AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Core i7-13700K

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the Intel Core i7-13700K are terrific processors, popular for their computing power and affordable prices. For around $300, you can get an excellent CPU to help with both daily computing and gaming. I agree that there are some very contrasting differences between the two, but it is quite obvious that the Intel Core i7-13700K is better than the latter in terms of performance and value for money.

The competition between the two chip makers has been getting quite fierce in recent times, so it is only natural to have a dilemma when choosing between the two. To help with your decision, we have prepared this detailed comparison.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Core i7-13700K: What are their specifications?

The Intel Core i7-13700K processor offers a greater set of features (Image via Intel, AMD)

The two processors aren't far off in terms of specifications. However, we must consider that the i7-13700K processor was launched two years after the Ryzen 9 5900X, so it does come with much better technology. They’re based on very different technologies, with Intel featuring a hybrid architecture of both performance and efficiency cores.

The 16 cores of the Intel Core i7-13700K certainly help in terms of gaming and computing, and we’ll be discussing these features in the section below. The Ryzen 9 on the other hand, has 12 cores. While this may seem like a small difference, it is anything but. Sure, it isn’t that significant in terms of gaming, but for video processes and renders, this does play a big role.

Features	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X	Intel Core i7-13700K
Processor Family	Vermeer (Zen 3)	Raptor Lake
Cores	12	16 (8 performance, 8 efficiency)
Threads	24	24
Base Frequency	3.7 GHz	2.50 GHz (efficiency) 3.40 GHz (performance)
Max Clock Speed	4.8 GHz	5.4 GHz
Total Cache Memory	64 MB	30 MB Intel Smart Cache
Total L2 Cache	6 MB	24 MB
Power	105W (142W MTP)	125W (253W MTP)

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Core i7-13700K: How are they performance-wise?

The Intel Core i7-13700K is much better in terms of performance (Image via Intel)

If we're speaking in terms of performance, there is no doubt that the Intel Core i7-13700K is the winner. This is mainly because of the greater number of cores that we see on Intel’s processor. That makes it almost 15-20% faster than the Ryzen 9 5900X. However, do note that the Ryzen has a decent clock speed both at base level and boosted levels, which is sufficient for general use.

Synthetic productivity benchmark

By now, you must have an idea about the specifications and features of both processors, but to go deeper into the comparison, we must look into the benchmarks of the two and see how they perform in single and multi-core tests. We’re conducting these tests using synthetic performance benchmarks like Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 6, which give reliable results, for the most part.

Benchmark	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X	Intel Core i7-13700K
Cinebench R23 single core	1556	2075
Cinebench R23 multi core	20485	30189
Geekbench 6 single core	2263	2941
Geekbench 6 multi core	12701	20193

The Intel chip is faster in both single and multi-core performance, which makes it a better choice for video editing, web development, and video rendering.

Gaming benchmark

Team Blue takes the win when speaking of gaming performance. Don't get me wrong, the Ryzen 9 is a fantastic CPU, but the i7-13700K just puts up better numbers. The integrated graphics on the Intel plays a significant role here. It features the Intel UHD Graphics 770 iGPU whereas there is no integrated graphics processor on the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Let's look into the framerates on both CPUs to understand better. Do note that the following data has been sourced from the YouTube channel, NJ Tech. The test was conducted using an RTX 3080 GPU at 1080p settings.

Games (with RTX 3080 GPU)	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X	Intel Core i7-13700K
Red Dead Redemption 2	59 fps	68 fps
Spiderman Remastered	95 fps	126 fps
Far Cry 6	139 fps	181 fps
Call of Duty: Warzone	288 fps	301 fps
Cyberpunk 2077	136 fps	168 fps
Rainbow Six Siege	601 fps	638 fps

The difference is quite impressive, isn't it? However, I don't think this should be of concern as the Ryzen 9 still puts up very respectable framerates, going upwards of 280fps on Warzone. It'd be hard to decide on a clear winner, as when paired with a decent GPU, both processors perform incredibly well. The choice here would come down to your budget preferences.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Core i7-13700K: Which one offers greater value for money?

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X offers great value for money, but so does Intel (Image via AMD)

The Intel i7-13700K processor is undoubtedly better than the Ryzen 9, but the difference isn't monumental. The i7-13700K costs $329 on Amazon, while the Ryzen 9 costs only around $249. The original prices of these processors are much higher, so we suggest you buy them from Amazon.

If we’re considering value for money, the i7-13700K would be a worthy buy. While it is slightly expensive, the features it provides for the price are useful for video editing and gaming. That said, the Ryzen 9 5900X is also an excellent choice, considering it offers respectable specs and performance at almost $80 less. In my opinion, the Ryzen would be a better choice if you're on a tight budget.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Core i7-13700K: Final verdict

The Intel Core i7-13700K would be the better CPU regardless of whether you're building a workstation, a gaming PC, or a standard desktop for daily computing. However, the Ryzen 9 5900X is still a viable choice if you don't wish to spend as much. Sure, we see a big difference in the benchmarks on paper, but when paired with a good GPU, the numbers won't make a big difference.

Thus, you should be right in choosing either of the two CPUs. However, if you can afford it, the Intel i7 strikes as the better choice.

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Edited by Adarsh J Kumar