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: +5.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 5900XT needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 126.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Ryzen 9 5900XT

2024

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Costs $60 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 126.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($349 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 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (22,000 vs 31,000).
❌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.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Ryzen 9 5900XT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 5900XT needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Costs $60 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 126.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($349 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

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 126.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (22,000 vs 31,000).
❌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 9 5900XT?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 40.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 3.8% higher 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 5.7% 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 40.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i7-13700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 9 5900XT makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700K is 17.2% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $349 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 9 5900XT is also 12.9% better value on MSRP (126.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 9 5900XT 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 and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 16/32. 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 9 5900XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	284 FPS	285 FPS
medium	268 FPS	260 FPS
high	223 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	261 FPS
medium	200 FPS	216 FPS
high	159 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	148 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	181 FPS
medium	134 FPS	150 FPS
high	103 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	102 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	689 FPS	667 FPS
medium	580 FPS	573 FPS
high	484 FPS	456 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	402 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	538 FPS
medium	525 FPS	475 FPS
high	441 FPS	398 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	325 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	316 FPS
medium	314 FPS	280 FPS
high	295 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	228 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	648 FPS	839 FPS
medium	530 FPS	667 FPS
high	467 FPS	594 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	665 FPS
medium	491 FPS	527 FPS
high	427 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	474 FPS
medium	374 FPS	392 FPS
high	339 FPS	349 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
1080p
low	970 FPS	1073 FPS
medium	883 FPS	972 FPS
high	766 FPS	850 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	766 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	846 FPS
medium	740 FPS	751 FPS
high	642 FPS	657 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	570 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	622 FPS
medium	515 FPS	556 FPS
high	463 FPS	491 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	425 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen 9 5900XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 9 5900XT

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 9 5900XT

The Ryzen 9 5900XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 July 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 44,105 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the Ryzen 9 5900XT's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900XT — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900XT uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen 9 5900XT's 44,105 — a 3.7% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 22,000 (34% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,320, a 20.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 14,000 (30.2% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900XT.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+13%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+3%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	64 MB+113%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	45,784+4%	44,105
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000+41%	22,000
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+23%	2,320
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+36%	14,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900XT 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 9 5900XT — 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 9 5900XT) — the Ryzen 9 5900XT 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 X570,B550,A520,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 5900XT).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
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 9 5900XT). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 5900XT requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900XT targets High End Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 9 5900XT
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High End Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900XT debuted at $349. On MSRP ($409 vs $349), the Ryzen 9 5900XT is $60 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 126.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900XT — making the Ryzen 9 5900XT the 12.1% better value option.