Intel Core i5-13600K

As we expected, the Core i5-13600K is a much more practical and better value CPU than not just the 13900K, but also the 13700K, particularly when focusing on gaming. As enticing as the AM5 platform is, if we were building a new PC today, for either gaming or work, we'd be going with the Core i5-13600K, it's the obvious choice, just as the 12600K was when we reviewed it back in late 2021.
- As reviewed by TechSpot on Oct 2022
14
Cores
20
Threads
3.5 GHz
Base Clock
5.1 GHz
Boost Clock
Socket LGA 1700
Socket
125 W
TDP
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Integrated Graphics
$299
Price
Release date:Sep 27, 2022Price at Launch:$319
Cores:14Threads:20
Base Clock:3.5 GHzBoost Clock:5.1 GHz
Performance Cores:6Efficient Cores:8
Efficiency Core Clock:2.6 GHzEfficiency Core Boost Clock:3.9 GHz
Type:DesktopMultithreading:Yes
L2 Cache:20 MBL3 Cache:24 MB
Box Cooler:NoTDP:125 W
Socket:Socket LGA 1700Memory Support:DDR4‑3200 or DDR5‑5600
Codename:Raptor LakeProcess Size:Intel 7 (10nm)
Integrated Graphics:YesiGPU Model:Intel UHD Graphics 770
NPU:NoPCIe Support:PCIe 5.0 (x16) + PCIe 4.0 (x4)

Performance Benchmarks

All benchmark data reflects aggregated results from dozens of tests conducted in TechSpot’s labs and compiled from our full library of CPU reviews. Single-core productivity scores are based primarily on Cinebench and Adobe Photoshop workloads. Multi-core results draw from Cinebench, Blender, Corona Benchmark, 7-Zip, Adobe Premiere Pro, and shader compilation tests. CPU gaming benchmarks are all 1080p runs (explainer) as published on TechSpot.

Single-Core Productivity

Multi-Core Productivity

Gaming Performance

Price History

Intel Core i5-13600K pricing

Price Date
Current $299 Dec 15, 2025
Highest* $529 Oct 31, 2025
Lowest* $175 May 1, 2025
Average $318
* Prices are based on listings from Newegg and other major retailers over the past 12+ months.
TechSpot is supported by its audience. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Learn more here.

Reviews and Ratings

91

Average Score

Based on 10 reviews

9.6

User Score

Based on 1,099 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • Stunning performance
  • Can be used with a budget DDR4 motherboard
  • Cheaper 600-series platform available
  • Integrated graphics
  • Support for PCI-Express 5.0

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Overclocking doesn't add as much extra performance as we hoped
  • Power draw looks more like Core i7 than Core i5
  • Hotter and hungrier than the Core i5 12600K
  • CPU cooler not included

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X vs. Intel Core i5-13600K:
The advantage of the Core i5-13600K is its superior productivity performance as it can often put those E-cores to good use, offering substantial gains over the 7600X. Also, for those of you who like to tinker with their hardware and dabble in overclocking and memory tuning, expert overclocker Buildzoid claims that the 13600K is a better choice, offering more headroom and a greater degree of memory tuning.

By TechSpot on
90

As we expected, the Core i5-13600K is a much more practical and better value CPU than not just the 13900K, but also the 13700K, particularly when focusing on gaming. As enticing as the AM5 platform is, if we were building a new PC today, for either gaming or work, we'd be going with the Core i5-13600K, it's the obvious choice, just as the 12600K was when we reviewed it back in late 2021.

By TechSpot on
80

The Intel Core i5-13600K follows up one of the top budget chips ever and manages to improve on just about everything across the board, except for the price.When Intel announced its Raptor Lake processors, a lot of us were a bit dismayed that the price...

By TechRadar on
90

By design, Intel's Core i5 processors are never the fastest CPUs on the market, but they are consistently are one of the best choices for smart, value-minded PC gaming. That's to be expected with each new release, as these chips aim to provide solid...

By PC Mag on
96

The Intel Core i9-13900K and i5-13600K provides its 13th generation of microprocessors, a hypersonic...

By ImpulseGamer on
90

The Core i5-13600K is the hands-down winner for mainstream gamers, while the Core i9-13900K is the fastest gaming chip on the market but is overshadowed by the 13700K. Both chips offer leading gaming and productivity performance at their respective price points.

By Tom's Hardware on
90

We were deeply impressed by the 12th Gen Alder Lake Core i5-12600K and have been eagerly anticipating the Raptor Lake Core i5-13600K.This feeling was reinforced when we reviewed the mighty Core i9-13900K which is a huge improvement over the previous...

By Kitguru.net on
96

The Core i5 13600K deserves to be at the heart of your next gaming PC...

By PC Gamer on
90

On Raptor Lake, adding Gen 5 M.2 means stealing some PCIe lanes from the graphics card, so when installing an SSD in the M.2 Gen 5 slot of your motherboard, your graphics card will run at PCIe x8 instead of PCIe x16 (without an SSD in that slot, the GPU will run at full x16). This makes little real-life difference, but it feels like Intel didn't properly budget their PCIe 5.0 lanes in the CPU, unlike AMD who offers this capability and still gives you x16 on the graphics card.

By TechPowerUp on
85

The Intel Core i5-13600K is essentially Core i9-12900K on the cheap, offering similar performance at significantly less...

By pokde.net on
100

Truthfully, I cherish the Core i5 13600K. This is what a gamer needs, appropriately fast and reasonably affordable. The new processor will undoubtedly deliver on many fronts and then has some extra reserve. It'll be fun to tweak with, and offers great...

By Guru of 3D on

Intel Core i5-12400F, Core i7-12700, Core i5-13400, Core i7-13700 and Core i7-13700K compared, provided by SchenkerRegardless of whether you are looking at an Alder Lake S or a Raptor Lake S CPU, all the processors we tested held up pretty well....

By NotebookCheck on

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