Core i7-13700K vs M1 Max

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: +31.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,146 vs 45,784).

Core i7-13700K

2022

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,146 vs 45,784).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than M1 Max?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 31.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 106.7% 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 31.8% 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 106.7% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 31.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M1 Max can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 2021) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 10/10. 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

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Max
1080p
low	284 FPS	183 FPS
medium	268 FPS	146 FPS
high	223 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	152 FPS
medium	200 FPS	118 FPS
high	159 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	71 FPS
medium	134 FPS	59 FPS
high	103 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Max

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Max
1080p
low	689 FPS	236 FPS
medium	580 FPS	211 FPS
high	484 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	137 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	200 FPS
medium	525 FPS	182 FPS
high	441 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	117 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	122 FPS
medium	314 FPS	113 FPS
high	295 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	81 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Max

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Max
1080p
low	648 FPS	554 FPS
medium	530 FPS	554 FPS
high	467 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	510 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	554 FPS
medium	491 FPS	473 FPS
high	427 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	417 FPS
medium	374 FPS	323 FPS
high	339 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Max

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Max
1080p
low	970 FPS	554 FPS
medium	883 FPS	554 FPS
high	766 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	554 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	554 FPS
medium	740 FPS	554 FPS
high	642 FPS	532 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	453 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	509 FPS
medium	515 FPS	451 FPS
high	463 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	341 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Max

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and M1 Max

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.

M1 Max

The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the M1 Max offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max — a 50.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.06 GHz). The Core i7-13700K is built on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the M1 Max's 22,146 — a 69.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 48 MB on the M1 Max.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M1 Max
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+60%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+68%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+65%	2.06 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	48 MB+60%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	28 MB+1300%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	—
PassMark	45,784+107%	22,146
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M1 Max uses none (PCIe 4.0) — 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 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (M1 Max). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 0 (M1 Max) — the Core i7-13700K offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M1 Max
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+200%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	0

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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 ARM-V (M1 Max). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and M1 Max GPU (M1 Max) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.