In this article, we will present the results of tests with a large-scale comparison of AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Core i5-13600K processors. Our tests used 54 games with 3 different resolutions. The processors were running on a test bench with a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, which allowed us to identify many interesting situations.
Contents:
- Features of the tests
- Benchmarks
- Performance data
- Energy consumption
- Conclusions
- Where can I buy AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Core i5-13600K processors?
Features of the tests
Earlier, we analyzed these CPUs in detail, looked at the test results in games, and compared different motherboard and memory configurations. This allowed us to determine which components are the most valuable. In general, the results of the previous tests were approximately equal.
The 13600K microprocessor had the advantage of increased performance. The 7600X offered excellent power efficiency and the support of a quality platform that could be upgraded significantly in the future.
Computer experts can find different arguments for one processor or another. We decided to conduct extensive testing with a large number of computer games. This will allow us to find answers to many questions about the best processor for gaming.
Let's take a look at our test systems. The following components were used for the Ryzen 5 7600X microprocessor:
- MSI MEG X670E Ace motherboard;
- DDR5-6000 CL30 RAM, one slot with 32 GB of memory.
For the Core i5-13600K, the following bench was used in the tests:
- MSI Z790 Tomahawk motherboard;
- RAM DDR5-6400 CL32, one 32 GB lane.
It is worth noting right away that DDR5-6400 memory for an Intel processor is not supported by the AM5 socket. It doesn't have EXPO support, and the HMR technology is not loaded. It turns out that you need to manually configure the RAM. Most users do not want to spend time on this work. Even when performing 6400 speed tasks, the 6400 speed requires a frequency of 2133 MHz, and only the best stuffing is able to reach this value while maintaining stable operation.
In fact, DDR5-6000 is the limit for the new generation Ryzen 7000 CPU. At the same time, 13th-generation Intel processors demonstrate excellent performance when using DDR5-6400 and can even go beyond this value. It follows that in the tests, the Intel processor will operate at a higher RAM clock speed because it supports this type of memory. Zen 4 generation processors will not achieve this performance.
For the tests, we have chosen the new and most powerful GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card at the moment. Games will run on Windows 11. We have already mentioned that the processors will be tested on 54 games. At the same time, we had to abandon some popular games because they are not practical or useful for testing. Simply put, they are not designed to be used on high-performance hardware due to frame rate limitations.
Such games include Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Control, God of War. This category includes games that were maximally loaded even at 1440p resolution with frame limit activated. We also did not include the Flight Simulator game from Microsoft in the test. This is due to the fact that we could not log in to it for a long time because of a server search error. It turns out that the Microsoft Store is not stable, so the process of testing games available there becomes difficult or impossible. Below, we will analyze the results in detail.
Benchmarks
We start testing with the game Fortnite. In the results, we see similar performance of these two processors. It's important to note that the 13600K showed a drop just above the 1% low, and the improvement was about 5%. At the same time, the 7600X has a 5% higher average frame rate.
A significant difference was noticed in the 4K format. There, the 13600K processor delivered 8% higher than the 1% low. It's a small difference, but the two devices managed to achieve a higher frame rate in the Team Rumble match test.
Let's move on to the most confusing test in this series, the Battlefield V game. With the 200fps limit removed, the 1% lows in the two configurations were almost identical. The 7600X's average frame rate was 36% faster in 1080p, and 56% faster in 1440p. This may come as a shock to users, as the margin was 50% in 4K. Sometimes we thought we were running tests in two different games. After making several attempts, we were able to get the same results.
We could not understand what exactly was holding back the 13600K processor. In two cases, it was limited to 900 frames per second. Then we checked the game quality settings three times, and everything was set correctly. It is possible that there was an error for the E-core, but we will have to spend more time to study this issue.
Assuming that we had seen a bug in Battlefield V, we moved on to testing the new version of Battlefield 2042. In it, the 13600K showed good results, outperforming the 7600X in two modes: 1080p and 1440p.
Here we can see that the 1% low is 16% larger than the Intel processor. For it, there is a 7% increase in the average frame rate. When reaching 4K resolution, the game is limited by the GPU. Given that we used medium quality settings for this competitive advantage, we can note that both processors showed quite fast performance. This approach almost always leads to limited GPU performance.
The game Horizon Zero Dawn favors Ryzen processors. Unlike Battlefield V, there are no errors here, as we have been monitoring the two processors for a long period of time.
In this example, the 7600X demonstrated a 21% higher 1% lows and a 29% higher average frame rate. A similar situation was observed when using the 1440p resolution. Despite these results, the 13600K showed a stronger 1% lows at 4K, although the average frame rate was significantly lower. As a result, the overall performance remained approximately the same due to the characteristics of the GPU.
Rainbow Six Siege is best suited for the 7600X processor due to its high frame rate. In 1080p resolution, we recorded 722 frames per second compared to 626 frames per second in 13600K. We're not sure if this difference is significant, but the 1% lows were almost 20% higher with the AMD processor.
A similar trend was recorded at 1440p and 4K resolutions. The game is different in that it is heavily tied to the GPU, so in most cases the frame rate will be equalized.
Let's move on to the Halo Infinite game. The 13600K-based bench gained a 16% advantage in 1080p, getting 213 frames per second, although the 1% lows improved by only 6%. Then, at 1440p, the advantage of the Intel microprocessor decreased to 7%, and then in 4K, the 7600X was several frames faster. This is surprising, but a similar situation was recorded in a number of games.
The performance of Doom Eternal was the same when running on any processor. This can be seen in the 1% lows. The average frame rate at 13600K is 5% higher, but many users will likely not notice the difference between 564 and 595 fps.
Many gamers have complained about the performance of Gotham Knights. Our tests have shown that the game is really very bad. Even on the RTX 4090 graphics card, we were unable to reach 120 fps at 1080p. In practice, we noticed similar performance limitations for the three resolutions used. We can conclude that the performance of Gotham Knights is at a low level, and 13600K was 8% faster.
Forza Horizon 5 does not place significant demands on the CPU. We have included this game in our test to see what the results are. This is a typical situation seen in most games. In fact, we saw almost the same performance from the two microprocessors.
In the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II multiplayer test, we saw that 13600K is 12% faster, which is evident when comparing the 1% lows at 1080p. Although when comparing the average frequency, there is a 6% difference.
This margin is significantly reduced at 1440p resolution, after which it disappears in 4K format. Therefore, technically, the i5 was more productive, in most cases the margin was insignificant.
Now let's take a look at the results with the ultra quality settings. We can see that the performance of the processors is almost identical, as the game's capabilities are limited by the video card. The results are similar to the Forza Horizon 5 game.
The visually impressive single-player game Red Dead Redemption 2 is demanding on the processor. The 7600X came out on top with a 6% performance advantage in our benchmarks. This is not a performance threshold to be proud of, given that we consider a difference of 5% or less to be a tie.
The last game we'll take a closer look at is PUBG. We were surprised to see that the 7600X performed better, even though the 1% lows were almost identical. Despite this, the 7600X wins in the average frame rate by up to 13%. This result is noteworthy.
Performance data
Based on the tests discussed above, the 13600K and 7600X processors seem to be similar in terms of gaming performance. We haven't reviewed all the games on our 54-game list in detail. Let's take a look at the comparison chart to get the full picture.
Based on our 12-game benchmarks, the 7600X outperforms its 13600K rival by 3%. When we expanded our benchmarks to 54 games, the 7600X was 5% faster. If we remove the results from Battlefield V, which may contain an error due to problems with the E-core, then the 7600X is only 4% faster than its opponent. In any case, we consider the difference of 5% to be insignificant, so we get a draw.
Despite using the fastest graphics card, performance in low resolutions is almost identical. 13600K and 7600X are very fast gaming processors. We say this after 70+% of the games tested.
This advantage decreases at 1440p resolution, with only Battlefield V being an exception. On average, 7600X is 3% faster if you take away Battlefield V.
At 4K resolution, the 7600X is only 1% faster, excluding Battlefield V. In almost half of the games tested, the difference is 1% or less. This is telling information for those using an RTX 3080 or slower card at 1440p. However, this is not always the case for esports games with low quality settings.
Energy consumption
Let's take a look at the system's power consumption during games with the RTX 4090. In the 6 games that we examined in detail, the 13600K consumed an average of 14% more power than the 7600X. This is not a significant difference.
In many cases, we are talking about 60 watts or more with a margin of almost 120 watts. The difference is absurd. From this we can draw the disappointing conclusion that Ryzen 5 is better cooled. In any case, you need to use a powerful cooler for cooling. If you plan to reduce voltage consumption or improve power consumption settings, then the 7600X will be in the best position.
Conclusions
We have provided a detailed review of gaming performance for the Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 5 7600X processors. Both devices are powerful gaming CPUs that deliver excellent gaming performance.
The advantage of the Core i5-13600K is its superior performance because it can make efficient use of E-core. This gives it a significant advantage over the 7600X. If you like to overclock and tweak your memory, experts say that the 13600K is the best choice.
Users also have access to a large number of motherboards for less than $200, thanks to the fact that the processor supports the 600 series of boards. There is also backward compatibility with DDR4 memory. This means that users can use older memory that has a cheaper cost.
The performance level of DDR4 is directly related to the processor, so the power will be lower than that of DDR5. If you are building a new computer or want to upgrade your system, it is recommended that you already pay attention to DDR5 memory.
The advantage of the Ryzen 5 7600X is that it is a more efficient processor that consumes less power. Theoretically, this should improve the cooling process, although this nuance does not play a big role. The real advantage of Ryzen 5 is the AM5 platform, which will support at least two more generations of processors. If a user buys such a platform now, they will have great opportunities for further system upgrades.
There is no right or wrong option in our test. By default, both processors are excellent products. The user has to make a choice between platform durability or higher performance.
Where can I buy AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Core i5-13600K processors?
These two microprocessors are available in the Artline online store. The company offers only reliable products at a market price. If you have decided which processor you want to buy, you can place an order at any time. The Artline catalog also offers a large selection of ready-made PCs based on these CPUs.