The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | i7-13700K | i5-13600K | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 99 | 95 | +4% |
| 1440p | 98 | 93 | +5% |
| 4K | 98 | 92 | +7% |
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 →i5-13600K + 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 | i5-13600K |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 340 fps | 332 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 295 fps | 287 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 143 fps | 140 fps |
| Elden Ring | 113 fps | 112 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 87 fps | 86 fps |
| Starfield | 88 fps | 86 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 is faster, but the i5-13600K is the better buy per dollar. Take the i7-13700K only if you want the extra headroom and the price gap doesn't bother you.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the i7-13700K versus the i5-13600K.
Is the i7-13700K better than the i5-13600K?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the i7-13700K scores 98 against 93 for the i5-13600K — roughly 5% faster. It also costs about $100 more at MSRP, so the question is whether that gap is worth the money for your build.
Does the i7-13700K or i5-13600K bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the i7-13700K build comes out 3% GPU-bound, and the i5-13600K 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 i5-13600K to the i7-13700K?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The i7-13700K is about 5% 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 i5-13600K purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the i7-13700K or the i5-13600K?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the i5-13600K wins. The i7-13700K lists at $419 for an index of 98, and the i5-13600K at $319 for 93.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.