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Core i5-14600K vs Core i5-13600K: Gaming Performance & Bottleneck (2026)

You won't feel a difference between the Core i5-14600K and Core i5-13600K in most games. With an RTX 5090 at 1080p High, our model has them at 150 vs 146 FPS. In esports games like CS2 it's 390 vs 380 FPS, and in CPU-heavy titles such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 82 vs 80 FPS at 1440p. 1% lows, which decide how smooth a game feels, come in at 105 vs 102 FPS. With a more typical RTX 5070 at 1440p they land at 101 and 101 FPS, effectively the same. Both use LGA1700, so moving from one to the other is a drop-in swap. With gaming performance this close, the price of the chip, the motherboard and the cooler matters more than the benchmark. Both have 14 cores and 20 threads. Both keep up with GPUs up to the RTX 4090 at 1440p.

Relative performance

Faster CPU = 100%. Average FPS at High settings with an RTX 5090.

AAA games, 1080p

Core i5-14600K100%
Core i5-13600K97%

150 vs 146 FPS · Core i5-14600K +3%

Esports, 1080p

Core i5-14600K100%
Core i5-13600K97%

390 vs 380 FPS · Core i5-14600K +3%

CPU-heavy games, 1440p

Core i5-14600K100%
Core i5-13600K97%

82 vs 80 FPS · Core i5-14600K +3%

FPS with an RTX 5090

Average FPS, no upscaling. The fastest GPU, so the processor sets the pace.

SettingCore i5-14600KCore i5-13600KLead
1080p High, AAA150146i5-14600K +3%
1440p High, AAA148145i5-14600K +3%
1080p esports390380i5-14600K +3%
1440p CPU-heavy8280i5-14600K +3%

Specifications

Gaming index: Ryzen 7 9800X3D = 100.

SpecCore i5-14600KCore i5-13600K
Cores / threads14 / 2014 / 20
SocketLGA1700LGA1700
Released20232022
3D V-CacheNoNo
Gaming index7573

Which GPUs can it drive?

Strongest common GPU each CPU keeps under a 10% CPU bottleneck at 1440p High.

ProcessorStrongest GPUFPS
Core i5-14600KRTX 4090142
Core i5-13600KRTX 4090139

Which should you buy?

For gaming this is a wash, so the decision comes down to price, platform and what else you do with the PC.

Buy the Core i5-14600K if…

  • it's the cheaper of the two where you shop: gaming performance is close enough that price decides.

Buy the Core i5-13600K if…

  • you pair it with a mid-range card: with an RTX 5070 at 1440p the two are level.
  • it's the cheaper of the two where you shop: gaming performance is close enough that price decides.

Check your build

These numbers use an RTX 5090 to isolate the processor. Your own graphics card, resolution and settings change the result, so run your exact parts through the calculator.

Check Core i5-14600K + RTX 4090 Check Core i5-13600K + RTX 4090

Popular builds with these CPUs

Core i5-14600K + RTX 5070 Ti1440p · GPU-limited 17% · ≈121 FPSCore i5-14600K + RTX 50701440p · GPU-limited 32% · ≈101 FPSCore i5-14600K + RX 9070 XT1440p · GPU-limited 19% · ≈119 FPSCore i5-13600K + RTX 5070 Ti1440p · GPU-limited 15% · ≈120 FPSCore i5-13600K + RTX 50701440p · GPU-limited 31% · ≈101 FPSCore i5-13600K + RX 9070 XT1440p · GPU-limited 16% · ≈119 FPS

Core i5-14600K vs Core i5-13600K: quick answers

Is the Core i5-14600K better than the Core i5-13600K for gaming?

They're within 3% of each other at 1080p with an RTX 5090, so for gaming they're effectively equal. Choose on price, platform and core count instead.

How many FPS do the Core i5-14600K and Core i5-13600K get?

Paired with an RTX 5090 at High settings, the Core i5-14600K averages about 150 FPS at 1080p and 148 at 1440p in AAA games, and 390 FPS in esports titles. The Core i5-13600K averages 146, 145 and 380 FPS.

Which graphics card should I pair with the Core i5-14600K or Core i5-13600K?

For a CPU bottleneck under 10% at 1440p, the Core i5-14600K keeps up with cards up to the RTX 4090 and the Core i5-13600K keeps up with cards up to the RTX 4090. Any slower card is a safe match. At 4K both CPUs can drive faster GPUs, and at 1080p they need slower ones.