Intel Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Which is the better gaming CPU?

The Intel Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are both fantastic gaming CPUs. The processors feature enough computing prowess while not costing an arm and a leg. This makes them superb options for high-end gamers who don't want to dump northwards of $2,000 on their rigs. It's no wonder that the processors rank among some of the most popular options today.

Though choosing between Intel and AMD has always been difficult, the gap between them has grown smaller in recent years. Both chip makers now make CPUs that are very competitive in terms of what they offer. To help you arrive at a decision, we have prepared this detailed comparison.

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Both the Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are powerful gaming CPUs

A brief look at the specs of the Intel Core i7 chip (Image via Amazon)

The Core i7-13700K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are based on wildly different architectures. A specs comparison between these chips isn't quite accurate but should give you a good idea of what to expect.

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Specs comparison

In terms of the underlying hardware, both the Core i7-13700K and the 7800X3D are filled to the brim with the latest innovations in CPU technology.

Intel's formula is based on a hybrid architecture. It packs a total of 16 cores, eight of them rated high-performance "P" rated and the rest efficient "E."

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, on the other hand, is an eight-core processor. AMD follows a hybrid chip design and packs its chips with all high-performance cores.

Both processors are quite power-hungry and will require a high-end power supply and cooler. The detailed specs comparison is as follows:

	Intel Core i7-13700K	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Processor family	Raptor Lake	Zen 4
Lithography	Intel 7 (10 nm)	TSMC 5 nm
Core count	16 (8P+8E)	8
Thread count	24	16
Total cache (L2+L3)	30 MB Intel Smart Cache	104 MB
Max. turbo frequency	5.4 GHz	Up to 5 GHz
RAM support	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 5200 MT/s
iGPU	Intel UHD 770	Dual-core Radeon graphics
Power draw	125W (253W turbo power)	120W
Price	$389	$345

The Ryzen processor is a bit cheaper these days, following multiple price cuts from Team Red. This makes it a competitive alternative to the Team Blue offering.

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Performance comparison

The Intel Core i7-13700K and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D are quite different from each other in performance. In terms of single-core performance, the chips are somewhat similar. Since this parameter largely affects gaming, we are expecting the processors to be quite close to each other.

That said, synthetic performance benchmarks like Cinebench R23 and Geekbench don't do justice to X3D chips given their special architecture. In real life, performance metrics might vary.

The detailed performance comparison is as follows. The data has been sourced from the benchmark aggregator website Nanoreview.

	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cinebench R23 single-core	2,087	2,127
Cinebench R23 multi-core	34,910	22,856
Geekbench 5 single-core	2,882	2,245
Geekbench 5 multi-core	20,596	16,194

The Intel chip is significantly faster in multi-core performance, which makes it better suited for CPU-heavy workloads like video editing and file compression.

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Gaming performance test

Motherboards for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D have gotten quite cheap (Image via AMD)

In terms of gaming performance, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D beats the Core i7-13700K consistently when paired with capable graphics cards. The difference can feel so big that it's almost like getting a new GPU.

A detailed performance comparison of the two chips is as follows. Note that these numbers have been sourced from the YouTube channel Testing Games, which tested the chips with an RTX 4090.

	Core i7-13700K	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Returnal	172 FPS	188 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077	135 FPS	141 FPS
The Last of Us Part I	182 FPS	190 FPS
Microsoft Flight Simulator	84 FPS	108 FPS
Hitman 3	219 FPS	215 FPS
Forza Horizon 5	284 FPS	293 FPS
Spider-Man: Miles Morales	120 FPS	135 FPS
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	81 FPS	86 FPS
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor	109 FPS	114 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy	82 FPS	90 FPS

This difference is the best case, given the chips were tested with an RTX 4090. Weaker graphics cards, i.e., pretty much everything other than a 4090, will end up creating lower differences because the games might get GPU-bound.

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If you are building a gaming PC, we recommend getting the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This processor is much better in video games and can give you a massive framerate gain over the Core i7-13700K. The Intel chip, however, is a better choice for those who want the best productivity performance in the sub-$400 range. The 7800X3D is quite powerful though, and you won't face major problems in demanding workloads.