Xeon Platinum 8268
VS
Core i5-13600K

Xeon Platinum 8268 vs Core i5-13600K

Intel

Xeon Platinum 8268

24 Cores48 Thrd205 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2019
VS
Intel

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon Platinum 8268

#10
Xeon 6337P
MSRP: $60|Avg: $5
143%
#15
EPYC 9174F
MSRP: $194|Avg: $30
111%
#16
EPYC 7302
MSRP: $978|Avg: $109
110%
#21
Xeon Platinum 8260M
MSRP: $7705|Avg: N/A
101%
#22
Xeon Platinum 8268
MSRP: $6302|Avg: N/A
100%
#24
Xeon Gold 6130H
MSRP: $1894|Avg: N/A
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-13600K

#120
Ryzen 5 5600XT
MSRP: $192|Avg: $180
105%
#121
Core i5-13600
MSRP: $255|Avg: $255
105%
#122
Core i3-13100F
MSRP: $109|Avg: $119
104%
#123
Ryzen 5 5600G
MSRP: $259|Avg: $160
104%
#124
Core Ultra 9 285K
MSRP: $589|Avg: $550
104%
#125
Core i5-13400E
MSRP: $221|Avg: $221
103%
#126
Ryzen 7 8700F
MSRP: $270|Avg: $257
103%
#127
Core i9-14900KF
MSRP: $564|Avg: $480
103%
#128
Core i7-12700K
MSRP: $409|Avg: $285
102%
#129
Core i9-13900KF
MSRP: $599|Avg: $480
102%
#130
Core i7-12700
MSRP: $250|Avg: $250
102%
#131
Core Ultra 5 245T
MSRP: $270|Avg: $270
102%
#132
Core i5-8500
MSRP: $192|Avg: $80
101%
#133
Core i5-9400F
MSRP: $182|Avg: $80
100%
#134
Core i5-11400
MSRP: $182|Avg: $141
100%
#135
Core i5-13600K
MSRP: $329|Avg: $319
100%
#136
Core i5-13500
MSRP: $242|Avg: $264
100%
#137
Ryzen 7 8700G
MSRP: $329|Avg: $269
100%
#138
Core i7-14700
MSRP: $384|Avg: $348
100%
#139
Ryzen 5 2500X
MSRP: $159|Avg: $80
99%
#140
Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE
MSRP: $100|Avg: $60
99%
#141
Core i9-13900K
MSRP: $599|Avg: $500
99%
#142
Core i3-14100
MSRP: $134|Avg: $131
98%
#143
Ryzen 5 3400G
MSRP: $149|Avg: $80
97%
#144
Core i7-10700KF
MSRP: $405|Avg: $160
97%
#145
Core i5-11600K
MSRP: $262|Avg: $170
97%
#146
Core i7-13700K
MSRP: $409|Avg: $400
97%
#147
Ryzen 5 PRO 3400G
MSRP: $149|Avg: $80
96%
#148
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X
MSRP: $329|Avg: $150
96%
#149
Core i9-12900KS
MSRP: $739|Avg: $385
96%
#150
Ryzen 5 5500X3D
MSRP: $185|Avg: $180
95%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($6,302) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon Platinum 8268 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.
InsightXeon Platinum 8268Core i5-13600K
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($6,302)
More affordable ($319)
Longevity
✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-SP (2018) / 14 nm)
✨ Modern (Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i5-13600K ($319), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($5,983 less, 95% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.
InsightXeon Platinum 8268Core i5-13600K
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Better overall value (+2021%)
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($6,302)
More affordable ($319)

Performance Check

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.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Platinum 8268 and Core i5-13600K

Intel

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.

Intel

Core i5-13600K

The Core i5-13600K 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 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. 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: 37,655 points. Launch price was $319.

Processing Power

The Xeon Platinum 8268 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Core i5-13600K offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8268 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8268 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K — a 26.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon Platinum 8268 uses the Cascade Lake-SP (2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-13600K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Platinum 8268 scores 35,081 against the Core i5-13600K's 37,655 — a 7.1% lead for the Core i5-13600K. L3 cache: 35.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8268 vs 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K.

FeatureXeon Platinum 8268Core i5-13600K
Cores / Threads
24 / 48+71%
14 / 20
Boost Clock
3.9 GHz
5.1 GHz+31%
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
3.5 GHz+21%
L3 Cache
35.75 MB (total)+49%
24 MB
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
2 MB (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture
Cascade Lake-SP (2018)
Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark
35,081
37,655+7%
Cinebench R23 Multi
24,500
Geekbench 6 Single
1,394
Geekbench 6 Multi
12,046
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon Platinum 8268 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-13600K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Platinum 8268 versus DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K — the Core i5-13600K 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: 6 (Xeon Platinum 8268) vs 2 (Core i5-13600K). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Platinum 8268) vs 20 (Core i5-13600K) — the Xeon Platinum 8268 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Platinum 8268) and Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K).

FeatureXeon Platinum 8268Core i5-13600K
Socket
LGA3647
LGA1700
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2933
DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity
1024 GB+433%
192 GB
RAM Channels
6+200%
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
48+140%
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K 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: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Platinum 8268) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13600K). The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Platinum 8268 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Platinum 8268 targets High-end Server, Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Xeon Platinum 8268 rivals EPYC 7452.

FeatureXeon Platinum 8268Core i5-13600K
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
High-end Server
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon Platinum 8268 launched at $6302 MSRP, while the Core i5-13600K debuted at $329.

FeatureXeon Platinum 8268Core i5-13600K
MSRP
$6302
$329-95%
Avg Price (30d)
$319
Release Date
2019
2022