Intel Core i7-13790F vs Intel Core i9-13900K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-13790F and Intel Core i9-13900K are both 13th Gen Raptor Lake desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, yet they occupy distinctly different performance tiers. The i9-13900K dominates the multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, while the i7-13790F shows surprising strength in specific single-core legacy tests. This analysis breaks down the benchmark data to clarify where each processor excels and where the architectural and specification differences manifest in real-world scores.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a clear division of labor. The Intel Core i9-13900K is the overwhelming winner in the head-to-head comparison, taking 15 of the 17 benchmark tests. Its victories span multi-core rendering, data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, and general mathematical workloads. The data shows the i9-13900K is the superior choice for heavily parallelized tasks such as 3D rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing that can utilize its higher core count and thread count.

Conversely, the Intel Core i7-13790F wins only two benchmarks, but these are notable. It secures victories in Cinebench R15 single-core and Cinebench R23 single-core. However, the R23 single-core result is anomalous — the i7-13790F scores 4998 against the i9-13900K's 2238.5, a 123.3% difference that contradicts the pattern seen in other single-core tests. The R15 single-core result shows the i7-13790F at 503 versus the i9-13900K's 318, a 58.2% lead. These specific wins suggest the i7-13790F holds an advantage in certain legacy single-threaded workloads, though the i9-13900K reclaims the lead in Cinebench R20 single-core and PassMark single-thread tests.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded performance, the i9-13900K is the clear choice. For those running older applications that are strictly single-threaded and rely on the specific instruction patterns tested by Cinebench R15 and R23, the i7-13790F shows an unexpected edge.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Raptor Lake-S architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node with a die size of 257 mm². The fundamental difference lies in the core configuration. The i7-13790F offers 16 cores and 24 threads, while the i9-13900K steps up to 24 cores and 32 threads. This eight-core difference directly explains the i9's dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks.

Clock speeds also differentiate the two. The i7-13790F has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The i9-13900K operates at a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and boosts to 5.80 GHz. The higher clocks contribute to the i9's superior performance in most single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads.

Cache allocation differs as well. The i7-13790F features 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-13900K has 36 MB. Both share the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes of 80 KB and 2 MB respectively. The additional L3 cache in the i9 helps with larger working sets and multi-threaded data sharing.

The i9-13900K also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770, while the i7-13790F has no integrated graphics. The i9 supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not. PCIe lane allocation differs, with the i7 offering 20 lanes (CPU only) versus the i9's 16 lanes, both at Gen 5 speeds. The i9's multiplier is unlocked for overclocking, whereas the i7's multiplier is locked.

Power characteristics are markedly different. The i7-13790F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i9-13900K has a TDP of 125 watts. This higher power envelope supports the i9's additional cores and higher clock speeds.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant multi-core victory for the i9-13900K comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 5805.5 against the i7-13790F's 3568, a 38.5% deficit for the i7. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a similar gap, with the i9 at 20740 and the i7 at 14869, a 28.3% difference. The gap narrows in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i9 scores 38271.5 versus the i7's 35404, a 7.5% lead.

PassMark tests reinforce the i9's multi-threaded superiority. Data compression shows the i9 at 793645 against the i7's 567473, a 28.5% advantage. Data encryption follows with the i9 at 46609 versus 31703, a 32% lead. Extended instructions favor the i9 by 25.1% (46477 vs 34828). Integer math shows a 27.1% gap (207792 vs 151416), and floating-point math shows the same 27.1% difference (151562 vs 110512). Random string sorting gives the i9 a 33.2% edge (87705 vs 58607). Multithread performance in PassMark shows the i9 at 58589 versus 44737, a 23.6% lead. Find prime numbers is closer, with the i9 at 236 versus the i7's 207, a 12.3% advantage. Physics simulation is nearly identical, with the i9 at 3140 versus 3017, only a 3.9% gap.

Single-thread results are mixed. PassMark single-thread shows the i9 ahead at 4608 versus 4212, an 8.6% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core also favors the i9 at 2927 versus 2099, a 28.3% advantage. However, Cinebench R15 single-core is a win for the i7 at 503 versus 318, a 58.2% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core is the outlier, with the i7 scoring 4998 against the i9's 2238.5, a 123.3% margin that does not align with the other single-core tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900K is consistently faster in multi-core tests. It leads by 38.5% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 28.3% in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 7.5% in Cinebench R23 multicore. PassMark multithread shows a 23.6% advantage for the i9.

Q: Does the i7-13790F win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i7-13790F wins two tests: Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 503 against the i9's 318, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 4998 against the i9's 2238.5. The R23 result is particularly anomalous with a 123.3% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i7-13790F has 16 cores and 24 threads. The i9-13900K has 24 cores and 32 threads. The i9 has eight additional cores and eight additional threads.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket and architecture?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700 and are based on the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-S codename. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node with a 257 mm² die size.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The i9-13900K has higher clock speeds, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The i7-13790F has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The i7-13790F has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-13900K has 36 MB. Both have identical per-core L1 cache at 80 KB and L2 cache at 2 MB.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-13790F | Intel Core i9-13900K |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 24 |

| Threads | 24 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2023-02-09 | 2022-09-26 |

| Launch MSRP | $441 | $589 |

| Part Number | SRMBZ | SRMBH |

The i9-13900K offers more cores, higher clocks, more cache, ECC support, and integrated graphics, along with an unlocked multiplier. The i7-13790F counters with a lower 65-watt TDP, more PCIe lanes, and a lower launch MSRP. The average benchmark score for the i7-13790F is 63080, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the i9-13900K averages 61766, ranking in the 92nd percentile. Despite the i9 winning the head-to-head, the i7's average score is actually higher due to the inclusion of different benchmark suites in its aggregate.