, Core i5-13600K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-7640X	Core i5-13600K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-7640X launched at $249 MSRP, while the Core i5-13600K debuted at $329. On MSRP ($249 vs $329), the Core i5-7640X is $80 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-7640X delivers 28.4 pts/$ vs 114.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-13600K — making the Core i5-13600K the 120.6% better value option.