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

✅+23.3% higher PassMark.
✅Delivers 8.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 103.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
13.9% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$359 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 9700X

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($359 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,145 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 103.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Ryzen 7 9700X

2024

Why buy it

✅+23.3% higher PassMark.
✅Delivers 8.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 103.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($359 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
13.9% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$359 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (37,145 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 103.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9700X better than Core i7-13700K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 9700X is ahead with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K pulls ahead with 23.3% better PassMark.

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 23.3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 7 9700X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 9700X is $50 cheaper on MSRP at $359 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-13700K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 23.3% better PassMark. Core i7-13700K is also 8.2% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 103.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i7-13700K 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?

Ryzen 7 9700X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). 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

Ryzen 7 9700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	284 FPS	265 FPS
medium	268 FPS	245 FPS
high	223 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	226 FPS
medium	200 FPS	188 FPS
high	159 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	157 FPS
medium	134 FPS	131 FPS
high	103 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	689 FPS	639 FPS
medium	580 FPS	526 FPS
high	484 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	392 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	545 FPS
medium	525 FPS	470 FPS
high	441 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	319 FPS
medium	314 FPS	281 FPS
high	295 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	648 FPS	929 FPS
medium	530 FPS	744 FPS
high	467 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	558 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	736 FPS
medium	491 FPS	589 FPS
high	427 FPS	506 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	431 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	508 FPS
medium	374 FPS	420 FPS
high	339 FPS	378 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 7 9700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	970 FPS	929 FPS
medium	883 FPS	929 FPS
high	766 FPS	850 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	889 FPS
medium	740 FPS	773 FPS
high	642 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	584 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	582 FPS
medium	515 FPS	517 FPS
high	463 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 7 9700X

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.

Ryzen 7 9700X

The Ryzen 7 9700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 37,145 points. Launch price was $359.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 7 9700X 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 5.5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9700X — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9700X (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 9700X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 7 9700X's 37,145 — a 20.8% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9700X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz	5.5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.8 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+7%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	45,784+23%	37,145
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 9700X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus 5600 on the Ryzen 7 9700X — the Ryzen 7 9700X supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 9700X supports up to 256 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 9700X) — the Ryzen 7 9700X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and X870E,X670E,B650 (Ryzen 7 9700X).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+78643100%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 9700X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 7 9700X). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 7 9700X) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Ryzen 7 9700X rivals Core i7-14700K.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 9700X
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 9700X debuted at $359. On MSRP ($409 vs $359), the Ryzen 7 9700X is $50 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 103.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 9700X — making the Core i7-13700K the 7.9% better value option.