The Intel Core i5 13600K and Intel Core i7 13700K were launched on the same day and are almost identical to each other in terms of specs, except in the number of Cores and clock speed. Here, we have compared both CPUs in depth with benchmarks and gaming performance to determine which gives you better value for money.
Main Differences
- Intel Core i5 13600K has a 5.1GHz CPU Clock speed, while Intel Core i7 13700K has a 5.3GHz CPU Clock speed.
- Intel Core i7 13700K has 4 more threads and 2 more cores.
- Intel Core i5 13600K has a 1500 MHz GPU clock speed, while Intel Core i7 13700K has a 1600 MHz GPU clock speed.
Specs Comparison
Before we take a look at benchmarks, let’s compare some specifications for both the CPUs.
| Intel Core i5 13600K | Intel Core i7 13700K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 14 | 16 |
| Threads | 20 | 24 |
| Base Clock Speed | 3.5 GHz | 4.5 GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 5.1 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Raptor Lake |
| Socket | LGA-1700 | LGA-1700 |
| L1 Cache | 80K/core | 80K/core |
| L2 Cache | 2MB/core | 2MB/core |
| L3 Cache | 24MB(shared) | 30MB(shared) |
| Multiplier | 35x | 45x |
| Fabrication Process | 10nm | 10nm |
| Transistors | unknown | unknown |
| TDP | 125 W | 125 W |
| Max Temperature | 100°C | 100°C |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| GPU Clock Seed | 1500 MHz | 1600 MHz |
| Memory | DDR5-5600 | DDR5-5600 |
| Memory Size | 192 GB | 192 GB |
| Memory Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | Yes | Yes |
| PCI Express Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Release date | 27, September 2022 | 27, September 2022 |
Benchmarks
Now that we have compared basic specs, let’s compare some popular benchmark standards between these two CPUs to find out which one comes out on top in performance.
Passmark Single Core (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 4138
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 4359(+5%)
PassMark Multi-Core (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 37981
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 46457(+20%)
Geekbench 6 Single Core (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 2691
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 2867(+6%)
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 15015
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 17847(17%)
Cinebench 2024 Single Core (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 116
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 125(+7%)
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 1280
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 1600(+22%)
Gaming benchmark tests
While benchmarks like Passmark and Geekbench give a general idea about the performance, they still don’t show the full picture. Here is the comparison between both CPUs in popular games to show you the real-life usage performance of these CPUs.
| Game | Intel Core i5 13600K(FPS) | Intel Core i7 13700K(FPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium 1080p) | 201 | 210 |
| Watch Dogs Legion (Very High 1080p) | 161 | 177 |
| Hitman 3 (High 1080p) | 222 | 224 |
| Horizon Zero Dawn (Favor 1080p) | 200 | 207 |
| Spiderman Remastered (High 1080p) | 118 | 127 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest 1080p) | 253 | 273 |
| Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction (Low 1080p) | 435 | 452 |
| CS: GO (Medium 1080p) | 444 | 481 |
Productivity benchmark tests
Not everyone plans to use their PC for gaming purposes, but some people also use them for 3D design and video editing. So, we are also sharing some productivity benchmarks with you.
Blender (Lower is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 623
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 482(+25%)
Adobe After Effects (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 1269
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 1299(+2%)
Adobe Photoshop (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 1387
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 1545(+10%)
Adobe Premiere Pro (Higher is Better)
- Intel Core i5 13600K – 1085
- Intel Core i7 13700K – 1197(9%)
Price
At the time of making this comparison, the Intel Core i5 13600K is available at $224, while the Intel Core i7 13700K is priced at $249. So, the Intel Core i7 13700K is 10% more expensive compared to the Intel Core i5 13600K
Conclusion – Which one should you buy?
Now, it’s time to look at all the data and figure out which one is the best option for you. First up, the Intel Core i5 13600K is 10% cheaper.
When it comes to single-core performance, there isn’t any huge difference, in single-core performance but when it comes to multi-core performance, Intel Core i7 13700K performs better in each traditional benchmark result. So, the price difference is very well justified here.
Now speaking about gaming, the Intel Core i7 13700K is better in every gaming benchmark. However, the Intel Core i5 13600K isn’t very far behind. So, if you’re looking to save a few bucks while getting almost the same gaming performance, then the Intel Core i5 13600K would be a better option.
When it comes to productivity and content creation benchmarks, Intel Core i7 13700K scores better than Intel Core i5 13600K in all benchmarks except the After Effects. So, unless you are specifically planning to use your PC for After Effects, the Intel Core i7 13700K would be a better option.
So, in conclusion, the Intel Core i7 13700K is a clear winner. It’s slightly more expensive than the Intel Core i5 13600K, but the price hike is well justified by the performance gains.
