Intel Core i9-13900K and Intel Core i5-13600K review: More cores and a higher clock speed with Raptor Lake

With the introduction of hybrid CPUs into the desktop arena, Intel was able to score with a significant performance jump last year. For the first time, the Alder Lake platform used P and E cores to improve the performance distribution. AMD pursues a different approach with its chiplet architecture and is also able to achieve a very good performance at this point.

With the recently introduced Zen 4 processors, AMD was again able to achieve a significant performance increase. Raptor Lake is now supposed to make up for this and allow Intel to gain back the performance crown. Intel remains basically faithful to the 1700 socket in this generation.

However, there are still numerous changes that in sum result in a head-to-head race with AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X. For example, there is a significantly larger cache and there are more threads in total and redesigned P cores with a higher IPC. In addition, Intel increased the Turbo by up to 600 MHz to a maximum of 5.

8 GHz. Those changes apply to the whole lineup of the new Raptor Lake series. We list the most important representatives of the new Raptor Lake S family for you in the chart below.

Although Intel follows the Alder Lake series in terms of the price, the current weak Euro-to-US Dollar exchange rate will make the prices of the new processors subjectively look more expensive. We use the following system for the benchmarks and tests below: For this test, we use the Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero, which was already used during the Alder Lake S launch. Nonetheless, with the new Z790 chipset, there will be updated mainboards that support the 12th as well as the 13th generation of the Intel processors.

However, you should still keep in mind that the Intel Rocket Lake series will probably be the last generation that uses the 1700 socket. All tests are run with the most current BIOS and XMP profile activated. In addition, all the power limitations are deactivated in order to get the full performance of the processors.

Note: Due to some problems with the Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero during our tests, we had to use the Asus ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi instead for all benchmarks with the Intel Core i5-13600K. A brief performance comparison to the Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero did not show any significant performance differences. After talking to Asus, we were able to determine that there was a problem with the BIOS of the version used until then.

Asus responded immediately and remedied the problems with the version 2103. Compared to the older Alder Lake S processors, the performance increase is huge in all areas. The increased IPC is accompanied by a significantly higher Boost speed, which by implication is also sufficient for a performance increase of 19% in the Intel Core i9-13900K compared to the Intel Core i9-12900K .

In the single comparisons, performance jumps of up to 49% are even possible. With the smaller Core-i5 model, we measure a performance increase of 14% compared to the older Alder Lake sample. In the duel of the top models, the Intel Core i9-13900K is able to place just ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

Subjectively, both top models operate at eye level. However, we still see that in some tests Intel is ahead, and in others, AMD. As an example, we can take the 3DMark, where the Intel processor is significantly ahead of the AMD models in terms of the CPU benchmarks.

On the other hand, AMD is able to score in the wPrime test, where Intel is clearly left behind. The smaller Intel Core i5-13600K competes with the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X . Here, the significantly higher number of threads (20 vs.

12) is the key for its success. However, a 7% advantage in the performance rating is not very significant. But the two processors are still comparable, since they both belong to the same price class.

For completeness, we also ran all the CPU tests with the PL2 activated. As you can see from the results, there is no disadvantage if you set the power limit. Better values are even possible in parts, since the CPUs don’t reach critical temperatures here.

You can find additional benchmarks on the processors here . In the load test, where we run the Cinebench R15 constant loop, both test units show a very stable performance. However, we should still mention that the Intel Core i9-13900K runs constantly at the temperature limit.

But at more than 2,000 points, the performance increase compared to the Intel Core i9-12900K is still huge. At an average of 3,620 points over all 50 runs, the Intel Core i5-13600K is also worth mentioning. While the synthetic benchmarks were still clearly Intel’s domain in last year’s Alder Lake release, things don’t look quite as clear this year.

AMD is able to keep up with its Ryzen 9 processors, and Intel only gets third place in the PCMark 10 benchmark. However, compared to Alder Lake, Raptor Lake is able to place ahead throughout, implementing a good performance. If it was a question of the fastest gaming CPU in previous years, you could always rely on Intel.

However, AMD was then able to mix up things with its Zen 4 processors, so that there is no clear winner here. In the cumulated comparison of the eleven games, the Intel Core i9-13900K places barely behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. However, if we also consider the price class of the processors, Intel’s Core i9-13900K is able to place just ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X.

But we shouldn’t forget that there are some games that run better with Intel processors, and others, where AMD processors deliver the better performance. In the internal comparison between the two Raptor Lake S processors, the Intel Core i5-13600K loses by only 7% against the flagship. Those who still use an AM4 mainboard can also take a look at the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D , since that CPU also offers a very good gaming performance.

Both the Intel Core i9-13900K and the Intel Core i5-13600K processor deliver a very good gaming performance. In the CPU limit, we measure some significant performance differences between the two competitors, but with increasing resolution and detail, this becomes less and less significant. We are unable to give Intel the crown of the fastest gaming CPU this year, since AMD is a tad faster with the Ryzen 9 7950X.

All the competitors score closer together again. Those who, aside from gaming, also stream and want to include the public will benefit from the higher number of threads, which also makes the current Raptor Lake processors very interesting for content creators. According to the technical specs, the processors continue to offer a TDP of 125 watts.

This refers to the PL1 value. The PL2 value specifies how many watts the processor is allowed to consume under full load, if all the requirements are fulfilled. If all the restrictions are activated in the BIOS, the Intel Core i9-13900K is allowed to consume a maximum of 253 watts.

For the Intel Core i5-13600K, it is still 181 watts. If all the restrictions are deactivated, there is no direct limitation of the power consumption, which by implication means that only the temperature limit is able to slow down the CPU. So it is not surprising that we keep reaching the 100 °C (212 °F) mark during our stress tests.

At that point, we measure 345 watts for the Core i9-13900K and 240 watts for the Core i5-13600K. With this, using a good cooling system will increase the power consumption by quite a lot. We measure a power consumption of 480 watts for our test system during the Cinebench R15 multi test.

This is 48% or almost 160 watts more for the power supply to deliver compared to the Intel Core i9-12900K. For the Intel Core i5-13600K, the increase is also not insignificant at 39% or an additional 80 watts. While gaming, the power consumption is slightly lower.

However, we still measure at least 500 watts on average. You need a very good cooling system to handle the Raptor Lake processors. With a custom water cooling system, you can also let the new Raptors run without any limitations, provided you have no problem with high temperatures.

Those who want to be on the safe side should activate the PL2 limitation. Then a maximum of 253 or 181 watts respectively is the limit. We definitely recommend staying within the power limits of the Raptor Lake processors.

A significantly lower power consumption and low temperatures are good reasons to do this. There is also no disadvantage in terms of the pure performance, as we already mentioned above. With Raptor Lake, Intel sends a worthy successor to the Alder Lake generation into the ring.

It was also time for this, since with its current lineup, AMD has raced ahead of the Alder Lake processors. However, Intel is unable to move completely ahead of the competitors with its current processors. It is able to catch up, though, and sometimes even slightly surpass the competitors.

The differences between the two top models are very small and not really noticeable. However, if we base our performance comparison on the current MSRPs, the Intel Core i9-13900K is ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X in many benchmarks. Intel fights for this position with a higher clock speed, more cores, and a higher power consumption.

The latter is also an approach that AMD is pursuing, although the TDP of the Intel Core i9-13900K reaches a new top value at 253 watts (PL2). In the smaller Intel Core i5-13600K it is still 181 watts under full load. This means that a very good cooling is a requirement, if the top model is on your wish list.

The current Intel Raptor Lake processors offer a very good gaming and application performance. Its very high performance makes the Intel Core i9-13900K the optimal CPU for content creators. For the base, you are safe to use a 600 chipset, since Raptor Lake is compatible after a BIOS update.

This won’t put too much of a strain on your budget for an upgrade. However, there will also be new mainboards with the new 700 chipset. But you should also be aware that there will be no new CPU generation for the current 1700 socket.

Current rumors say that the 1851 socket will be introduced with Meteor Lake, which is not compatible with the current sockets anymore. Some shops already list the new Raptor Lake processors. For example, the Intel Core i5-13600K is available from Amazon for $340 and the top model, the Intel Core i9-13900K, is listed there for $750 .

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