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 i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $283 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 45,950).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
❌72.7% higher power demand at 95W vs 55W.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +43.1% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 83.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.8 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 95W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
73.5% HIGHER MSRP
$668 MSRPvs$385 MSRP

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $283 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +43.1% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 83.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.8 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 95W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 45,950).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
❌72.7% higher power demand at 95W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌
73.5% HIGHER MSRP
$668 MSRPvs$385 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13980HX better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core i9-13980HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 43.1% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data, 219.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13980HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 43.1% more average FPS across 5 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13980HX is the better fit. You are getting 219.2% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i9-13980HX is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13980HX is 73.5% more expensive on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 43.1% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 83.9% better value on MSRP (68.8 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13980HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FCBGA1964 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 200% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 8/8. 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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-13980HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
1080p
low	308 FPS	321 FPS
medium	278 FPS	311 FPS
high	231 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	209 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	278 FPS
medium	221 FPS	240 FPS
high	178 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	192 FPS
medium	140 FPS	164 FPS
high	108 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	112 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-13980HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
1080p
low	360 FPS	497 FPS
medium	321 FPS	434 FPS
high	291 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	313 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	422 FPS
medium	282 FPS	380 FPS
high	258 FPS	316 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	257 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	236 FPS
medium	221 FPS	216 FPS
high	208 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	179 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-13980HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
1080p
low	360 FPS	762 FPS
medium	360 FPS	626 FPS
high	360 FPS	543 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	467 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	680 FPS
medium	360 FPS	567 FPS
high	360 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	423 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	497 FPS
medium	360 FPS	430 FPS
high	360 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-13980HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
1080p
low	360 FPS	1012 FPS
medium	360 FPS	905 FPS
high	360 FPS	792 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	704 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	840 FPS
medium	360 FPS	739 FPS
high	360 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	568 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	620 FPS
medium	360 FPS	555 FPS
high	360 FPS	491 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	430 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-13980HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core i9-13980HX

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core i9-13980HX

The Core i9-13980HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,950 points. Launch price was $668.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i9-13980HX offers 24 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13980HX has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13980HX — a 11.5% clock advantage for the Core i9-13980HX (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-13980HX uses Raptor Lake-HX (2023) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core i9-13980HX's 45,950 — a 104.6% lead for the Core i9-13980HX. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13980HX.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	24 / 32+200%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.5 GHz+12%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+64%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+700%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)
PassMark	14,397	45,950+219%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-13980HX uses FCBGA1964 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus 5600 on the Core i9-13980HX — the Core i9-13980HX supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-13980HX supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 20 (Core i9-13980HX) — the Core i9-13980HX offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13980HX).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA1964
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	5600+139900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+69904967%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-13980HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and Intel UHD Graphics (Core i9-13980HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i9-13980HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-13980HX
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	Intel UHD Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core i9-13980HX debuted at $668. On MSRP ($385 vs $668), the Core i7-9700K is $283 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 68.8 pts/$ for the Core i9-13980HX — making the Core i9-13980HX the 59.1% better value option.