Best Intel 13th gen CPU for gaming in 2024 (January)

Here's the best Intel 13th gen CPU for gaming

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Looking for the best Intel 13th generation CPU for gaming? Intel’s 13th generation CPUs were the pinnacle of Intel CPU technology when they were released, now, they are superseded by Intel’s 14th generation. Don’t let this put you off, Intel’s 13th-generation CPUs are still solid, well-performing contenders in the CPU space. Intel truly needed something special to compete with AMD, considering the momentum Team Red has been growing with over the past few years. Fortunately, they managed to deliver. In terms of performance and overall value, Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs are a major success.

If you’re planning to upgrade, let’s figure out the Best Intel 13th Gen CPU for gaming that fits your needs. You can read our 13900K review or 13600K review if you need some more information on the new CPU lineup. We keep this article always up to date and are aware of the disappointing 14th-generation CPUs. It’s because of this that we feel the value in the 13th generation has only risen with the release of Intel’s 14th generation. A new Best CPU for gaming is born?

Here at WePC, we have tested thousands of CPUs, so we know what’s what when it comes to the chips in question. There are six CPUs in total, 13900K/KF, 13700K/KF, and 13600K/KF. The K version is the standard, and the KF version has the same CPU but without the built-in iGPU component. The KF versions usually come at a slightly reduced cost.

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Best Intel 13th generation CPU for gaming

Here we will take a look at the best Intel 13th-generation CPU for gaming, and list the reasons why we have come to this conclusion.

The Core i9 13900K, Core i7 13700K, and Core i5 13600K are the main processors out of Raptor Lake’s launch lineup. There are “KF” variants of these processors. The KF variants feature the same performance and specs, with the only differentiation factor being the lack of integrated graphics.

Now that you’re aware of the line-up and specs, let’s find out which CPU is the best Intel CPU for Gaming.

Intel Core i9 13900K – A Power-Hungry Beast

Intel Core i9-13900K

Best Intel 13th gen CPU

Intel Core i9-13900K

Cores

24

Threads

32

Base speed

P-cores 3 GHz / E-cores 2.2 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.8 GHz / E-cores 4.3 GHz

Cache

36MB

TDP

125 W / 253 W boost.

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Pros

• Powerful single and multi-core performance
• High boost speeds
• improved L2 cache capacity
• 32 logical processors

Cons

• pricey
• runs VERY hot

The Intel Core i9 13900K is nothing short of a monstrosity – in a good way. This CPU has a large core count, and a lot of L3 caches, and outperforms almost any processor out there when it comes to gaming. Normally, we’d tell you it’s the CPU that you should avoid. However, the Intel 14th generation, and the abysmal uplift the 14900K offers over the 13900k makes this CPU a perfect choice for gaming, as the 14th gen has driven down prices. It’s still power-hungry, and it still ruins hot, but it’s now viable.

Let’s keep this short and simple. With 24 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock of up to 5.2GHz, no one should be surprised that this CPU performs well. If you look at the benchmarks, for both gaming and productivity, the numbers are utterly ludicrous. However, keep in mind that we’re trying to help you find the Best Intel 13th Gen CPU for gaming. This CPU is power-hungry, and it’ll be difficult to cool, but man does it perform in games.

We’d only recommend the Core i9 13900K if you need some serious power-lifting for intensive workloads. For gaming alone, it may be overkill, but we love a little overkill. It is cheaper than the Ryzen 9 7950X also, so it has that going for it. AMD should be concerned as of right now since Intel is matching them in performance, and beating them in terms of value.

Intel Core i7 13700K – Perfectly Balanced

Intel Core i7-13700K

Perfectly Balanced 13th generation CPU

Intel Core i7-13700K

Cores

16

Threads

24

Base speed

P-cores 3.4 GHz / E-cores 2.5 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.4 GHz / E-cores 4.2 GHz

Cache

24MB

TDP

125 W / 253 W boost.

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Pros

• Great price to performance ratio
• Strong multi-core performance
• Lots of threads for an i7

Cons

• 13600K is better value for pure gaming

Think of the Core i7 13700K as the bigger, stronger, and faster brother to the Core i5 13600K. It has a higher core count, faster clocks, and more L3 cache. If for some reason you are not satisfied with the performance of the i5, then this is the one to go for. 

When it comes to value and cost/performance, the 13700K is not as impressive as the Core i5 13600K. However, it does take the lead in terms of raw performance. If we compare it to the Core i9 13900K, it’s not as absurd in terms of performance, but it’s also less power-hungry.

The Core i7 part is more impressive than the i9, mostly because of its practicality. When it comes to production workloads, this CPU trades blows comfortably with the Ryzen 9 7900X. It’s also far more capable in most scenarios if you compare it to the Ryzen 7 7700X. There’s one thing of note here. Both the Ryzen 9 7900X and Ryzen 7 7700X consume less power than this CPU. So, you’ll need to consider whether you care more about performance or efficiency.

As for gaming, this processor is a beast. It can handle any game that you can throw at it with ease. If you do decide to buy this processor, pair it with DDR5 memory instead of DDR4. In newer titles, that will give you much better performance. The only downside is the fact that this thing is a bit hard to cool. It’s also a bit power-hungry.

Intel Core i5 13600K – The Value Champion

Intel Core i5-13600K

The value champion 13th generation CPU

Intel Core i5-13600K

Cores

14

Threads

20

Base speed

P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz

Cache

20MB

TDP

125 W / 181 W boost.

How We Review

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Pros

• High core count for an entry level CPU
• High base and boost speeds
• Efficient
• backwards compatible with 12th gen motherboards

Cons

• Runs very warm

We strongly believe that while the i5 13600K is the cheaper processor out of the Raptor Lake launch, it’s also the best for gaming. By all means, this does not mean it beats the i7 13700K or i9 13900K in terms of gaming performance. It’s just that this is the more practical choice for nearly every gamer.

We didn’t see it as much of a surprise that the Core i5 13600K was a better value than its bigger brother, the i7 13700K. While the i7 does perform better, the i5 is better in terms of the price-to-performance ratio. 

This is particularly true when we are talking about gaming alone. You can make the argument that the i7 13700K is better if you want even better framerates or if you don’t mind the price.

For the majority of gamers, however, the 13600K is the Best Intel 13th Gen CPU for gaming. A good number of people buy Core i7s because of the higher core count. However, considering the i5 13600K now has 14 cores and 20 threads, that argument is losing its validity.

It’s also important to note that Intel is comfortably beating AMD in terms of value and cost/performance. When it comes to games, the Core i5 13600K and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X are evenly matched. 

However, in terms of productivity, the i5 13600K dominates the Ryzen 5 7600X.

It is astounding how great of a processor this is. If you haven’t upgraded in a while, and are budget-conscious, this is the one you should go for. 

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Other useful Intel links

• Best motherboard for i9-13900K
• Best motherboard for i7-13700K
• Best motherboard for i5-13600K
• Best Intel 13th gen CPU
• Best Intel 13th gen motherboard
• Best Z790 motherboard

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Final word

That about wraps it up for our guide. We still strongly believe that if gaming is your primary concern, you should stick with the Core i5 13600K. The Core i7 13700K is still a good choice if you don’t mind the price. As for the 13900K, well, if you have the cash to spend and you really want the best, then this is the CPUs for you. We especially recommend you steer clear of the 14th gen, for the time being.