Core i7-13700K vs EPYC 9255

CPU

GPU

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9255

24 Cores48 Thrd200 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2024

Popular choices:

••••••••i7-13700K•

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-13700K

16 / 24

45,784

0.0%

75,809

+65.6%

Ryzen 7 8840HX

Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

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

✅Costs $2,086 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Delivers 268.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 200W, a 75W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9255 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9255 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,784 vs 75,809).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9255, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 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 30.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌60% higher power demand at 200W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

EPYC 9255

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,086 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Delivers 268.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 30.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $2,495 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 200W, a 75W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9255 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 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 EPYC 9255 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,784 vs 75,809).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9255, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 30.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($2,495 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌60% higher power demand at 200W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9255 better than Core i7-13700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9255 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, EPYC 9255 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 30 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9255 is the better fit. You are getting 65.6% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 326.7% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 30 MB).

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

EPYC 9255 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9255 is 510.0% more expensive on MSRP at $2,495 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-13700K is also 268.4% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 30.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 9255 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 30 MB, more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 16/24, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 9255 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	284 FPS	303 FPS
medium	268 FPS	280 FPS
high	223 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	268 FPS
medium	200 FPS	223 FPS
high	159 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	186 FPS
medium	134 FPS	154 FPS
high	103 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	105 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 9255

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	689 FPS	717 FPS
medium	580 FPS	614 FPS
high	484 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	421 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	573 FPS
medium	525 FPS	507 FPS
high	441 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	335 FPS
medium	314 FPS	298 FPS
high	295 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	239 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 9255

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	648 FPS	850 FPS
medium	530 FPS	691 FPS
high	467 FPS	625 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	530 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	677 FPS
medium	491 FPS	548 FPS
high	427 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	483 FPS
medium	374 FPS	399 FPS
high	339 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 9255

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
1080p
low	970 FPS	1083 FPS
medium	883 FPS	982 FPS
high	766 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	777 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	859 FPS
medium	740 FPS	761 FPS
high	642 FPS	668 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	582 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	627 FPS
medium	515 FPS	562 FPS
high	463 FPS	500 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open EPYC 9255

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and EPYC 9255

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 9255

The EPYC 9255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 75,809 points. Launch price was $2,495.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the EPYC 9255 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 9255 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.8 GHz on the EPYC 9255 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.25 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9255 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the EPYC 9255's 75,809 — a 49.4% lead for the EPYC 9255. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 9255.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 48+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+13%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+5%	3.25 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	128 MB (total)+327%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	45,784	75,809+66%
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9255 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus 4800 on the EPYC 9255 — the EPYC 9255 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9255 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 12 (EPYC 9255). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 128 (EPYC 9255) — the EPYC 9255 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 SP5 (EPYC 9255).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+3276700%	6144
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
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. Only the EPYC 9255 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9255). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9255 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; EPYC 9255 rivals Xeon Platinum 8480+.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	EPYC 9255
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the EPYC 9255 debuted at $2495. On MSRP ($409 vs $2495), the Core i7-13700K is $2086 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 30.4 pts/$ for the EPYC 9255 — making the Core i7-13700K the 114.6% better value option.