Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U

Intel

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U

6 Cores12 Thrd6 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2023

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: +21.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 1983.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 6W.

Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U

2023

Why buy it

  • Draws 6W instead of 125W, a 119W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (17,466 vs 45,784).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U?
Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 21.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 162.1% better PassMark, 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 21.3% 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 162.1% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 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 $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 21.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 5 PRO 7540U
1080p
low284 FPS259 FPS
medium268 FPS237 FPS
high223 FPS199 FPS
ultra190 FPS171 FPS
1440p
low238 FPS229 FPS
medium200 FPS191 FPS
high159 FPS155 FPS
ultra139 FPS137 FPS
4K
low159 FPS159 FPS
medium134 FPS134 FPS
high103 FPS104 FPS
ultra90 FPS92 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 5 PRO 7540U
1080p
low689 FPS386 FPS
medium580 FPS320 FPS
high484 FPS284 FPS
ultra439 FPS248 FPS
1440p
low595 FPS324 FPS
medium525 FPS280 FPS
high441 FPS255 FPS
ultra378 FPS218 FPS
4K
low348 FPS243 FPS
medium314 FPS214 FPS
high295 FPS201 FPS
ultra261 FPS169 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 5 PRO 7540U
1080p
low648 FPS437 FPS
medium530 FPS437 FPS
high467 FPS437 FPS
ultra405 FPS437 FPS
1440p
low591 FPS437 FPS
medium491 FPS437 FPS
high427 FPS437 FPS
ultra371 FPS430 FPS
4K
low434 FPS437 FPS
medium374 FPS425 FPS
high339 FPS362 FPS
ultra290 FPS299 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 5 PRO 7540U
1080p
low970 FPS437 FPS
medium883 FPS437 FPS
high766 FPS437 FPS
ultra689 FPS437 FPS
1440p
low829 FPS437 FPS
medium740 FPS437 FPS
high642 FPS437 FPS
ultra566 FPS437 FPS
4K
low567 FPS437 FPS
medium515 FPS437 FPS
high463 FPS437 FPS
ultra404 FPS377 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U

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 5 PRO 7540U

The Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 May 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5x-7500, DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 17,466 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U uses Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U's 17,466 — a 89.5% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 5 PRO 7540U
Cores / Threads
16 / 24+167%
6 / 12
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+10%
4.9 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz+6%
3.2 GHz
L3 Cache
30 MB (total)+88%
16 MB
L2 Cache
2 MB (per core)
6 MB+200%
Process
Intel 7 nm
4 nm-43%
Architecture
Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
Phoenix (Zen4) (2023)
PassMark
45,784+162%
17,466
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 5 PRO 7540U uses FP7/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and Mobile (Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U).

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 5 PRO 7540U
Socket
LGA1700
FP7/FP8
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600
DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB
256 GB+33%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U). Both include integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Radeon 740M (Ryzen 5 PRO 7540U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 5 PRO 7540U
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Radeon 740M
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
true
AMD-V