Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen 7 3800XT

Intel

Core i7-13700K

16 Cores24 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 3800XT

8 Cores16 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2020

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: +5.0% higher average FPS across 9 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Delivers 90.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 58.7 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 7 3800XT needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • 2.5% HIGHER MSRP
    $409 MSRPvs$399 MSRP
  • 19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Ryzen 7 3800XT

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $10 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
  • 20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 9 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (23,441 vs 45,784).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.7 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($399 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • 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 7 3800XT?
Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.0% average FPS lead across 9 shared CPU game tests in our data, 95.3% 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 5.0% more average FPS across 9 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 95.3% 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 2.5% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $399 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.0% average FPS lead across 9 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 90.5% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 58.7 PassMark/$), 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 7 3800XT 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 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 8/16. 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 7 3800XT
1080p
low284 FPS172 FPS
medium268 FPS145 FPS
high223 FPS129 FPS
ultra190 FPS106 FPS
1440p
low238 FPS147 FPS
medium200 FPS119 FPS
high159 FPS100 FPS
ultra139 FPS82 FPS
4K
low159 FPS82 FPS
medium134 FPS72 FPS
high103 FPS58 FPS
ultra90 FPS45 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
1080p
low689 FPS586 FPS
medium580 FPS502 FPS
high484 FPS387 FPS
ultra439 FPS341 FPS
1440p
low595 FPS507 FPS
medium525 FPS439 FPS
high441 FPS353 FPS
ultra378 FPS296 FPS
4K
low348 FPS315 FPS
medium314 FPS275 FPS
high295 FPS240 FPS
ultra261 FPS207 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
1080p
low648 FPS586 FPS
medium530 FPS586 FPS
high467 FPS554 FPS
ultra405 FPS459 FPS
1440p
low591 FPS586 FPS
medium491 FPS562 FPS
high427 FPS485 FPS
ultra371 FPS405 FPS
4K
low434 FPS504 FPS
medium374 FPS414 FPS
high339 FPS367 FPS
ultra290 FPS301 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
1080p
low970 FPS586 FPS
medium883 FPS586 FPS
high766 FPS586 FPS
ultra689 FPS586 FPS
1440p
low829 FPS586 FPS
medium740 FPS586 FPS
high642 FPS586 FPS
ultra566 FPS547 FPS
4K
low567 FPS570 FPS
medium515 FPS510 FPS
high463 FPS460 FPS
ultra404 FPS398 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 7 3800XT

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 7 3800XT

The Ryzen 7 3800XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 23,441 points. Launch price was $399.

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3800XT offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3800XT — a 13.9% 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 7 3800XT uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 7 3800XT's 23,441 — a 64.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3800XT.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
Cores / Threads
16 / 24+100%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz+15%
4.7 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
3.8 GHz+12%
L3 Cache
30 MB (total)
32 MB+7%
L2 Cache
2 MB (per core)+300%
512K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark
45,784+95%
23,441
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 7 3800XT uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3800XT — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-13700K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3800XT) — the Ryzen 7 3800XT offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
Socket
LGA1700
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600+25%
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB+50%
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
24+20%
🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 3800XT). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 7 3800XT requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 3800XT targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
Yes
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
AMD-V
Target Use
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3800XT debuted at $399. On MSRP ($409 vs $399), the Ryzen 7 3800XT is $10 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 58.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3800XT — making the Core i7-13700K the 62.3% better value option.

FeatureCore i7-13700KRyzen 7 3800XT
MSRP
$409
$399-2%
Performance per Dollar
111.9+91%
58.7
Release Date
2022
2020