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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-13500 vs Core i9-12900K

The Core i5-13500 is slightly slower than the Core i9-12900K on average across 100+ games. However, it's a better value for money, as it's $122.00 cheaper!

bar_chartBenchmarks groupCommunity calculateFPS Calculator compressBottleneck Calculator

CPU

$277.99View CPUAll CPUs

Is 1 year and 2 months newer
Up to 148% cheaper – $277.99 vs $399.99
Up to 134% better value for money

CPU

$399.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 6% faster on average across 100+ games
Up to 148% more expensive – $399.99 vs $277.99

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

Overwatch 22023

Core i5-13500

554FPS

Core i9-12900K

560FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i5-13500

349FPS

Core i9-12900K

371FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i5-13500

331FPS

Core i9-12900K

329FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i5-13500

219FPS

Core i9-12900K

221FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i5-13500

756FPS

Core i9-12900K

781FPS

Valorant2020

721FPS

745FPS

686FPS

708FPS

Destiny 22017

Core i5-13500

Core i9-12900K

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i5-13500

56%

Core i9-12900K

61%

Core i9-12900K ranks 5 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i5-13500

Core i9-12900K

Core i9-12900K has 2 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i5-13500

Core i9-12900K

Core i9-12900K has 4 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-13500

24 MB

Core i9-12900K

30 MB

Core i9-12900K has 6 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-13500

2.5 GHz

Core i9-12900K

3.2 GHz

Core i9-12900K has a 28% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-13500

4.8 GHz

Core i9-12900K

5.2 GHz

Core i9-12900K boosts 8% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-13500

65W

Core i9-12900K

125W

Core i5-13500 draws 60W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i5-13500

$277.99

Core i9-12900K

$399.99

Core i5-13500 is $122.00 cheaper.

Core i5-13500Core i9-12900K

LGA1700

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Raptor Lake-S

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

UHD Graphics 770

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 770

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-13500 or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K. It's 9% faster than the Core i5-13500 on average across 100+ games, scoring 61/100 vs 56/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i9-12900K than Core i5-13500?expand_more

9% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i5-13500 or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i9-12900K worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 61/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i5-13500 and Core i9-12900K?expand_more

Performance: Core i5-13500 scores 56/100, Core i9-12900K scores 61/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i5-13500 or Core i9-12900K bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i5-13500 or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K is the stronger pick at 61/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.