Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: Which is better? Intel has finally lifted its embargo so reviews and comparisons to its main rival AMD Ryzen 7950X can now be published. The Core i9-13900k CPU is better than its predecessor but how does it compare to AMD’s flagship processor? Let’s find out below.
Note: In the first gaming tests, we paired both CPUs with the latest Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card. In the second gaming test, we paired both CPUs with the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card.
See Also: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is now Available for Purchase for $743
Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Price and Availability
AMD announced the Ryzen 9 7950X on August 29th, 2022 with an MSRP of $699. While the Intel Core i9-13900k was launched in September 2022 for $659. Going with the retail prices, the Intel Core i9 13th-Gen is cheaper.
In terms of their availability, both processors (Intel core i9-13900k vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X) are now available for purchase. You can use the box at the bottom of this post to buy either of them.
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Price |
| Buy on Amazon US | $743.90 |
| Buy on Amazon EUR | €869.99 |
| Buy on Amazon UK | £769.99 |
| Intel Core i9-13900K | Price |
| Buy on Amazon US | $805.99 |
| Buy on Amazon EUR | €766.37 |
| Buy on Amazon UK | £888.86 |
See Also: Intel Core i9-13900k Price in UK and Availability
Socket Compatibility
These two CPUs are from different manufacturers, and their sockets/motherboards are likewise different. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X uses the AM5 motherboard and is not compatible with the previous AM4.
In contrast, the Intel Core i9-13900k is compatible with both Z690 and Z790 chipsets while using the same LGA1700 socket as the previous generation. So technically, setting up the Intel processor is cheaper.
See Also: Intel Arc A770 vs AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT: Which is Better?
Gaming Performance
So in the first games we tested, the Intel Core i9-13900k vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X was paired with the latest flagship graphics card- Nvidia RTX 4090. In a Six-game average per seconds comparison (at 1080p max settings), the Intel Core i9-13900k had 9% better performance than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. The table below gives further details on the list of games and their average FPS.
| Benchmark | Intel Core i9-13900K | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X |
| Gears 5 | 232fps | 198fps |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 201fps | 197fps |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 147fps | 136fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 225fps | 202fps |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 304fps | 284fps |
| Metro Exodus (ultra / high) | 165fps | 147fps |
See Also: Intel Arc A770 vs Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti: Which is Better?
The second time when our team carried out the final gaming tests, a team member-Titanium, suggested we pair both CPUs with the RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, which we did. However, this time in a Six game average per seconds comparison while maintaining similar 1080p settings, the Intel Core i9-13900k outperformed the AMD Ryzen 9 7959X by just 4%. Below are the breakdowns.
| Benchmark | Intel Core i9-13900K | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X |
| Gears 5 | 187fps | 167fps |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 138fps | 138fps |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 126fps | 123fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 144fps | 144fps |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 244fps | 230fps |
| Metro Exodus (ultra / high) | 150fps | 147fps |
Specs | Geekbench 5 | Cinebench R23 Benchmarking
Is the Intel Core i9-13900k better than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X? Yes! It is so unfortunate that the reign of AMD’s flagship processor was quickly cut short. They both have similar thread counts, however, the Intel Core i9-13900k has a higher core count than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.
Specifically, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X has 16 cores and 32 threads with a 5.7 GHz boost clock frequency. In contrast, the Intel Core i9-13900k possesses 24-cores and 32-Threads. Also, the Core i9 has a higher boost clock frequency of 5.8 GHz.
See Also: Intel Core i9-13900K vs Core i9-12900K: Which is Better?
On Geekbench, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scored 2143 points in a single-core test and 22492 points in a multi-core test, while the Intel Core i9-13900k had 2202 points in a single-core and 24207 multi-core. Thus, in comparison, the Intel Core i9-13900k is 3% faster in single-core and 8% faster in multicore than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.
While on Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i9-13900k is 11% better than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in the multi-core test. Additionally, these two processors have integrated graphics.
See Also: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is now Available for Purchase for $399
Intel Core i9-13900k vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: Verdict
Intel Core i9-13900k vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X comparison shows the Intel “Raptor Lake” 13th-gen flagship processor to be better. For gamers who are looking for high-end desktop CPUs to get, the Intel Core i9-13900k beats the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.
