Intel Core i5-13600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600X: Which is the better CPU for gaming? With the embargo on Intel “Raptor Lake” CPUs finally lifted, we can now go ahead to publish reviews and comparisons to its main rival AMD Ryzen 7000 processors. However, in this case, we’ll be comparing the Core i5-13600k with the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X CPU.
Note: In the gaming tests segment below, we paired both CPUs with the flagship AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT graphics card. The game settings were 1080 Max/Ultra and 4K low, and high.
See Also: Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: Which is Better?
See Also: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is now Available for Purchase for $335
Price and Availability
AMD was the first to announce its latest processor on August 29th, 2022 which the Ryzen 5 7600X was among. The Ryzen 5 7600X has an MSRP of $299. While the Intel Core i5-13600k was launched in September 2022 and has an MSRP of $319. Going with the retail prices, the Ryzen 5 7600X is more affordable.
In terms of their availability, both processors (Intel core i5-13600k vs AMD Ryzen 9 7600X) are now available for purchase. You can use the box at the bottom of this post to buy either of them.
Socket Compatibility
These two CPUs are from different manufacturers, and their sockets/motherboards are likewise different. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X uses the AM5 motherboard and is not compatible with the previous AM4.
In contrast, the Intel Core i5-13600k is compatible with both Z690 and Z790 motherboards while using the same LGA1700 socket as the previous generation. So technically, setting up the Intel processor is cheaper.
See Also: Best AM5 MotherBoard: Top Picks for Ryzen 7000 CPUs
See Also: Intel Arc A770 vs AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT: Which is Better?
Gaming Performance
So to carry out this gaming performance test, we paired both the Intel Core i5-13600k and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X CPUs with an AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT graphics card. In a Six games average per seconds comparison (at 1080p max/Ultra settings), the Intel Core i5-13600k had 4% better performance than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X. Below, You can see how both CPUs performed on each of the six games tested.
| Benchmark | Intel Core i5-13600K | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X |
| Civilization VI | 125fps | 169fps |
| Borderlands 3 | 151fps | 114fps |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 127fps | 93fps |
| F1 2022 | 137fps | 125fps |
| Hitman 3 | 302fps | 296fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 203fps | 207fps |
We didn’t stop at 1080p settings. We went further to test 4K gaming. Just like before, we paired both CPUs with the Radeon RX 6950 XT graphics card. However, for some reason we couldn’t test Cyberpunk 2077- which limited the number of games tested to 5. So in a Five games average per second comparison (at 4K low/high settings), the Intel Core i5-13600k drew the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X Below are the breakdowns.
| Benchmark | Intel Core i5-13600K | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X |
| Civilization VI | 135fps | 181fps |
| Borderlands 3 | 199fps | 186fps |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 47fps | 45fps |
| F1 2022 | 181fps | 155fps |
| Hitman 3 | 143fps | 148fps |
Performance Benchmark
Is the Intel Core i5-13600k better than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X? In performance, yes! And that happens at the expense of drawing more power too. The gaming performance is at par, but in other scenarios, the Intel Core i5 has the upper hand. It has higher thread and core counts than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X.
Particularly, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has 6-cores and 12-Threads with a 5.3 GHz boost clock frequency. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-13600k features 14-cores and 20-Threads.
On Geekbench, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X scored 2106 points in a single-core test and 11,411 points in a multi-core test, while the Intel Core i5-13600k had 1902 points in a single-core and 16,906 multi-core. Thus, in comparison, the Intel Core i5-13600k lost 10% in single-core, but gain 48% in multicore.
While on Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i5-13600k is 50% better than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X in the multi-core test. Additionally, these two processors have integrated graphics.
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See Also: Intel Core i5-13600k Price in UK and Availability
Intel Core i5-13600k vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600X: Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600k is the best value CPU for gamers to buy. At $319 MSRP, it is faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor. Additionally, remember it is compatible with last-gen motherboards.
| Intel Core i5-13600k | Prices |
| Buy on Amazon | $339.99 |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £382.33 |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €427.04 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | Price |
| Buy on Amazon US | $335.99 |
| Buy on Amazon EUR | €369.99 |
