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: +12.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,581 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 732.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 13.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 205W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 6338

2021

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 PassMark (40,225 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌64% higher power demand at 205W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Xeon Gold 6338

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2,581 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 732.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 13.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $2,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 205W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA4189 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6338, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (40,225 vs 45,784).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($2,990 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌64% higher power demand at 205W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA4189 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Xeon Gold 6338?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6338 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 12.5% 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 13.8% 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 $2,581 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $2,990 MSRP, and it gives you a 12.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 732.1% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 13.5 PassMark/$), 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 2021), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA4189, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 32/64. 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 Gold 6338 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	284 FPS	186 FPS
medium	268 FPS	149 FPS
high	223 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	152 FPS
medium	200 FPS	118 FPS
high	159 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	71 FPS
medium	134 FPS	59 FPS
high	103 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Gold 6338

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	689 FPS	233 FPS
medium	580 FPS	208 FPS
high	484 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	199 FPS
medium	525 FPS	181 FPS
high	441 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	124 FPS
medium	314 FPS	115 FPS
high	295 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	82 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Gold 6338

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	648 FPS	969 FPS
medium	530 FPS	848 FPS
high	467 FPS	802 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	712 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	775 FPS
medium	491 FPS	669 FPS
high	427 FPS	632 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	561 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	498 FPS
medium	374 FPS	393 FPS
high	339 FPS	350 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	285 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Gold 6338

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
1080p
low	970 FPS	884 FPS
medium	883 FPS	800 FPS
high	766 FPS	687 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	587 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	691 FPS
medium	740 FPS	606 FPS
high	642 FPS	518 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	440 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	499 FPS
medium	515 FPS	446 FPS
high	463 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Gold 6338

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon Gold 6338

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 Gold 6338

The Xeon Gold 6338 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 40,225 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6338 offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Xeon Gold 6338 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6338 — a 51.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2 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 Gold 6338's 40,225 — a 12.9% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 48 MB on the Xeon Gold 6338.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	32 / 64+100%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+69%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+70%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	48 MB+60%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	—
PassMark	45,784+14%	40,225
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 Gold 6338 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6338 — the Xeon Gold 6338 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6338 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6338). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 64 (Xeon Gold 6338) — the Xeon Gold 6338 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 C621A (Xeon Gold 6338).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4189
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+3276700%	6144
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6338 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6338). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Gold 6338 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon Gold 6338 rivals EPYC 7543.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Gold 6338
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6338 debuted at $2990. On MSRP ($409 vs $2990), the Core i7-13700K is $2581 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 13.5 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6338 — making the Core i7-13700K the 157.1% better value option.