Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i5-13600K
The Intel Core i5-13600K is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 1%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Core i9-12900K | Intel Core i5-13600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 84/100 | 85/100 |
| Tier | A | A |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Cores | 16 | 14 |
| Threads | 24 | 20 |
| Base clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.2 GHz | 5.1 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 125 W | 125 W |
| Release year | 2021 | 2022 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the Intel Core i5-13600K is the better buy — it holds a 1% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The Intel Core i9-12900K has more cores (16 vs 14), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.