OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Processors Methodology v3.0
Processors Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Processors Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Processors Methodology v3.0

Intel Core i5-13600K review: 74 specs compared

Avg. price:~£200PassMark multi-core score:37548N. of physical cores:14CPU boost clock speed:5.1 GHzCPU socket:LGA1700TDP (Thermal design power):125 W

Intel Core i5-13600K Review: Compare 74 technical specifications, 52 expert and video reviews and 6 best-of lists to see how this product ranks in the Processors category and whether it is worth buying.

Intel Core i5-13600K
8.5/10

Overall score

Score
8.5/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 25%, List score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 99% of models
Score components

40%

8.4

Technical score

25%

8.9

Reviews score

25%

8.3

List score

10%

8.7

Sentiment score

★Better than 99% of processors
8.8

Value for money

Value for money
8.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the processor's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a processor with a good balance between performance, efficiency, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 99% of models
Score components

70%

8.5

Overall score

30%

9.5

Price

★Better than 99%
8.4

Technical score

Technical score
8.4/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 93% of models
Score components

60%

9.1

Performance

18%

7.5

Architecture

10%

9.2

Memory & PCIe

7%

3.6

Power & Thermal

4%

9.2

Platform

1%

8.0

Integrated graphics

★Better than 93%
8.9

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.9/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.2 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 99% of models

80%

8.6

Average grade

20%

9.9

Popularity

Grades by review (52)
21 reviews: 13 with a printed score, 8 estimated from the review. 31 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
★Better than 99%
8.3

List score

List score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (6)
List score: in 6 of 87 lists (7%)
★Better than 97%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.

What reviewers say about the Intel Core i5-13600K

Based on 10 · 32

A strong gaming and all-round performer, but it draws a lot of power and runs warm; opinions on value are split.
Praised
Mixed views
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what

What owners say about the Intel Core i5-13600K

Based on 168 owners sharing their experience in online comments

64%positive17%mixed19%negative

Owners praise its fast gaming performance and strong value, while high temperatures under heavy loads remain the biggest frustration.

What owners dislike

  • Runs hot under load and needs strong cooling24
  • Owners say tuning can fail, with unstable overclocks, boot failures and no-post errors, sometimes needing a BIOS reset or CMOS clear.14
  • Owners say the stock voltage and power draw are high, reaching about 175–210 W in some tests, which is why undervolting is recommended.9
  • Owners say some games stutter or freeze with E-cores enabled, so they disable them in the BIOS, which is inconvenient.7
  • Owners say BIOS voltage settings are confusing, and some find manual voltage changes revert to default or do not show as expected.3
  • Owners say memory speed is limited, with some reporting that DDR5 above about 6400–6600 MT/s or DDR4 above 3300 MT/s will not boot or run stably.3

Points mentioned by at least 3 owners, most mentioned first.

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Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i5-13600K

Technical score
Technical score
8.4/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 93% of models
Score components:

60%

9.1

Performance

18%

7.5

Architecture

10%

9.2

Memory & PCIe

7%

3.6

Power & Thermal

4%

9.2

Platform

1%

8.0

Integrated graphics

8.4
Reviews score
8.9
List score
8.3
Value for money
Value for money
8.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the processor's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a processor with a good balance between performance, efficiency, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 100% of models
Score components:

70%

8.5

Overall score

30%

9.5

Price

8.8
Processor type
desktop
This processor belongs to the desktop processor class, which is more advanced than that of 54.7% of processors and equal to that of 39.5% of processors.
CPU socket
LGA1700
This processor uses the LGA1700 CPU socket, which is newer than that of 84.5% of processors and equal to that of 8.4% of processors.
Chipset
Z790, H770, B760, Z690, H670, B660, H610
This processor supports Z790, H770, B760, Z690, H670, B660, H610 chipsets, which is broader compatibility than 84.5% of processors and equal to that of 1.2% of processors.
CPU architecture
x86-64
This processor uses the x86-64 architecture, which is more advanced than that of 1.8% of processors and equal to that of 98.2% of processors.
Instruction sets
MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, CLMUL, BMI1, BMI2, ADX, RDRAND, RDSEED
This processor supports MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, CLMUL, BMI1, BMI2, ADX, RDRAND, RDSEED instruction sets, which is broader support than 98.7% of processors.
Show more
What reviewers say
N. of physical cores
14
Market range: <2 – >12
This processor has 14 CPU cores, which is more than 85.7% of processors and equal to 4.3% of processors.
CPU threads
20
Market range: <4 – >24
This processor offers 20 CPU threads, which is more than 84.3% of processors and equal to 5% of processors.
CPU boost clock speed
5.1 GHz
Market range: <3 GHz – >5.5 GHz
This processor reaches a boost clock of 5.1 GHz which is higher than that of 84.5% of processors and equal to that of 4.3% of processors.
CPU base clock speed
6x 3.5 GHz & 8x 2.6 GHz
This processor has a base clock of 6x3.5 GHz & 8x2.6 GHz which is higher than that of 92.1% of processors and equal to that of 0.2% of processors.
PassMark multi-core score
37,548
Market range: <2.5k – >32.5k
This processor scores 37,548 in PassMark, which is higher than 91.1% of processors.
Show more
What reviewers say
Semiconductor size
10 nm
Market range: <4 nm – >24 nm
This processor uses a 10 nm process node, which is more advanced than that of 50.8% of processors and equal to that of 19.5% of processors.
Foundry
Intel 7
This processor is built on the Intel 7 foundry process, which is more advanced than that of 64.8% of processors and equal to that of 15.7% of processors.
L3 cache
24 MB
Market range: <2 MB – >32 MB
This processor has an L3 cache of 24 MB which is larger than that of 80.1% of processors and equal to that of 5.9% of processors.
L2 cache
20 MB
Market range: <1 MB – >16 MB
This processor has an L2 cache of 20 MB which is larger than that of 92.1% of processors and equal to that of 1.2% of processors.
L1 cache
1,280 KB
Market range: <128 KB – >1.2k KB
This processor has an L1 cache of 1,280 KB which is larger than that of 91.8% of processors and equal to that of 0.6% of processors.
Show more
DDR memory version
DDR4/DDR5
This processor supports DDR DDR4/DDR5, which is newer than that of 77.1% of processors and equal to that of 10.7% of processors.
Maximum memory speed
5,600 MHz
Market range: <1.5k MHz – >6.5k MHz
This processor supports memory speeds up to 5,600 MHz, which is higher than that of 77.9% of processors and equal to 4.6% of processors.
Max memory speed (JEDEC)
DDR5-5600 MHz
This processor supports JEDEC memory speeds up to DDR5-5600 MHz, which is higher than that of 77.4% of processors and equal to 6.2% of processors.
Max memory speed (XMP / EXPO)
8,000 MHz
This processor supports XMP/EXPO memory speeds up to 8,000 MHz, which is higher than that of 99.6% of processors and equal to 0.4% of processors.
Maximum memory capacity
192 GB
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This processor supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 82.2% of processors and equal to 6.8% of processors.
Show more
What reviewers say
Integrated graphics
yes
This processor includes integrated graphics. 14.7% of processors offer this.
Integrated GPU model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
This processor uses the Intel UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU, which is more advanced than that in 57.8% of processors and equal to that in 4.7% of processors.
Integrated GPU execution units
32
Market range: <6 – >64
This processor has 32 GPU execution units, which is more than 70.1% of processors and equal to 10.1% of processors.
Integrated GPU base frequency
300 MHz
Market range: <300 MHz – >800 MHz
This processor has an integrated GPU clock of 300 MHz which is lower than that of 57.8% of processors and equal to that of 38.4% of processors.
Integrated media encoders/decoders
H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode/encode), AV1 (HW decode)
This processor supports H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode/encode), AV1 (HW decode) media codecs, which is broader support than 85.4% of processors and equal to 5.4% of processors.
Show more
TDP (Thermal design power)
125 W
Market range: <15 W – >90 W
This processor has a TDP of 125 W which is higher than that of 91.7% of processors and equal to that of 2.9% of processors.
Base power (PL1)
125 W
Market range: <15 W – >90 W
This processor has a base power of 125 W which is higher than that of 91.7% of processors and equal to that of 2.9% of processors.
Boost power (PL2)
181 W
Market range: <25 W – >150 W
This processor has a boost power of 181 W which is higher than that of 90.1% of processors and equal to that of 0.5% of processors.
Tau (power duration limit)
N/A
Configurable TDP
no
This processor does not support configurable TDP. 53.7% of processors offer this.
Show more
What reviewers say

Intel Core i5-13600K vs the average processor

246810TotalPlatformPerformanceArchitectureMemory & PCIeIntegrated graphicsPower & Thermal
  • 3.27x higher PassMark score
    This processor has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (37,548 vs 11,469). The average processor scores 11,469 in PassMark benchmark.
    37,548 vs 11,469
  • 2.78x higher multi-core score
    This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (14,500 vs 5,209). The average processor scores 5,209 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
    14,500 vs 5,209
  • 3.33x better multi-core performance
    This processor has a higher multi-core performance than the average processor (9,329 vs 2,804.5). The average processor scores 2,804.5 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
    9,329 vs 2,804.5
  • 8 more CPU cores
    This processor has more CPU cores than the average processor (14 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
    14 vs 6
  • 60.8% better single-core performance
    This processor has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,114 vs 2,558). The average processor scores 2,558 in PassMark single-core.
    4,114 vs 2,558
  • 74.4% higher single-core score
    This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (2,677 vs 1,535). The average processor scores 1,535 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
    2,677 vs 1,535
  • 12 more CPU threads
    This processor has more CPU threads than the average processor (20 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
    20 vs 8
  • Newer PCIe version
    This processor supports a newer PCIe version than the average processor (5 + 4 vs 3).
    5.0 + 4.0 vs 3.0
  • 32.8% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.9/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.2 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    ▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    ★ Better than 99% of models

    80%

    8.6

    Average grade

    20%

    9.9

    Popularity

    Grades by review (52)
    21 reviews: 13 with a printed score, 8 estimated from the review. 31 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    8.9 vs 6.7
  • 20.8% better value for money
    Intel Core i5-13600K has better value for money than the average processor (8.8 vs 7.3).
    8.8 vs 7.29
  • 20.8% higher sentiment score
    8.7 vs 7.2
  • 6.4% higher list score
    List score
    8.3/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
    How we count it
    Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
    Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
    Lists with this model (6)
    List score: in 6 of 87 lists (7%)
    8.3 vs 7.8
  • Modern CPU socket
    This processor uses a more modern CPU socket than the average processor (LGA1700 vs FP5).
    LGA1700 vs FP5
  • Broader instruction support
    This processor supports a broader instruction set than the average processor (MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, CLMUL, BMI1, BMI2, ADX, RDRAND, RDSEED vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, AMD-V).
    MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, CLMUL, BMI1, BMI2, ADX, RDRAND, RDSEED vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA, AMD-V
  • Supports heterogeneous scheduling
    This processor uses heterogeneous multi-processing, while the average processor does not. 24.8% of processors use it.
  • 3.27x higher PassMark score
    This processor has a higher PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (37,548 vs 11,469). The average processor scores 11,469 in PassMark benchmark.
    37,548 vs 11,469
  • 2.78x higher multi-core score
    This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (14,500 vs 5,209). The average processor scores 5,209 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
    14,500 vs 5,209
  • 3.33x better multi-core performance
    This processor has a higher multi-core performance than the average processor (9,329 vs 2,804.5). The average processor scores 2,804.5 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
    9,329 vs 2,804.5
  • 8 more CPU cores
    This processor has more CPU cores than the average processor (14 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
    14 vs 6
  • 60.8% better single-core performance
    This processor has a higher PassMark single-core score than the average processor (4,114 vs 2,558). The average processor scores 2,558 in PassMark single-core.
    4,114 vs 2,558
  • 74.4% higher single-core score
    This processor has a higher Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (2,677 vs 1,535). The average processor scores 1,535 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
    2,677 vs 1,535
  • 12 more CPU threads
    This processor has more CPU threads than the average processor (20 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
    20 vs 8
  • 15.9% higher boost clock
    This processor has a higher boost clock speed than the average processor (5.1 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.4 GHz.
    5.1 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
  • 56.5% higher Cinebench R20 single-core score
    This processor has a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score than the average processor (767 vs 490). The average processor scores 490 in Cinebench R20 single-core.
    767 vs 490
  • Higher base clock
    This processor has a higher base clock than the average processor (6x3.5 GHz & 8x2.6 GHz vs 4x3.4 GHz).
    6x3.5 GHz & 8x2.6 GHz vs 4x3.4 GHz
  • Unlocked for overclocking
    This processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the average processor does not. 22.6% of processors offer this.
  • 2 wider front-end design
    This processor has a higher front-end width than the average processor (6 vs 4). The average processor uses front-end width of 4.
    6 vs 4
  • 2x higher bus transfer rate
    This processor has a higher bus transfer rate than the average processor (16 GT/s vs 8 GT/s). The average processor offers bus transfer rate of 8 GT/s.
    16 GT/s vs 8 GT/s
  • 6.67x larger L2 cache
    This processor has a higher L2 cache than the average processor (20 MB vs 3 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 3 MB.
    20 MB vs 3 MB
  • More advanced microarchitecture
    This processor uses a more advanced microarchitecture than the average processor (Raptor Lake vs Kaby Lake).
    Raptor Lake vs Kaby Lake
  • 4x more L2 per core
    This processor has more L2 cache per core than the average processor (2 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
    E-core cluster: 4 MB shared
    2 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core
  • 3.33x larger L1 cache
    This processor has a higher L1 cache than the average processor (1,280 KB vs 384 KB). The average processor has L1 cache of 384 KB.
    1,280 KB vs 384 KB
  • Mixed big and small cores
    This processor uses a big.LITTLE design, while the average processor does not. 22.6% of processors use one.
  • 2.67x larger L3 cache
    This processor has a higher L3 cache than the average processor (24 MB vs 9 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 9 MB.
    24 MB vs 9 MB
  • More advanced foundry
    This processor uses a more advanced foundry process than the average processor (Intel 7 vs Intel 14 nm).
    Intel 7 vs Intel 14 nm
  • Newer PCIe version
    This processor supports a newer PCIe version than the average processor (5 + 4 vs 3).
    5.0 + 4.0 vs 3.0
  • 3x more memory capacity
    This processor has more maximum memory capacity than the average processor (192 GB vs 64 GB). The average processor supports 64 GB of memory.
    192 GB vs 64 GB
  • 91% higher memory bandwidth
    This processor has a higher memory bandwidth than the average processor (89.6 GB/s vs 46.9 GB/s). The average processor offers memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.
    89.6 GB/s vs 46.9 GB/s
  • Newer DDR support
    This processor supports a newer DDR generation than the average processor (DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR4).
    DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR4
  • Supports memory overclocking
    This processor supports memory overclocking, while the average processor does not. 43.9% of processors support memory overclocking.
  • 75% higher memory speed
    This processor has a higher maximum memory speed than the average processor (5,600 MHz vs 3,200 MHz). The average processor supports memory speed of 3,200 MHz.
    5,600 MHz vs 3,200 MHz
  • 4 more PCIe lanes
    This processor has more PCIe lanes than the average processor (20 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.
    20 vs 16
  • Supports ECC memory
    This processor supports ECC memory, while the average processor does not. 32% of processors support it.
  • Higher JEDEC memory speed
    This processor has a higher JEDEC memory speed than the average processor (DDR5-5600 MHz vs DDR4-3200 MHz). The average processor supports JEDEC memory speed of DDR4-3200 MHz.
    DDR5-5,600 MHz vs DDR4-3,200 MHz
  • 1 more supported displays
    This processor has more supported displays than the average processor (4 vs 3). The average processor supports 3 displays.
    4 vs 3
  • No configurable TDP
    This processor does not support configurable TDP, while the average processor does. 53.7% of processors support configurable TDP.
  • 2.83x higher boost power
    This processor has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (181 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
    181 W vs 64 W
  • 2.78x higher base power
    This processor has a higher base power draw than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
    125 W vs 45 W
  • 45.2% larger die size
    This processor has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 177 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 177 mm².
    257 mm² vs 177 mm²
  • 41.1% slower Blender rendering
    This processor has a higher Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (234.5 vs 398). The average processor needs 398.015 for the Blender BMW27 test.
    234.5 vs 398.015
  • 2.78x higher TDP
    This processor has a higher TDP than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
    125 W vs 45 W
  • Limited PCIe bifurcation
    This processor supports less flexible PCIe bifurcation than the average processor (x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4).
    x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4
  • 41.1% slower Blender rendering
    This processor has a higher Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (234.5 vs 398). The average processor needs 398.015 for the Blender BMW27 test.
    234.5 vs 398.015
  • 45.2% larger die size
    This processor has a higher die size than the average processor (257 mm² vs 177 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 177 mm².
    257 mm² vs 177 mm²
  • Limited PCIe bifurcation
    This processor supports less flexible PCIe bifurcation than the average processor (x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4).
    x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 vs x16, x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4
  • No configurable TDP
    This processor does not support configurable TDP, while the average processor does. 53.7% of processors support configurable TDP.
  • 2.78x higher base power
    This processor has a higher base power draw than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
    125 W vs 45 W
  • 2.83x higher boost power
    This processor has a higher boost power draw than the average processor (181 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
    181 W vs 64 W
  • 2.78x higher TDP
    This processor has a higher TDP than the average processor (125 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
    125 W vs 45 W

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

6.0
Proceu Tech
≈ estimated
10/04/2023
Hands-on review · gaming, power and platform tests
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is a very powerful chip, but hard to recommend over many good cheaper options.
9.0
Digital David
≈ estimated
17/03/2023
Hands-on review · installation, benchmarks and temperatures
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is a strong value CPU for most users, with good performance and manageable temperatures.
9.0
GameFrostYT
≈ estimated
28/01/2023
Hands-on review · benchmarks, game tests and cooling
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is worth buying for gaming and beyond, though it runs hot and power-hungry, so a good cooler is essential.
9.0
The Tech Tank
≈ estimated
23/01/2023
Hands-on review · benchmarks, power, temperatures and value
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is a strong mid-range pick for most buyers, as long as you have a good cooler and power supply.
9.5
PC Crazy
≈ estimated
23/11/2022
Hands-on review · synthetic and gaming benchmarks, temperatures
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is a price-performance leader in the mid-range, earning a Best Buy badge despite warm temperatures.
9.0
Hardware Canucks
≈ estimated
11/11/2022
Temperature and cooling tests · cooler and power limit comparison
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is easy to cool, with identical performance across coolers, though a good cooler is still advised.
9.0
KitGuruTech
✓ explicit
23/10/2022
Benchmark and gaming review · value and overclocking
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is a serious processor worth having, though it draws more power than most buyers would like.
9.0
Tech Notice
≈ estimated
22/10/2022
Hands-on review · creator benchmarks and performance per dollar
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is highly recommended for creators, with strong performance per dollar, though it draws more power than AMD.
9.0
Gamers Nexus
≈ estimated
21/10/2022
Launch review · gaming, production and power benchmarks
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K offers strong value for gaming and production, with good efficiency and a lower platform cost, but it is not a drop-in upgrade from 12th gen.
9.0
Gear Seekers
≈ estimated
20/10/2022
Hands-on review · gaming, productivity benchmarks, thermals and power
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is an impressive gaming CPU, though its price and the costly new motherboards are the main drawback.
9.0
Tech Point
≈ estimated
25/11/2022
Benchmark review · gaming, creator tests and value
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is not the top pick for pure gaming or production, but it is excellent value for most buyers.
9.5
Robtech
≈ estimated
30/10/2022
Hands-on review · gaming, emulation and benchmark tests
Verdict
Intel Core i5-13600K is a highly recommended mid-range CPU, performing close to the 12900K at a competitive price.
More graded video reviews (2)
creator’s own scoreestimated by us

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

9.0
pcmag.com
✓ explicit
09/11/2022
Lab review · Benchmark testing
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K beats the Core i7-12700K in every test, but editors hold off recommending it because of a 2024 voltage microcode problem.
7.7
techradar.com
✓ explicit
05/05/2023
Hands-on test · Everyday performance
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K is the best all-round pick for most people, leading in synthetic and creative tests, but it draws a lot of power under load.
9.0
gamesradar.com
✓ explicit
20/10/2022
Hands-on test · Gaming and rendering
Verdict
The Core i5-13600K suits most buyers, matching last-gen's Core i7 in gaming and content creation, though it runs hot under full load.
9.0
computerbase.de
≈ estimated
20/10/2022
Multi-part test · Gaming and apps
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K is a gaming chip close to the Core i9-13900K, while Ryzen 7000 chips still win most application tests.
7.8
chip.de
✓ explicit
20/10/2022
Lab test · Multi-core and gaming
Verdict
The Core i5-13600K is a strong pick for productivity and gaming, but its high power draw and weak integrated graphics hold it back.
8.8
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
08/11/2022
Gaming test · Benchmark results
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K is a fast gaming CPU for upgraders from older chips like the Core i-8000 or Ryzen 2000 series, though it draws a lot of power.
8.5
pcmasters.de
✓ explicit
24/10/2023
Benchmark review · Power and heat
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K excels at multi-threaded work and supports DDR4 or DDR5 memory, but it narrowly trails the Ryzen 5 7600X in games and draws much more power.
9.0
clubic.com
✓ explicit
24/10/2022
Benchmark review · Gaming and apps
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K is a strong gaming chip with more cores and bigger caches, but it brings few real changes and lags in heavy applications.
9.0
tomshardware.fr
≈ estimated
20/10/2022
Lab test · Gaming and efficiency
Verdict
The Core i5-13600K beats the Core i5-12600K by about 7-10% in games, but its higher power draw makes it less efficient.
9.0
pausehardware.com
≈ estimated
20/10/2022
Deep dive · Raptor Lake architecture
Verdict
The Core i5-13600K is a fast Raptor Lake chip with more cache and faster memory support, though its integrated graphics can't run every game.
8.0
gtemps.com
≈ estimated
11/11/2022
Lab test · Gaming and multitasking
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K is a strong chip for multitasking, streaming and video editing, but in games it barely beats the Core i5-12600K.
9.0
jouerlegalite.fr
✓ explicit
13/11/2025
Benchmark review · Gaming and editing
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K suits gamers and video editors, averaging 165 fps at 1080p, though its best overclock needs a Z790 board.
9.6
geeknetic.es
✓ explicit
20/10/2022
Feature overview · Mid-range desktop
Verdict
The Core i5-13600K is a 14-core mid-range chip that boosts to 5.1 GHz and works with older 600-series boards, though it has no hardware AV1 decoding.
9.0
smartworld.it
≈ estimated
26/10/2022
Hands-on test · Productivity and gaming
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-13600K is a strong productivity chip, about 50% faster than the Core i5-12600K in Blender, but gaming is only fair and power use is high.
9.0
tweakers.net
≈ estimated
20/10/2022
Benchmark test · Raptor Lake
Verdict
The Intel Core i5 13600K is a strong 1080p gaming chip, but its built-in graphics are too weak for real gaming.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Intel Core i5-13600K

  • Exceptional price-to-performance ratio, often rivaling last-gen i7 and i9 flagships in gaming
  • Strong multi-core performance for productivity and content creation due to high core/thread count
  • Compatible with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, allowing for flexible build budgets
  • Works on existing LGA1700 motherboards, reducing the cost of platform upgrades
  • Impressive overclocking headroom for enthusiasts to push performance further

What customers don't like about Intel Core i5-13600K

  • High power consumption under heavy loads compared to previous generations
  • Runs quite hot, typically requiring a high-quality air cooler or a 240mm+ AIO
  • Significant price increase at launch compared to its predecessor (i5-12600K)
  • Limited future upgrade path as it sits on the end-of-life LGA1700 socket
  • Concerns regarding long-term stability and degradation in 13th/14th Gen chips (though primarily affecting higher-end models)

Verdict

The Intel Core i5-13600K is a high-performance 13th-gen Raptor Lake processor featuring 14 cores (6 Performance-cores and 8 Efficient-cores) and 20 threads, with a max turbo frequency of 5.1 GHz. Key characteristics include its hybrid architecture on the LGA 1700 socket, 24MB of L3 cache, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its main pros are exceptional gaming performance that rivals previous-gen i9 chips, an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking, and strong multi-threaded capabilities for productivity tasks at a mid-range price point. However, it suffers from a high peak power draw of up to 181W, runs hotter than its i5-12600K predecessor, and lacks a bundled cooling solution.

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