Core i9-13900K Vs Core i7-13700K [We Tested 8 Games]

Intel’s Raptor Lake lineup became the second to utilize its Hybrid Core design. The Core i7-13700K sits in the middle, surrounded by the ultimate Core i9-13900K and the budget Core i5-13600K. The Core i9-13900K is undoubtedly the king, but how does it compare to its younger brother? Find out as I compare Core i9-13900K vs Core i7-13700K.aaaa

Key Takeaways

• Performance-wise, the Core i9-13900K stayed clear of the Core i7-13700K by 4.7% in my 1080P gaming benchmarks.
• Additionally, the Intel i7-13700K is a more efficient chip than the Intel i9-13900K, as it consumed about 23.8% less power and stayed about 12.2% cooler on average.
• Seeing that the Intel i9-13900K costs about 51.6% more, the better bang for the buck crown goes to the Intel i7-13700K.

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core/Thread Counts: Both CPUs have the same amount of P-cores, but the Core i9-13900K doubles the E-core count to eight for a total of 24 cores (vs 16). As for threads, the i9-13900K has 32 while the i7-12700K has 24.
2. Clock Speeds: The Intel i9-13900K has base frequencies of 3.0GHz (P-cores) and 2.20GHz (E-cores). In comparison, the Core i7-13700K clocks 3.40GHz on the P-cores and 2.50GHz on the E-cores. Regarding boost clock speeds, the i9-13900K can be pushed to 5.70GHz (P-cores) and 4.30GHz (E-cores) compared to 5.30GHz and 4.20GHz, respectively.
3. Cache: The Core i9-13900K has 36MB of L3 Cache compared to the i7-13700K’s 30MB. It also has more L1 and L2 cache on account of its higher core count.
   
4. TDP: Naturally, the i9-13900K has a higher base TDP rating at 150W, 25W higher than the i7-13700K’s rating. 
5. Similarities: Both are based on Intel’s 7 manufacturing process with a process node of 10nm each. They also share the same PCIe Gen 5 version and are both unlocked for overclocking. The CPU socket they both support is the LGA1700 and both drive extra power from the same Integrated graphics of Intel UHD 770.

Gaming Performance

And now on to the most important part, the performance. Here, we’ll compare the two CPUs in eight titles tested at 1080P resolution. Note that all games were tested at Ultra or equivalent preset.

Note: The recorded figures may vary slightly from actual figures due to occasional shortcomings of monitoring software. 

Test Bench

Here’s what the test system consists of:

• CPUs: Core i9-13900K and Core i7-13700K
• Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus 
• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 2x16GB, DDR5 @ 6000 CL36-36-36-96
• GPU: MSI RTX 4090 Suprim X
• CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360

Forza Horizon 5

• Right off the bat, the Core i9-13900K took the lead by achieving an impressive 263 FPS, while the i7-13700K followed closely with an average of 254 FPS. The i9-13900K hits a 1% low of 187 FPS, and the i7-13700K drops to 179 FPS, giving the flagship processor a 4.4% lead.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

• Moving on to the next title in my benchmarks, the Core i9-13900K outperformed the i7-13700K by a slight margin of 4.8%, running at an impressive 300 FPS. The 1% lows show minimal contrast, with the i9-13900K at 167 FPS and the i7-13700K at 160 FPS.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the i9-13900K maintained its lead, with an 8.9% performance edge, running the game at 85 FPS, while the i7-13700K achieved 78 FPS on average. The 1% lows differed by just 2 FPS according to my analysis, with the i9-13900K at 40 FPS and the i7-13700K at 38 FPS.

Far Cry 6

• Next up on my list is Far Cry 6. In this title, the i9-13900K achieved an average of 137 FPS, over the i7-13700K’s close 135 FPS, showing a 1.4% performance difference. The 1% lows also showed minimal variation, where the i9-13900K achieved 113 FPS while the i7-13700K obtained 111 FPS.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

• The CPU-intensive title Spider-Man: Remastered is up next. Here, I found that the i9-13900K led by 10.4%, averaging 135 FPS, while the i7-13700K achieved 124 FPS. Here again, I noticed an extremely close 1% low result, with the i9-13900K at 110 FPS and the i7-13700K at 101 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077 

• In Cyberpunk 2077, the i9-13900K maintains its lead with a 6.6% advantage, averaging 145 FPS, while the i7-13700K runs at 136 FPS. This makes it a difference of 8.1% in the 1% lows, with the i9-13900K gaining 119 FPS over the i7-13700K’s 110 FPS.

Call of Duty: Warzone

• The last title is Call of Duty: Warzone. In this game, the i7-13700K performed relatively well, trailing by just 7.2% with 221 FPS. Examining the 1% lows, I observed an 8.3% difference, with the i7-13700K dropping to 156 FPS whereas the i9-13900K flourished with 169 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

With the benchmarks out of the way, here’s how the two CPUs performed across the seven games.

• Across the seven games, the Core i9-13900K averaged 186 FPS over 177.5 FPS obtained by the Core i9-13700K. From these numbers, I concluded that the Core i9-13900K is about 4.7% faster in 1080P gaming. Examining the 1% low FPS scores, I observed that the i9-13900K managed to gain 129.2 FPS compared to 123.2 FPS of the i7-13700K – showing a 4.8% difference.

Power Consumption

Next up, let’s look at the average power consumption numbers. Just to remind you, the base TDP rating of i9-13900K sits at 150W while the base TDP of i7-13700K is 125W.

• Across the seven games compared, the i9-13900K’s average power consumption was 157.8 watts, which is much higher than the i7-13700K’s figure of 127.4 watts. Thus, the Core i9-13900K consumes about 23.8% more power in 1080P gaming than the Core i7-13700K.

Thermal Performance

Lastly, a look at how the two CPUs compared in average temperatures reached by both of these CPUs.

• According to my findings, the i9-13900K ran at 66.2°C on average, while the i7-13700K remained quite cool, at 59°C. Thus, the Core i7-13700K is about 12.2% more thermally efficient in 1080P gaming compared to the Core i9-13900K.

Pricing And Availability

Both CPUs are readily available at all major stores as of October 2023. Talking about prices, both CPUs are available at slightly discounted prices compared to MSRP (as of October 2023). The i9-13900K can be yours for $543 (original MSRP: $589), whereas the i7-13700K is going as cheap as $364 (original MSRP: $409). 

Accounting for these prices, the Core i7-13700K is far cheaper than the Core i9-13900K, 39.47% by exact.

Core i9 13900K Vs Core i7-13700K: Which One Do I Recommend?

From my analysis, I only concluded a minor 4.7% difference in 1080P gaming performance between the two CPUs. However, when it comes to the prices, the i7-13700K is far cheaper than its Core i9 brother. Specifically, the Core i7-13700K has 39.47% better performance per dollar. 

In addition, the i7-13700K consumes less power (saving you on electricity costs) and runs cooler (you don’t need to spend as much on cooling). This is why I fully recommend Core i7-13700K as it is the winner out of the two CPUs as far as this comparison is concerned.

Its ability to perform extremely close to the Core i9 13900K, operating at a cooler temperature, consuming less power, all the while being an affordable CPU makes it a commendable processor.  

More From Core i9-13900K:

• Ryzen 9 7900X3D Vs Core i9-13900K
• Core i9-12900K Vs Core i9-13900K
• Ryzen 9 7950X3D Vs Core i9-13900K

More From Core i7-13700K:

• Core i5-13600K Vs Core i7-13700K
• Ryzen 7 7700X Vs Core i7-13700K
• Ryzen 9 7900X3D Vs Core i7-13700K

Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

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