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: +24.1% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 165U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core Ultra 7 165U

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,000 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core Ultra 7 165U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.1% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 165U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,000 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core Ultra 7 165U?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 24.1% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data, 89.8% better Geekbench multi-core, and 171.6% higher PassMark, 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 24.1% more average FPS across 39 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 89.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 24.1% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 7 165U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 Ultra 7 165U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 165U
1080p
low	284 FPS	276 FPS
medium	268 FPS	248 FPS
high	223 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	230 FPS
medium	200 FPS	185 FPS
high	159 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	134 FPS	130 FPS
high	103 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 165U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 165U
1080p
low	689 FPS	214 FPS
medium	580 FPS	176 FPS
high	484 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	140 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	181 FPS
medium	525 FPS	155 FPS
high	441 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	141 FPS
medium	314 FPS	124 FPS
high	295 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	101 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 165U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 165U
1080p
low	648 FPS	421 FPS
medium	530 FPS	421 FPS
high	467 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	421 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	421 FPS
medium	491 FPS	421 FPS
high	427 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	421 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	421 FPS
medium	374 FPS	421 FPS
high	339 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 165U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 165U
1080p
low	970 FPS	421 FPS
medium	883 FPS	421 FPS
high	766 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	421 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	421 FPS
medium	740 FPS	421 FPS
high	642 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	421 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	421 FPS
medium	515 FPS	421 FPS
high	463 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	403 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 7 165U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core Ultra 7 165U

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 Ultra 7 165U

The Core Ultra 7 165U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,857 points. Launch price was $448.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 165U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 165U — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 165U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core Ultra 7 165U's 16,857 — a 92.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,350, a 19.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 10,000 (62% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 165U.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 165U
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+33%	12 / 14
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+10%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+100%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+150%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Meteor Lake-P (2023)
PassMark	45,784+172%	16,857
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+21%	2,350
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+90%	10,000

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 165U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i7-13700K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 96 GB — 66.7% 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 SoC (Core Ultra 7 165U).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 7 165U
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+100%	96 GB
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 Ultra 7 165U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Intel Arc Graphics (Core Ultra 7 165U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 165U targets Premium Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.