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: +7.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $490 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Delivers 241.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 32.8 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 180W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,444 vs 31,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.8 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($899 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌44% higher power demand at 180W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $490 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Delivers 241.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 32.8 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 180W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,444 vs 31,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.8 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($899 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌44% higher power demand at 180W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Ryzen Threadripper 2950X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2950X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-13700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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 7.0% more average FPS across 4 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 44.6% 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 the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $490 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $899 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 241.6% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 32.8 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i7-13700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of TR4, 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 Threadripper 2950X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
1080p
low	284 FPS	200 FPS
medium	268 FPS	175 FPS
high	223 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	157 FPS
medium	200 FPS	131 FPS
high	159 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	83 FPS
medium	134 FPS	74 FPS
high	103 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
1080p
low	689 FPS	532 FPS
medium	580 FPS	463 FPS
high	484 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	471 FPS
medium	525 FPS	417 FPS
high	441 FPS	359 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	307 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	302 FPS
medium	314 FPS	267 FPS
high	295 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
1080p
low	648 FPS	737 FPS
medium	530 FPS	630 FPS
high	467 FPS	584 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	509 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	632 FPS
medium	491 FPS	525 FPS
high	427 FPS	471 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	410 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	461 FPS
medium	374 FPS	371 FPS
high	339 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
1080p
low	970 FPS	737 FPS
medium	883 FPS	737 FPS
high	766 FPS	714 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	636 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	737 FPS
medium	740 FPS	667 FPS
high	642 FPS	570 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	500 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	515 FPS
medium	515 FPS	468 FPS
high	463 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	364 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

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 Threadripper 2950X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 29,462 points. Launch price was $899.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X — a 20.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses ZEN+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X's 29,462 — a 43.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 21,444 (36.4% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 1,255, a 77.6% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 8,814 (73.2% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 32 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+23%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	32 MB+7%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	ZEN+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	45,784+55%	29,462
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000+45%	21,444
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+127%	1,255
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+115%	8,814

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 2950X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2950X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2950X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X offers 44 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 Socket TR4 / X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2950X).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
Socket	LGA1700	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2950X). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X debuted at $899. On MSRP ($409 vs $899), the Core i7-13700K is $490 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 32.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X — making the Core i7-13700K the 109.4% better value option.