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: +18.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $5,893 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $6,302 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1910.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 5.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $6,302 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 205W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Platinum 8268, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Platinum 8268

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (24,500 vs 31,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.6 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($6,302 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌64% higher power demand at 205W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Xeon Platinum 8268

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $5,893 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $6,302 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1910.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 5.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $6,302 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 205W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Platinum 8268, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 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 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (24,500 vs 31,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.6 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($6,302 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌64% higher power demand at 205W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Xeon Platinum 8268?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Platinum 8268 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 18.9% 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 26.5% 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 $5,893 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $6,302 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1910.9% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 5.6 PassMark/$), 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 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647, and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 24/48. 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 Platinum 8268 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
1080p
low	284 FPS	194 FPS
medium	268 FPS	157 FPS
high	223 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	159 FPS
medium	200 FPS	124 FPS
high	159 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	72 FPS
medium	134 FPS	60 FPS
high	103 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Platinum 8268

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
1080p
low	689 FPS	424 FPS
medium	580 FPS	370 FPS
high	484 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	249 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	366 FPS
medium	525 FPS	322 FPS
high	441 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	212 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	228 FPS
medium	314 FPS	203 FPS
high	295 FPS	180 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	148 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Platinum 8268

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
1080p
low	648 FPS	877 FPS
medium	530 FPS	877 FPS
high	467 FPS	872 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	787 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	731 FPS
medium	491 FPS	632 FPS
high	427 FPS	600 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	468 FPS
medium	374 FPS	368 FPS
high	339 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	269 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Platinum 8268

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
1080p
low	970 FPS	877 FPS
medium	883 FPS	848 FPS
high	766 FPS	733 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	637 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	736 FPS
medium	740 FPS	646 FPS
high	642 FPS	555 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	476 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	531 FPS
medium	515 FPS	473 FPS
high	463 FPS	416 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	361 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Platinum 8268

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon Platinum 8268

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 Platinum 8268

The Xeon Platinum 8268 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-SP (2018) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 35,081 points. Launch price was $6,302.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8268 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8268 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8268 — a 32.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8268 uses Cascade Lake-SP (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Xeon Platinum 8268's 35,081 — a 26.5% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 31,000 vs 24,500 (23.4% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 1,394, a 68.5% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 12,046 (44.7% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 35.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8268.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	24 / 48+50%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+38%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+17%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	35.75 MB (total)+19%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Cascade Lake-SP (2018)
PassMark	45,784+31%	35,081
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000+27%	24,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+104%	1,394
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+58%	12,046

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8268 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Platinum 8268 — the Core i7-13700K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Platinum 8268 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 136.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 6 (Xeon Platinum 8268). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 48 (Xeon Platinum 8268) — the Xeon Platinum 8268 offers 28 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 C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Platinum 8268).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
Socket	LGA1700	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	1024 GB+433%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Platinum 8268 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Platinum 8268). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Platinum 8268 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Platinum 8268 targets High-end Server. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon Platinum 8268 rivals EPYC 7452.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Platinum 8268
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	High-end Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon Platinum 8268 debuted at $6302. On MSRP ($409 vs $6302), the Core i7-13700K is $5893 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 5.6 pts/$ for the Xeon Platinum 8268 — making the Core i7-13700K the 181.1% better value option.