i7-13700K vs Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The i7-13700K is about 4% faster at 1440p. Whether that is worth it depends on the rest of your build.
The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | i7-13700K | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 99 | 96 | +3% |
| 1440p | 98 | 94 | +4% |
| 4K | 98 | 93 | +5% |
In a real build with a RTX 3080.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
i7-13700K + RTX 3080
3% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →Ryzen 7 9800X3D + RTX 3080
1% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →| Game (1440p, paired with the RTX 3080) | i7-13700K | Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 340 fps | 333 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 295 fps | 289 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 143 fps | 141 fps |
| Elden Ring | 113 fps | 112 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 87 fps | 86 fps |
| Starfield | 88 fps | 87 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
The i7-13700K — it is 4% ahead at 1440p, and it holds that lead in the pairings above.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the i7-13700K versus the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
Is the i7-13700K better than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the i7-13700K scores 98 against 94 for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — roughly 4% faster.
Does the i7-13700K or Ryzen 7 9800X3D bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the i7-13700K build comes out 3% GPU-bound, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D build comes out 1% GPU-bound. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to the i7-13700K?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The i7-13700K is about 4% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the Ryzen 7 9800X3D purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the i7-13700K or the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the i7-13700K wins. The i7-13700K lists at $419 for an index of 98, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $479 for 94.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.