Core i7-13700K vs M1 Pro

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: +42.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while M1 Pro needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while M1 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.

M1 Pro

2021

Why buy it

✅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 (17,218 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

M1 Pro

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +42.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while M1 Pro needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while M1 Pro 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 (17,218 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌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 M1 Pro?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 42.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 165.9% 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 42.7% 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 165.9% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 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 $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 42.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Pro 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), 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB), 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 Pro Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Pro
1080p
low	284 FPS	175 FPS
medium	268 FPS	141 FPS
high	223 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	141 FPS
medium	200 FPS	111 FPS
high	159 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	66 FPS
medium	134 FPS	55 FPS
high	103 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Pro

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Pro
1080p
low	689 FPS	215 FPS
medium	580 FPS	190 FPS
high	484 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	129 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	183 FPS
medium	525 FPS	167 FPS
high	441 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	114 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	116 FPS
medium	314 FPS	107 FPS
high	295 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	77 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Pro

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Pro
1080p
low	648 FPS	430 FPS
medium	530 FPS	430 FPS
high	467 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	430 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	430 FPS
medium	491 FPS	430 FPS
high	427 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	359 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	414 FPS
medium	374 FPS	320 FPS
high	339 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Pro

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	M1 Pro
1080p
low	970 FPS	430 FPS
medium	883 FPS	430 FPS
high	766 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	430 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	430 FPS
medium	740 FPS	430 FPS
high	642 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	429 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	430 FPS
medium	515 FPS	408 FPS
high	463 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	315 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open M1 Pro

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 Pro

The M1 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,218 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the M1 Pro 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 Pro — a 50.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.064 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 Pro's 17,218 — a 90.7% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 24 MB on the M1 Pro.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M1 Pro
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+60%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+68%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+65%	2.064 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+25%	24 MB
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+166%	17,218
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 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	M1 Pro
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i7-13700K) / not specified (M1 Pro). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the M1 Pro requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.