Intel Core i5-14600K vs Core i7-13700K: Which is best for gaming?

Modified Jun 29, 2024 00:54 GMT

The Intel Core i5-14600K and the i7-13700K are the best CPUs in the mid-range (Image via Amazon)

The Core i5-14600K and i7-13700K are some of the best mid-range gaming CPUs from Intel. The last-gen processor initially targeted a much higher price tag but is discounted to around $300 these days, making it a fantastic deal for gamers. Little has changed between the 13th- and 14th-generation offerings, making gamers question which chip among the two would be the better deal.

In this detailed comparison, we will look at the 14600K and the 13700K in detail and try to answer which is the better option.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer

The Intel Core i5-14600K and Core i7-13700K are capable mid-range gaming CPUs

The Intel Core i5-14600K is bundled with a bunch of hardware (Image via Amazon)

The Intel Core i5-14600K and Core i7-13700K are based on related architectures. While the 13th gen chip is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, the newer processors use a slightly revamped version of it: the Raptor Lake Refresh. Single-core performance hasn't gone up significantly this generation, thanks to the reused silicon.

Specs comparison

Coming to the on-paper specs, the 14600K was designed for a lower-end market than the 13700K. It packs a total of 14 cores, six of which are high-performance 'P'-rated and the rest are efficient 'E'-rated. In contrast, the 13700K is a 16-core chip with eight P cores and as many efficient cores.

The older i7 clocks 100 MHz faster and has a much higher maximum turbo power limit. You'll need a beefier cooler to tame it.

Below are the detailed specs lists of the chips:

	Intel Core i5-14600K	Intel Core i7-13700K
Processor family	Raptor Lake Refresh	Raptor Lake
Lithography	Intel 7 (10 nm)	Intel 7 (10 nm)
Core count	14 (6P+8E)	16 (8P+8E)
Thread count	20	24
Max. turbo frequency	5.3 GHz	5.4 GHz
RAM support	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
iGPU	Intel UHD 770	Intel UHD 770
Power draw	125W (181W turbo power)	125W (253W turbo power)
Price	$305 (14600K), $292 (14600KF)	$301 (13700K), $291 (13700KF)

The prices of the chips are nearly identical these days. The 14600K and the 13700K are both selling for just more than $300, and their 'F' variants, the ones without the integrated GPUs, are selling for about $290.

Performance comparison

Packaging of the Core i5-14600K CPU (Image via Amazon)

In terms of single-core performance, the Core i5-14600K and the i7-13700K are pretty close to each other. This is because with the newer architecture doesn't improve IPC metrics by a huge margin.

In terms of multi-core performance, the older Core i7-13700K takes a lead. This is because of the two extra efficient cores onboard the chip. The extra multi-core numbers can benefit productivity workloads like rendering and 3D modeling. Most video games can't utilize more than two cores, hence this lead is largely pointless.

Here is a comparison of benchmark scores secured by the two chips. We sourced these numbers from Nanoreview.

	Intel Core i5-14600K	Intel Core i7-13700K
Cinebench R23 single-core	2,084	2,080
Cinebench R23 multi-core	25,272	30,235
Geekbench 6 single-core	2,815	2,941
Geekbench 6 multi-core	17,306	20,193

In gaming performance, the older Core i7-13700K takes a slight lead across the board. This is rather interesting, given the two chips are as fast as each other in single-core tests.

Below is a list of framerates achieved by an RTX 4090 when paired with either processor. The 13700K takes a considerable lead in most video games. The numbers are from the YouTube channel Testing Games.

	Intel Core i5-14600K	Intel Core i7-13700K
Starfield (1080p Ultra)	105 FPS	112 FPS
The Last of Us Part I (1080p Ultra-High)	168 FPS	178 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Ultra, RT on)	112 FPS	117 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy (1080p Ultra, RT on)	72 FPS	72 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 (1080p Ultra)	162 FPS	169 FPS
Forza Horizon 5 (1080p Ultra)	210 FPS	211 FPS
Hitman 3 (1080p Ultra)	223 FPS	230 FPS
Spider-Man: Miles Morales (1080p High, RT on)	117 FPS	119 FPS
Microsoft Flight Simulator (1080p Ultra)	97 FPS	97 FPS
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (1080p Ultra, RT on)	95 FPS	97 FPS

Intel Core i5-14600K vs Core i7-13700K: Final verdict

Both the Core i5-14600K and Core i7-13700K deliver superb gaming performance in their price point. You can pair either chip with up to an RTX 4090 without major bottlenecks. However, as we found, the i7 is the better option.

Given both processors cost pretty much the same, we recommend opting for the older version. This gives you better multi-core performance at the same price point. However, you will have to a premium on a cooler to keep the 13700K under sane temperatures.

Check out other CPU comparisons from Sportskeeda:

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh