Core i7-13700K vs EPYC 7302

CPU

GPU

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 7302

16 Cores32 Thrd155 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2019

Popular choices:

••••••••i7-13700K•

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-13700K

16 / 24

45,784

+36.7%

33,499

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

About PassMark

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: +35.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $569 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $978 MSRP).
✅Delivers 226.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 34.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $978 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 155W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7302, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7302

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (19,500 vs 31,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.3 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($978 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌24% higher power demand at 155W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-13700K

2022

EPYC 7302

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +35.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $569 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $978 MSRP).
✅Delivers 226.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 34.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $978 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 155W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7302, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (19,500 vs 31,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.3 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($978 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌24% higher power demand at 155W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than EPYC 7302?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7302 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-13700K 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, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 35.2% 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 i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 59% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 $569 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $978 MSRP, and it gives you a 35.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 226.8% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 34.3 PassMark/$), 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 a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 16/32. 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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

EPYC 7302 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
1080p
low	284 FPS	154 FPS
medium	268 FPS	126 FPS
high	223 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	85 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	131 FPS
medium	200 FPS	106 FPS
high	159 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	68 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	64 FPS
medium	134 FPS	55 FPS
high	103 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7302

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
1080p
low	689 FPS	356 FPS
medium	580 FPS	314 FPS
high	484 FPS	262 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	213 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	302 FPS
medium	525 FPS	276 FPS
high	441 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	188 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	194 FPS
medium	314 FPS	178 FPS
high	295 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	123 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7302

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
1080p
low	648 FPS	642 FPS
medium	530 FPS	523 FPS
high	467 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	409 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	497 FPS
medium	491 FPS	404 FPS
high	427 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	306 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	367 FPS
medium	374 FPS	285 FPS
high	339 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7302

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
1080p
low	970 FPS	821 FPS
medium	883 FPS	745 FPS
high	766 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	567 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	657 FPS
medium	740 FPS	572 FPS
high	642 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	423 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	449 FPS
medium	515 FPS	402 FPS
high	463 FPS	359 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	312 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 7302

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and EPYC 7302

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.

EPYC 7302

The EPYC 7302 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 155 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 33,499 points. Launch price was $978.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the EPYC 7302's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.3 GHz on the EPYC 7302 — a 48.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7302 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the EPYC 7302's 33,499 — a 31% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 19,500 (45.5% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 1,192, a 81.9% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 10,254 (59.7% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7302.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+64%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+13%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+7%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	45,784+37%	33,499
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000+59%	19,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+139%	1,192
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+85%	10,254

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 7302 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7302 — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7302 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (EPYC 7302). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 128 (EPYC 7302) — the EPYC 7302 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and WRX80,SP3 (EPYC 7302).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
Socket	LGA1700	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	4096 GB+2033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

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 AMD-V, SEV (EPYC 7302). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 7302 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: EPYC 7302 targets Server / Multi-thread Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; EPYC 7302 rivals Xeon Gold 6230.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 7302
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V, SEV
Target Use	—	Server / Multi-thread Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the EPYC 7302 debuted at $978. On MSRP ($409 vs $978), the Core i7-13700K is $569 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 34.3 pts/$ for the EPYC 7302 — making the Core i7-13700K the 106.3% better value option.