Intel Core i7-13700k vs Core i7-12700k: Should you upgrade from last year’s Intel Core i7 Adler-Lake CPU to the latest Core i7 Raptor Lake? Both CPUs are mid-range desktop processors from Intel, however, the company has bumped up the specs of the 13th generation Core i7. But how much of an improvement? Let’s find out.
We’re going to compare the Intel Core i7-13700k vs Core i7-12700k to see which of these two desktop CPUs is the new mid-range king. Also, you can make use of the box at the bottom of this post to purchase either of them from October 20.
See Also: Intel Core i9-13900K vs Core i9-12900K: Which is Better?
See Also: Intel Core i9-13900k Price in UK and Availability
Price and Availability
Intel maintained the pricing of yesteryear. At launch, both CPUs were priced the same- $409. However, it is normal to expect the Core i7 12th generation CPU to drop in price because of the arrival of the new 13th-gen processor. So technically, last year’s Core i7-12700k is more affordable.
And In terms of their availability, the Intel Core i7-12700k is widely available for purchase. While its successor, the newly announced Intel Core i7-13700k will start selling on October 20, 2022. You can use the box at the bottom of this post to purchase either of these CPUs.
Socket Compatibility
What socket will Intel 13th Gen CPU use? The Intel Core i7 13th-Gen CPU will use the same LGA1700 CPU socket used by 12th-Gen Alder Lake chips. And since 13th Gen supports Z690 as well as Z790, you can continue with your existing motherboard.
See Also: Intel 13th Gen Pricing: Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 Raptor Lake CPUs
See Also: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is now Available for Purchase for $743
Performance
Intel bumped up the specs of the Core i7-13700k processor. Which now has 8 Performing-cores and 8 Efficiency-cores, with a total thread count of 24. It has a 24MB L2 cache and a 30MB L3 cache. And can boost up to 5.4GHz on the P-cores and 4.2GHz on the E-cores.
| Specs | Intel Core i7-13700k | Intel Core i7-12700k |
| Cores | 16 | 12 |
| Threads | 24 | 20 |
| Boost Clock | 5.4GHz | 5.0GHz |
| iGPU | UHD 770 | UHD 770 |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
So when compared on paper, the latest Core i7-13700k has higher cores and higher threads than the Core i7 12th-gen. This is to say the new Core i7-13700k has a better multi-threaded performance than its predecessor. Especially when gaming or doing some software runs.
Normally, raw performance is different from specs on paper, and If we should go by the test scores on Geekbench, the Intel Core i7-13700k scored 2,090 points in the single-core test and 16,542 points in the multi-core. In some cases, the points are even higher. So when put into comparison to the predecessor, the Intel Core i7-13700k is faster than the Core i7-12700k by 10% in single-core and 17% in multi-core tests.
See Also: Nvidia RTX 4090 vs AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT: Which Is Better?
See Also: Best AM5 MotherBoard: Top Picks for Ryzen 7000 CPUs
Intel Core i7-13700k vs Core i7-12700k: Verdict
The latest Intel Core i7 13th-gen is better and faster than the Intel Core i7-12700k. Both desktop processors are good, but the new generation is a leap ahead. In summary, the Core i7-13700k has more physical cores and more cores enhance performance. Additionally, the Core i7-13700k has a larger cache size and up to 8% higher Turbo Boost frequency. Use the details in the table below to buy any of these processors.
| Intel Core i7-13700k | Prices |
| Buy on Amazon | $493.25 |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £544.37 |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €539.00 |
| Intel Core i7-12700K | Prices |
| Buy on Amazon | $377.99 |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £433.48 |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €432.00 |
