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Uzair Qureshi

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Though the biggest innovations happen in the absolute top-end of technology, most consumers spend the most money in the mid-range market, making it a super valuable segment for companies. We will take a look at the ins and outs of this segment in the Core i7-13700K vs Ryzen 7 7700X comparison below.

Key Takeaways

• The Intel core i7-13700k has double (16) the number of cores and more threads (24) compared to the 8 cores and 16 threads of AMD Ryzen 7 7700X.
• The Core i7-13700K performs around 5.2% better than the Ryzen 7 7700X in our testing at 1080p, which made their performance almost indistinguishable. It managed an average framerate of 260 FPS, while its competitor had an average framerate closer to 247 FPS.
• At the time of writing this article, the Ryzen is around $25 cheaper than the i7-13700K.

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The i7-13700K has 8 efficiency and 8 performance cores that total 24 threads. On the contrary, the Ryzen 7 7700X only uses 8 cores that add up to 16 threads.
2. Clock Speed: The Intel process can clock anywhere from 3.4GHz to 5.4GHz, while the Ryzen has a much higher base clock of 4.5GHz with a boost of up to 5.4GHz, which is equivalent to the Intel processor.
3. L3 Cache: The cache size on both processors is fairly similar, with the intel processor using 30MB while the 7700X utilizes 32MB.
4. TDP: The i7-13700K has a PL1 TDP of 125 watts, whereas the default TDP on the Ryzen processor is closer to around 105 watts.

Gaming Benchmarks

The difference in specifications between these two processors can be best measured in real-world performance, which is why we have taken both these processors and used them in their platform’s respective test bench to highlight the difference in real-world gaming performance between these two chips.

Test PC Specs

Here are the specifications of the test benches we will be using today.

• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
• RAM: XPG Lancer RGB 32GB 7200MT/s DDR5 Ram
• Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i PRO XT RGB
• Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus G 2TB
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Power Supply:  ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• Motherboard 1: ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-E Gaming (Intel core i7-13700k) 
• Motherboard 2: ASROCK X670-E TAICHI Gaming (AMD Ryzen 7 7700X)
• Resolution: 1080p

Battlefield 2042

• Our test of Battlefield V showed the Intel processor to have a significant lead over its AMD rival, averaging a framerate of around 174 FPS, while the Ryzen could only pump out an average framerate of around 167 FPS. This established a 4% win for the Intel processor from the start.
• Both processors were equally matched in terms of 1% lows with an output of around 128 FPS.

Call Of Duty: Warzone

• When we tested COD Warzone, the Intel processor was around 5% faster on average, with a framerate of around 237 FPS instead of the 226 FPS that the Ryzen 7 7700X could muster.
• The 1% lows also had a 3.5% advantage for the Intel processor, with the i7 going down to around 151 FPS, while the Ryzen 7 had lows of around 146 FPS.

Fortnite

• Our test of Fortnite Battle Royal fortified the performance uplift of the Intel processor, with an average framerate of 205 FPS, while the Ryzen 7 7700X had an average framerate closer to 193 FPS. The difference here comes out to around 6.2%.
• The 1% lows were also 6.4% faster on the 13700K, with a minimum framerate of 149 FPS, while the Ryzen dipped down to around 140 FPS.

Overwatch 2

• For the final game of our testing, we chose Overwatch 2. The i7 had an average framerate of 421 FPS in this title, which was around 5% faster than the Ryzen 7, which struggled to get an average framerate of 401 FPS.
• The 1% lows were around 339 FPS for the 13700K, while the Ryzen 7 7700X had lows of around 314 FPS. The difference between the two processors here was around 8%.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average Framerate

Across our testing, the Core i7-13700K consistently outshone the Ryzen 7 7700X, boasting an average framerate of approximately 260 FPS compared to the Ryzen’s 247 FPS on average, resulting in a 5.2% performance advantage. This difference was larger than anticipated and it can grow as we go into the later parts of the life-cycle of these processors.

1% Lows

Examining 1% lows also favored the Intel processor, maintaining around 192 FPS, while the Ryzen experienced a dip to approximately 182 FPS on average, showcasing a difference of approximately 5.4%. Once again, this difference caused the stutters in games to be more noticeable.

The observed disparity between these processors exceeded our expectations, highlighting the significant improvements brought by the Core i7-13700K. While these differences may diminish at higher resolutions or with lower-tier graphics cards, it’s anticipated that the performance gap will widen as these processors progress further in their life cycle.

Temperature

During our gaming tests, the i7 23700K had a temperature range from 70°C to 78°C, while the Ryzen ran significantly cooler with a temperature range from 68°C to 74°C.

The higher core count of the 13700K also pushes out more heat, showing the risk of thermal throttling. There is a chance that this would negatively affect your gaming performance if you don’t have a good cooler installed.

Power Consumption

The difference in our numbers might seem different from what it actually is. It is unlikely that the i7 consumes 90 watts more than the Ryzen 7. Instead, most of the difference comes from the CPU limit being pushed further with the i7, allowing the RTX 4090 to perform better. This is not to say that there is no difference between the power consumption of these two processors, but it is quite smaller than the total power consumption would suggest and would not be as drastic if you have a weaker graphics card.

Price And Availability

At the time of editing this comparison, the Core i7 13700K starts from around $345 new on Amazon, while the Ryzen 7 7700X starts for around $319. This is a relatively small difference in price, though the i7 also brings a relatively small improvement in performance. Both processors can be had for significantly cheaper in the new market.

As for availability, both processors should be stocked up at most decently sized computer stores across the globe. 

What We Recommend

Now that we have a point of reference to judge both processors, this part of the Core i7-13700k vs Ryzen 7 7700X comparison will inform you on which processor to choose for your specific use case.

The Core i7-13700K would be the better option for most use cases. It has significantly better performance than the Ryzen 7 while being only 8% more expensive. This chip has some downsides, like the increased thermal load and the higher power consumption, which play into strengths for the Ryzen processor.

The Ryzen 7 7700X, however, is cheaper. This processor is great for people looking to get adequate performance for a tighter budget, along with lower temperatures and power consumption.

Pros And Cons

More From Core i7-13700K

• Core i9-14900K Vs i7-13700K
• Core i7-14700K Vs Core i7-13700K
• Core i9-13900K Vs Core i7-13700K

More From Ryzen 7 7700X

• Ryzen 7 7700X Vs Core i7-12700K
• Ryzen 7 7700X Vs. Ryzen 5 7600X

Uzair Qureshi

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com