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: +25.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 125W instead of 130W, a 5W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and older memory support.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon E7-8880 v2 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 38 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E7-8880 v2, which brings 15 cores / 30 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Xeon E7-8880 v2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E7-8880 v2

2014

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (38 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 15 cores / 30 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,966 vs 45,784).
❌Older platform position on LGA2011, 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

Xeon E7-8880 v2

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 125W instead of 130W, a 5W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and older memory support.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon E7-8880 v2 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (38 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 15 cores / 30 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 38 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E7-8880 v2, which brings 15 cores / 30 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Xeon E7-8880 v2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,966 vs 45,784).
❌Older platform position on LGA2011, 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 Xeon E7-8880 v2?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E7-8880 v2 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 25.0% 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 76.3% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 25.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i7-13700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2014), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 15/30. 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

Xeon E7-8880 v2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon E7-8880 v2
1080p
low	284 FPS	182 FPS
medium	268 FPS	145 FPS
high	223 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	150 FPS
medium	200 FPS	116 FPS
high	159 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	70 FPS
medium	134 FPS	58 FPS
high	103 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon E7-8880 v2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon E7-8880 v2
1080p
low	689 FPS	368 FPS
medium	580 FPS	324 FPS
high	484 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	215 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	317 FPS
medium	525 FPS	282 FPS
high	441 FPS	237 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	183 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	198 FPS
medium	314 FPS	178 FPS
high	295 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	121 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon E7-8880 v2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon E7-8880 v2
1080p
low	648 FPS	649 FPS
medium	530 FPS	649 FPS
high	467 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	649 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	649 FPS
medium	491 FPS	631 FPS
high	427 FPS	597 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	531 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	472 FPS
medium	374 FPS	372 FPS
high	339 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	271 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon E7-8880 v2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon E7-8880 v2
1080p
low	970 FPS	649 FPS
medium	883 FPS	649 FPS
high	766 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	649 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	649 FPS
medium	740 FPS	649 FPS
high	642 FPS	632 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	521 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	634 FPS
medium	515 FPS	552 FPS
high	463 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	397 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon E7-8880 v2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon E7-8880 v2

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.

Xeon E7-8880 v2

The Xeon E7-8880 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 15 cores and 30 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 37.5 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 25,966 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon E7-8880 v2 offers 15 cores / 30 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E7-8880 v2 — a 54.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-13700K is built on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Xeon E7-8880 v2's 25,966 — a 55.2% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 37.5 MB on the Xeon E7-8880 v2.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon E7-8880 v2
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+7%	15 / 30
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+74%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+36%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	37.5 MB+25%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm-68%	22 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	—
PassMark	45,784+76%	25,966
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 Xeon E7-8880 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon E7-8880 v2
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i7-13700K) / not specified (Xeon E7-8880 v2). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon E7-8880 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.