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 i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $85 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $494 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 72.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $494 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i9-12900F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core i9-12900F

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (35,873 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.6 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($494 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core i9-12900F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $85 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $494 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 72.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $494 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i9-12900F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (35,873 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.6 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($494 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i9-12900F?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 27.6% 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 i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 27.6% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $85 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $494 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 54.2% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 72.6 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 16/24. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-12900F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
1080p
low	284 FPS	269 FPS
medium	268 FPS	259 FPS
high	223 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	230 FPS
medium	200 FPS	198 FPS
high	159 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	159 FPS
medium	134 FPS	136 FPS
high	103 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-12900F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
1080p
low	689 FPS	617 FPS
medium	580 FPS	526 FPS
high	484 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	399 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	533 FPS
medium	525 FPS	470 FPS
high	441 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	340 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	311 FPS
medium	314 FPS	281 FPS
high	295 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-12900F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
1080p
low	648 FPS	775 FPS
medium	530 FPS	619 FPS
high	467 FPS	545 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	462 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	692 FPS
medium	491 FPS	560 FPS
high	427 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	416 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	498 FPS
medium	374 FPS	418 FPS
high	339 FPS	378 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	319 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-12900F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
1080p
low	970 FPS	894 FPS
medium	883 FPS	809 FPS
high	766 FPS	696 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	626 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	765 FPS
medium	740 FPS	681 FPS
high	642 FPS	586 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	517 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	524 FPS
medium	515 FPS	475 FPS
high	463 FPS	423 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	369 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-12900F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core i9-12900F

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K 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 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). 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: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

Core i9-12900F

The Core i9-12900F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 35,873 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-13700K and Core i9-12900F share an identical 16-core/24-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-12900F — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-12900F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core i9-12900F's 35,873 — a 24.3% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Both processors carry 30 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 24
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+6%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+42%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	30 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+60%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	45,784+28%	35,873
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus 4800 on the Core i9-12900F — the Core i9-12900F supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-13700K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and Z690,B660 (Core i9-12900F).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+157286300%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900F). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i9-12900F requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Core i9-12900F rivals Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-12900F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core i9-12900F debuted at $494. On MSRP ($409 vs $494), the Core i7-13700K is $85 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 72.6 pts/$ for the Core i9-12900F — making the Core i7-13700K the 42.6% better value option.