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: +8.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 23 MB).
✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $609 MSRP).
✅Delivers 138.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 47.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $609 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 175W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w3-2525, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon w3-2525

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 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 Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (23 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.0 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($609 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌40% higher power demand at 175W vs 125W.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Xeon w3-2525

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 23 MB).
✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $609 MSRP).
✅Delivers 138.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 47.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $609 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 175W, a 50W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 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 w3-2525, which brings 8 cores / 16 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 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 18,980).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (23 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.0 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($609 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌40% higher power demand at 175W vs 125W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Xeon w3-2525?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w3-2525 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 8.7% 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 26.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 23 MB).

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

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $200 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $609 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 138.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 47.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon w3-2525 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 w3-2525 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
1080p
low	284 FPS	188 FPS
medium	268 FPS	155 FPS
high	223 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	108 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	152 FPS
medium	200 FPS	122 FPS
high	159 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	83 FPS
medium	134 FPS	72 FPS
high	103 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w3-2525

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
1080p
low	689 FPS	587 FPS
medium	580 FPS	486 FPS
high	484 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	361 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	497 FPS
medium	525 FPS	429 FPS
high	441 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	308 FPS
medium	314 FPS	268 FPS
high	295 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w3-2525

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
1080p
low	648 FPS	716 FPS
medium	530 FPS	716 FPS
high	467 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	716 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	716 FPS
medium	491 FPS	716 FPS
high	427 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	651 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	552 FPS
medium	374 FPS	454 FPS
high	339 FPS	412 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	332 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w3-2525

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
1080p
low	970 FPS	716 FPS
medium	883 FPS	716 FPS
high	766 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	716 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	716 FPS
medium	740 FPS	716 FPS
high	642 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	634 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	692 FPS
medium	515 FPS	604 FPS
high	463 FPS	533 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon w3-2525

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon w3-2525

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 w3-2525

The Xeon w3-2525 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 22.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 175 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 28,641 points. Launch price was $609.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon w3-2525 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 4.5 GHz on the Xeon w3-2525 — a 18.2% 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 Xeon w3-2525 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Xeon w3-2525's 28,641 — a 46.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 2,000, a 34.9% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 15,000 (23.4% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 22.5 MB on the Xeon w3-2525.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+20%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+33%	22.5 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	45,784+60%	28,641
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+42%	2,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980+27%	15,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon w3-2525 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i7-13700K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 2 TB — 195.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 4 (Xeon w3-2525). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 64 (Xeon w3-2525) — the Xeon w3-2525 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 W790 (Xeon w3-2525).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	2 TB+967%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
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 w3-2525 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon w3-2525). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon w3-2525 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon w3-2525 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon w3-2525 rivals Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon w3-2525
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon w3-2525 debuted at $609. On MSRP ($409 vs $609), the Core i7-13700K is $200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 47.0 pts/$ for the Xeon w3-2525 — making the Core i7-13700K the 81.7% better value option.