Intel Core i5-13600 vs Intel Core i9-13900K

Processor comparisons   12-11-2022
   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-13600 vs Intel Core i9-13900K tests and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, SuperPi, PassMark, RealBench, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, VeraCrypt, Blender, Furmark, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Valorant
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Last Man Standing
Death Stranding
Watch Dogs Legion
Rainbow Six Siege
Fortnite
Red Dead Redemption 2
Cyberpunk 2077
Fallout 76
Overwatch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Valheim
DOOM: Eternal
Grand Theft Auto V
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Borderlands 3
Halo Infinite
Apex Legends

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-13900K or Intel Core i5-13600.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-13600

63%

Core i9-13900K

68%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-13900K is 7% better than Core i5-13600. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-13600

59%

Core i9-13900K

64%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.2	114.3
Valorant	118.4	129.9
Cyberpunk 2077	66.3	72.7
Apex Legends	111.3	122.1
Call of Duty Warzone	88.8	97.4
Overwatch	95.9	105.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.7	89.6
DOOM Eternal	59.2	64.9
Warzone	92.3	101.3
Assassin's Creed	99.5	109.1
Valheim	98.3	107.8

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-13600

100%

Core i9-13900K

66%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-13600 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-13900K as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-13900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	383	531
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3979	5603
Cinbench 20 Single-core	637	887
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8839	12458
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2241	3150
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	25423	35852

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-13900K
Single-Core	2048	2879
Multi-Core	43328	61110

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-13900K
Single-Core	1965	2502
Multi-Core	15871	25761

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-13900K
Announcement date	December 10, 2022	December 13, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Adler Lake	Raptor Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	13
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	5.8 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	4.3 MHz
Cores	14	24
Threads	20	32
Bus rate	16 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	14200 millions	14200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6500	6500
Memory bandwidth	89.6 GB/s	89.6 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	12 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	24 MB	36 MB
Overclocking	y	yes
Supports ECC	Yes	Yes
Part number		Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-13900K is 18% better than Core i5-13600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900K has 10 more core than Core i5-13600. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-13600 is better: 1
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-13900K is better: 28
The summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-13600 and Intel Core i9-13900K before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-13600 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-13600 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-13900K - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-13900K specs and review.