Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen 3 4100

Intel

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 3 4100

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

i7-13700K

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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: +56.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +274.8% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 3 4100 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • 313.1% HIGHER MSRP
    $409 MSRPvs$99 MSRP
  • 92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Ryzen 3 4100

2022

Why buy it

  • Costs $310 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (11,062 vs 45,784).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 30 MB).
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • 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 Ryzen 3 4100?
Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 56.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 313.9% 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 56.6% 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 313.9% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 274.8% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 8 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 313.1% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it gives you a 56.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 0.2% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 111.7 PassMark/$), 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 AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 3 4100 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 healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 274.8% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 4/8. 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
1080p
low284 FPS182 FPS
medium268 FPS145 FPS
high223 FPS118 FPS
ultra190 FPS89 FPS
1440p
low238 FPS155 FPS
medium200 FPS122 FPS
high159 FPS97 FPS
ultra139 FPS74 FPS
4K
low159 FPS69 FPS
medium134 FPS58 FPS
high103 FPS46 FPS
ultra90 FPS36 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
1080p
low689 FPS277 FPS
medium580 FPS235 FPS
high484 FPS204 FPS
ultra439 FPS157 FPS
1440p
low595 FPS235 FPS
medium525 FPS203 FPS
high441 FPS177 FPS
ultra378 FPS142 FPS
4K
low348 FPS181 FPS
medium314 FPS164 FPS
high295 FPS132 FPS
ultra261 FPS100 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
1080p
low648 FPS277 FPS
medium530 FPS277 FPS
high467 FPS277 FPS
ultra405 FPS277 FPS
1440p
low591 FPS277 FPS
medium491 FPS277 FPS
high427 FPS277 FPS
ultra371 FPS277 FPS
4K
low434 FPS277 FPS
medium374 FPS277 FPS
high339 FPS277 FPS
ultra290 FPS247 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
1080p
low970 FPS277 FPS
medium883 FPS277 FPS
high766 FPS277 FPS
ultra689 FPS277 FPS
1440p
low829 FPS277 FPS
medium740 FPS277 FPS
high642 FPS277 FPS
ultra566 FPS277 FPS
4K
low567 FPS277 FPS
medium515 FPS277 FPS
high463 FPS277 FPS
ultra404 FPS277 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 3 4100

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 3 4100

The Ryzen 3 4100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8.00391 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 11,062 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 3 4100 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 4100 — a 29.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 4100 uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 3 4100's 11,062 — a 122.2% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 8.00391 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 4100.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
Cores / Threads
16 / 24+300%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+35%
4 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
3.8 GHz+12%
L3 Cache
30 MB (total)+275%
8.00391 MB (total)
L2 Cache
2 MB (per core)+300%
512K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark
45,784+314%
11,062
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 Ryzen 3 4100 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
Socket
LGA1700
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i7-13700K) / not specified (Ryzen 3 4100). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 3 4100 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
true
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 4100 debuted at $99. On MSRP ($409 vs $99), the Ryzen 3 4100 is $310 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 111.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 4100 — making the Core i7-13700K the 0.2% better value option.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 3 4100
MSRP
$409
$99-76%
Performance per Dollar
111.9
111.7
Release Date
2022
2022