The long-awaited Intel Raptor Lake CPUs are here, and the Core i5-13600K makes the perfect mid-range chipset. The best thing about the 13th-gen line-up is that they still use the LGA 1700 socket, which is backward compatible with the 600-series motherboard. So, in this guide, we will walk you through the best motherboards for i5-13600K in 2023 based on various factors.
From their price to feature sets and aesthetics, we will dive deep into the different motherboards currently available for the i5-13600K to determine which Motherboard is the best for its respective category. Here are our top picks summarized.
Last update on 2023-09-22
Best Motherboard For i5-13600K
Finally, let’s list the details of the best Motherboard for Core i5-13600K based on their different use cases. Here are our picks:
- GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX
- MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi
- MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi
- GIGABYTE Z690 AERO D
- ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi
- ROG Maximus Z790 HERO
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX
Best Overall Motherboard For i5-13600K
Chipset: Z790 | Memory: DDR5-7600 MHz | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 2x USB Type-C, 7x USB 3.2 | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, WiFi 6E | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA
Cons
- One M.2 port shares the bus with 2x SATA ports
We selected the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX for the best overall motherboard category.
To begin with, the Z790 AUROS ELITE AX comes with a 70A Smart Power Stage and a reliable Twin 16+1+2 Digital VRM Design, which is more than enough to provide a sturdy and smooth flow of power to the CPU even in extreme OC sessions.
Solid power requires cooling, and the Z790 AUROS ELITE AX does not let down in that department either. Its MOSFET/VRM massive heat sinks combined with a 7.5 W/mK thermal conductivity pad, 6mm Heatpipe, and an integrated IO shield are plenty enough to dissipate all the heat properly.
In terms of PCB layers, the Motherboard is a 6-layer PCB sandwich with 2oz copper so that you can overclock your CPU without extreme heat on the VRMs. Additionally, a Smart Fan 6 Technology comes with 5x PWM fan headers for even better heat dissipation.
Looking at the memory support, there are 4x DDR5 DIMM slots with an overclocking potential to go up to 7600 MHz. In total, you can equip 128GB of DDR5 memory with the Z790 AUROS ELITE AX, which means you will never run into any memory-related issues.
Helpful Read: Best Z790 Motherboards
The Motherboard comes with one Gen-5 x16 slot and two Gen-4 x4 slots. The Gen-5 slot is wired with the CPU socket, while the two Gen-4 slots are wired with the chipset, giving us more room to use expansion cards. Looking at the power connectors, the Motherboard uses a 1x 8+8 pin CPU power connector, a 24-pin ATX power connector, and overall solid-pin power connectors.
On the topic of storage, there are 4x M.2 NVMe ports, and 6x SATA ports. The M.2 ports are all PCIe Gen-4 with EZ-latch at X4 speed. One thing to remember about these expansion ports is that 2 of these 4 M.2 ports share the bus with the SATA ports. So, if you enable X4 speed on these two ports, you will lose the functionality of the two SATA ports. However, the rest of the 4 SATA ports do not have a shared bus.
Regarding connectivity, the Z790 AORUS ELITE AX does not leave behind. The Motherboard has many USB ports and hubs, including a super-fast USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C USB port rated for up to 20GB/s in the rear IO. Additionally, on top of the high-speed 2.5 Gigabit LAN is WiFi 6E support along with Bluetooth 5.3.
In terms of design and aesthetics, the Z790 AORUS ELITE AX looks quite simplistic, with most of the PCB exposed and some RGB going down the bottom of the board.
What We Liked:
What we liked the most about this Motherboard is its Twin 16+1+2 Digital VRM Design and its massive MOSFET/VRM heatsinks. These two features alone make this Motherboard a competent one that can easily handle high power loads due to overclocking.
What We Disliked:
While there isn’t much to dislike about the AORUS ELITE AX, the fact that you would lose 2x SATA ports if you enable X4 speeds at the last 2 M.2 ports can be a bit disappointing, especially when you consider its high price bracket.
Verdict:
The Z790 AORUS ELITE AX makes the best overall Motherboard for i5-13600K. If you can afford it, the Motherboard is a no-brainer, as it comes with many features, a well-designed VRM structure, and top-of-the-line cooling.
MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi
Best High-End Motherboard For i5-13600K
Chipset: Z790| Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-7600+ MHz | Video Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1 |Network: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet | USB Ports: 10x USB rear and 7x USB front | Storage: 5x M.2 slots, 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports
Pros
- 10x rear USB ports
- 21-phase VRM design
Cons
- Lack of PCIe 5.0 M.2 x4 slots
We selected the MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi for the best high-end motherboard category. It provides all the top-tier features with lots of connectivity and expansion options.
Regardless, for the money, the board comes with a durable 21-phase VRM design (19+1+1) rated to deliver up to 105A of current. Such a powerful VRM will heat up quite a lot. So, to counter that, MSI has added a couple of 7W/mK thermal pads and heat pipes, which draw the heat away from the VRMs and take them to the massive heat sinks for efficient dissipation.
Additionally, to cool down the M.2 slots, the Motherboard uses the M.2 Frozr Shield — an aluminium sheet with thermal pads inside to cover the M.2 slots with 7W/mK thermal insulation. The Motherboard’s reliable VRM structure, coupled with its 8-layer PCB, works perfectly to provide a stable and smooth power flow.
On the topic of power, the Motherboard is powered through a 24-pin ATX power connector, and dual 8-pin power connectors power the CPU. Moving on to the memory, the MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi does not disappoint. With up to 128 GB of DDR5 dual-channel memory support through its 4x DIMM slots, you can overclock the RAM to achieve more than 7600 MHz, giving the Motherboard more points for its overclocking potential.
In terms of expansion slots, you get a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, which should be plenty. Similarly, the Motherboard also has lots of storage options as well. There are 5x M.2 slots where; one of them is PCIe 5.0 at 128Gbps, and the other four are PCIe 4.0 at 64GBps. Additionally, you also get 6x SATA Gbps ports. However, one thing to remember while installing SSDs and HDDs is that the last two M.2 slots share their lanes with the SATA ports.
For connectivity, the MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi comes with a plethora of USB ports both at the rear and front. For instance, at the rear IO, you will find 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, and 6x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, bringing the total to 10x rear USB ports. Focusing on networking, you get Intel 2.5Gbps LAN, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3.
Focusing on aesthetics, the Motherboard looks menacing with its dark theme and a lit-up dragon logo at the rear IO. With subtle RGB lightning, the MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi is one of the best darker-themed motherboards.
What We Liked:
While the Motherboard is top-notch for its price, there is one thing we particularly liked about it: the 19+1+1 VRM design and the extensive amount of cooling capabilities that the board comes with.
What We Disliked:
However, there is also one thing that we think could’ve been better: the lack of PCIe 5.0 M.2 x4 slots. Instead of adding PCIe 4.0 M.2 x4 slots, MSI could have obliterated the competition with better PCIe 5.0 storage capabilities.
Verdict:
The MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi is an absolute beast, and if you can afford it, it is definitely the best high-end Motherboard for i5-13600K. With its reliable VRM design, efficient cooling, overclocking potential, and connectivity options, everything is the best for the Raptor Lake CPU.
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi
Best Value Motherboard For i5-13600K
Chipset: Z690 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400+ | Video Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1| Network: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, Intel 2.5GbE LAN chip | USB Ports: 8x rear IO | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Affordable
- Sturdy VRM and good overclocking potential
- DDR5 RAM supports up to 6400 MHz
Cons
- Overall, the connectivity configuration could have been better.
For the best bang for the buck motherboard, we recommend the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi. MSI’s Tomahawk line-up sits right between its budget and premium motherboards, giving a taste of both worlds.
Let’s start with the power configurations. MSI is known to rely on the 16 Duet Rail Power System for its Z690 motherboards, and the same philosophy follows here. With support for up to 70A current, the Motherboard uses a 16+1+1 configuration where each 1 phase is for the iGPU, and the AUX and the 16 phases are for the CPU.
Similar to the AORUX Z790 ELITE AX, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk is also sandwiched with a 6-layer PCB with 2oz copper, which is plenty enough for a high-quality motherboard.
To cool down the VRM, their massive aluminum heatsinks are split in half, but they are not connected to any heat pipes. However, the heatsinks provide adequate cooling to dissipate the heat efficiently.
In terms of memory, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi supports dual-channel DDR5 RAM in 4x DIMM slots. The Motherboard also supports memory overclocking to up to 6400 MHz, which is plenty. Overall, with 128 GB of max memory support, the Motherboard does not let down regarding RAM.
Going through the PCIe lanes, since the Motherboard has a Z690 chipset, it still has a number of PCIe Gen-3.0 lanes. There are three full-length PCIe slots comprising PCIe 5.0 x16, PCIe 3.0 x16, and PCIe 3.0 x4. Additionally, there is also a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot.
To power up the i5-13600K, the Motherboard uses 2x 8-pin EPS power connectors (one required), which is quite enough for the processor. Focusing on the storage, there are 4x M.2 slots where three of them are PCIe 4.0 x4, and one is PCIe 3.0 x4, along with 6x perpendicularly placed SATA ports for better ease of access.
Similarly, the MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi does not stay behind in the connectivity as it comes with 3x USB 3.2 G2 Type-A ports, 2x USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0 port, and one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C port. As the name suggests, the MAG Z690 Tomahawk comes with WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and Intel’s I225-V 2.5 GbE controller.
In terms of aesthetics and designs, the mother has quite a toned-down simplistic look with an exposed PCB and no integrated RGB. However, if you prefer the RGB, then there are internal headers that you can use to get creative.
What We Liked:
There isn’t just one thing that we specifically like about the MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi. However, the fact that it provides 4x M.2 slots along with DDR5 memory that has an overclocking potential of up to 6400 MHz at this price point is really impressive.
What We Disliked:
While there are a number of USB ports, we believe the entire configuration could have been better with overall improved connectivity support.
Verdict:
Overall, if you’re on a budget and you don’t want to spend too much on the Motherboard, then the MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi is a definite bang for the buck motherboard for i5-13600K. It has solid VRM specs with more than enough cooling, so you can also put the board under some stress.
GIGABYTE Z690 AERO D
Best White Motherboard For i5-13600K
Chipset: Z690 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400 MHz | Video Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1| Network: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, Intel 2.5GbE LAN chip | USB Ports: 8x rear IO | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Looks beautiful
- Powerful 16+1+2 VRM
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- No integrated RGB.
The GIGABYTE Z690 AERO D will go down in history as one of the most beautiful white motherboards ever made. If you’re building a white-themed i5-13600K rig, then this Motherboard is a must-have. Make sure to also get a White CPU Cooler & White PC Case.
However, looks are not the only thing this board has to offer; it also comes out quite powerful in terms of specs and overall structure. For instance, the overall VRM structure follows a similar path to the Z790 AORUS ELITE AX, as the board has 16+1+2 configuration phases powered through the top 8 and 4 pins.
A high-quality VRM is necessary for the Motherboard’s reliability in the long term, and the AERO D nails it. On top of that, to cool down, the Motherboard uses massive white heatsinks that not only add to its aesthetics but also perform a phenomenal job at lowering the VRM thermals. The M.2 Thermal Guard III is also used to maintain the M.2 temperatures. There are three power connectors included with this 6-layer PCB motherboard, a 24-pin ATX main power connector, an 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, and a 4-pin ATX 12V power connector.
In terms of memory, the specifications are pretty much the same as that of the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi with support for dual-channel DDR5 memory with 4x DIMM slots. The Motherboard has the overclocking potential to take the DDR5 clock speeds up to 6400 MHz for extreme performance. Overall, with maximum memory support of 128 GB, you won’t face any issues in this department.
For expansion options, there are three full-length PCIe slots, where two are PCIe 5.0 and one is PCIe 3.0. It is important to notice that in the two PCIe 5.0 slots, one can run at x16 mode and the other one runs at x8 mode. However, if the second PCIe 5.0 slot is populated, then the first one will also run at just x8 mode. So, if you’re going to be using just one GPU, then make sure to install it in the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for optimal performance. The third PCIe 3.0 slot runs at x4 mode.
Focusing on the storage capabilities, the Z690 AERO D comes with 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots where only one of them can run SATA-based drives. Additionally, there are 6x SATA ports as well.
Related Read: Best Z690 Motherboards
Going through the connectivity, this is another place where the Motherboard really shines. In the rear IO, there are 6x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports. But that’s not it, there are also two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports for the content-creators out there.
What We Liked:
No doubt that the GIGABYTE Z690 AERO D looks absolutely gorgeous. But, other than its aesthetics, we also liked the Motherboard’s connectivity options, especially the dual Thunderbolt 4 ports at the rear IO.
What We Disliked:
For a motherboard with such beautiful looks, it’s a shame that it does not come with RGB. Other than that, it would have been better if we could use the second PCIe 5.0 slot without having the first one tone down to x8 mode.
Verdict:
If you love a themed build, especially one that contrasts with white colour, then the GIGABYTE Z690 AERO D is the best white motherboard for i5-13600K that you can get. On top of that, its VRM design, cooling capabilities, and connectivity options are perfect for pairing it up with the i5-13600K.
ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi
Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For i5-13600K
Chipset: B660 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR5-6200 MHz | Video Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1 |Network: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet | USB Ports: 8x USB rear and 5x USB front | Storage: 2x M.2 slots, 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for GPU
- 2x M.2 Slots PCIe 4.0 slots
Cons
- Less USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
For the Mini-ITX form factor, we have picked the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi. Despite its smaller size, the Motherboard packs 2 M.2 slots and other important features. So, if you want a Mini-ITX motherboard to go with your i5-13600K, the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi should be your choice.
Let’s start off with the board’s VRM design. It uses a 9-phase (8 + 1) configuration with support for up to 60A. Overall, its multi-phase VRM design is known for providing stable power to the chipset along with other components without any hiccups. It is comprised of an 8-layer PCB that works wonders at dissipating heat efficiently. To power up this small beast, a 24-pin main power connector along with an 8-pin 12V power connector.
For its smaller size, the memory support is understandable as well. The Motherboard comes with 2x DIMM slots for DDR5 memory with maximum support of 64 GB. What’s most impressive about the ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi’s memory is that you can overclock the DDR5 RAM to up to 6200 MHz.
Going over the expansion slots, you don’t get many options here. However, it makes sense to have just one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot because PCIe Gen-5.0 is the latest expansion slot, so you won’t face performance issues, and with a Mini-ITX rig, you won’t be using other expansion cards anyways.
Similarly, the M.2 slots aren’t that many either, but just enough to get you through the day. So, for your storage needs, you have 2x PCIe 4.0 x4 slots for your NVMe SSDs and 4x SATA3 6 Gbps ports.
In terms of connectivity, you get a total of 8 USB ports in the rear IO comprised of 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C (20 Gbps), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbps), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), and 3x USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) ports. While the port selection is not ideal because you only get 6 Type-A ports, there isn’t much room to incorporate many anyways. For networking, you have WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and Intel’s I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet.
Focusing on the looks, the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi, just like other ROG motherboards, looks drop-dead gorgeous. Its matte-black 8-layer PCB along with the ROG Strix logos on the heatsinks make it look like a work of art. While there isn’t integrated RGB, you can add it yourself by using the headers.
What We Liked:
The ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi is an overall superb motherboard in the Mini-ITX form factor. There are two things we liked the most about this Motherboard. One is its support for 2x M.2 slots, and the other is its capability to overclock the DDR5 RAM to up to 6200 MHz.
What We Disliked:
We think that the total number of Type-A ports in the rear IO could have been better. Before going with this Motherboard for your i5-13600K, we highly advise that you review your Type-A port needs.
Verdict:
All things considered, the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi is the best Mini-ITX motherboard for i5-13600K. You can get one for about $200, and it will provide you with all the powerful features in a smaller form factor while also looking menacing.
ROG Maximus Z790 HERO
Best Overclocking Motherboard For i5-13600K
Pros
- 20+1 power stages VRM design and good cooling.
- DDR5 RAM that can be overclocked to cross 7800 MHz.
- 12x rear USB ports.
Cons
- Expensive
In terms of expansions, there are 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots. However, you should know that you can’t use both PCIe 5.0 slots at x16 mode; one of them will run at x8 if the other one is populated. Similarly, you also have plenty of storage options; there are 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots, 2x ROG Hyper M.2 expansion card (PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0), and 6x SATA (6 Gbps) ports.
What We Liked:
The entire Motherboard is no doubt a treat, but what we liked the most about the ROG Maximus Z790 HERO is that you get a reliable 20+1 VRM Power Stage to safely overclock your components. Additionally, the ability to power up the CPU with dual 8-pin connectors instead of just the traditional one for extra power is also a good benefit.
What We Disliked:
There isn’t much to dislike about this Motherboard. However, it would have been better to use both PCIe 5.0 expansion slots at x16 mode simultaneously.
Verdict:
All things considered, if you plan on overclocking your i5-13600K, then the ROG Maximus Z790 HERO is for you. The Motherboard comes has a really solid VRM design, along with adequate cooling to keep your components safe. Not only that, but a plethora of features, including AI SUITE 3, assist in overclocking easily. Overall, it is the best overclocking motherboard for Core i5-13600K that you can get.
About The Core i5-13600K
Since the i5-13600K can be paired with an older gen 600-series motherboard, consumers have many options.
At the moment, you can get an i5-13600K for about $300, and for that money, you will get 6 Performance (P) cores and 8 Efficiency (E) cores running at a boost clock speed of 5.10 GHz.
The i5-13600K sits below the i7-13700K and the i9-13900K, and seeing how well the other two chipsets performed in the i9-13900K vs. i7-13900K comparison; there are no doubts that the mid-range chipset also packs a punch.
Helpful Read: Best Motherboard For i9-13900k
Overall, you can build a reasonably decent budget build with an i5-13600K. That’s because the chipset is not only backward compatible with the older gen motherboards, but you can also pair it up with DDR4 memory.
While the Raptor Lake CPUs support DDR5 RAM with memory transfer rates of up to 5600 MT/s, they also support DDR4 RAM. So, unlike AMD’s Zen 4 processors, you won’t have to spend extra on memory.
Also Read: Best Ram For i5-13600K
Core i5-13600K Specifications
Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs Intel Core i5-13600k
| Specifications | Ryzen 7 5800X3D | Intel i5-13600k |
| Release Date | 20th April 2022 | 27th September 2022 |
| Codename | Vermeer | Raptor Lake |
| Socket | AM4 | LGA 1700 |
| Cores | 8 | 14 |
| Threads | 16 | 20 |
| Base Frequency | 3.4GHz | 3.50 GHz |
| Turbo Frequency | 4.5GHz | 5.10GHz |
| TDP | 105 W | 125 W |
| Max temperature | 90°C | 100°C |
| Memory type | DDR4 | DDR5 |
| Max memory channels | 2 | 2 |
| iGPU | Nill | Intel UHD graphics 770 |
Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs Intel Core i5-13600K Specifications
Ryzen 7 5800X3D belongs to Zen 3 CPUs manufactured by AMD; originally, it got released in 2020 as Ryzen 7 5800X, and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is its variant with a few enhancements and was released on 15th March 2022. It won’t be wrong to say that this processor is one of the best out there as it outperforms many of AMD’s other units on occasion; it also future-proofs your system as you will be able to upgrade with new GPUs.
i5-13600k belongs to the 13th generation Raptor Lake family, manufactured by Intel and released on 27th September 2022. The i5-13600k is an amazing choice when it comes to performances for video games; however, it requires more power and money, but it’s worth considering the provided performance output.
The Intel i5-13600k has a total number of 14 cores, of which there are 6 Performance-cores and 8 Efficient-cores and a total number of 20 threads. In contrast, AMD’s 5800X3D features 8 cores and 16 threads. i5-13600k has a base clock of 3.5 GHz and a Turbo Boost Frequency of 5.1 GHz. On the other hand, Ryzen 7 5800X3D features a 3.4 GHz base clock and a 4.5 GHz boost clock. i5-13600k takes a clear edge here in performance, considering the excellent base and boost clock speeds and the core and thread count it’s providing the speeds on.
The Ryzen 5800X3D has three caches; the size of the L1 cache is 512KB, the size of the L2 is 4MB, and the size of the L3 is 96MB. Compared to the i5-13600k, it has an L1 cache of 80KB, an L2 cache of 20 MB, and an L3 of 24MB, respectively. As the cache helps retrieve data quickly, the Intel i5-13600k wins in this department as it won’t take much time for data retrieval compared to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D with these high cache values.
Regarding power requirements, the TDP for Ryzen 5800X3D is 105W, and for i5 13700k, it’s 125W. The 13th-generation Intel processors have made quite an improvement compared to their predecessors. They are 10% faster in gaming and 45% in multi-core performance. Regarding Ryzen 7 5800X3D, the 5800X3D and its predecessor 5800X are built similarly; the clock speed of the 5800X processor is still less than the 5800X3D.
Comparing these two shows us that the i5-13600k performs significantly better. i5-13600k is better in single-core performance. Moreover, it is newly released, has six more physical cores, and can work at a 10% higher critical temperature than Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Regarding power consumption, Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a better choice as it consumes 16% less energy than i5-13600k.
Read Full Comparison of i5-13600k vs Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Intel Core i7-13700k vs i5-13600k
| Specifications | Intel i7-13700k | Intel i5-13600k |
| Release Date | 20th October 2022 | 27th September 2022 |
| Codename | Raptor Lake | Raptor Lake |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Cores | 16 | 14 |
| Threads | 24 | 20 |
| Base Frequency | 3.4GHz | 3.50GHz |
| Turbo Frequency | 5.30GHz | 5.10GHz |
| TDP | 125 W | 125 W |
| Max temperature | 100°C | 100°C |
| Memory type | DDR4 and DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Max memory channels | 2 | 2 |
| iGPU | Intel UHD graphics 770 | Intel UHD graphics 770 |
Intel Core i7-13700k vs i5-13600k Specifications
The i7-13700k belongs to the Intel Raptor Lake family and was launched in September of 2022. It is considered among the best gaming CPU at its price point; productivity benchmarks with top performance are also a plus point. However, the price is a little bit higher than the i5-13600k.
Like i7-13700k, i5-13600k also belongs to the Raptor Lake family and was released in October 2022. With a high gaming budget, this CPU can be a good choice as it costs more than other units but serves its purpose well by giving a rock-solid gaming performance. Its price also greatly attracts gamers and creators as it ranges from around $300; in this price range, you get a solid feature set with a lower core count.
i5-13600k features a total number of 14 cores, including 6 Performance-cores and 8 Efficient-cores alongside 20 threads. In comparison, the total number of cores and threads increased to 16 and 24, respectively, for the i7-13700k. As we can see, the i7-13700 has more cores and threads than the i5-13600; it will provide sturdier CPU performance, improving overall performance.
The base clock frequency for the i5-13600k is 3.5 GHz, whereas it’s 3.40 GHz in the case of the i7-13700k.; the boost clock for i5-13600k is 5.1 GHz, and for i7-13700k, it’s 5.4 GHz. The i5-13600k supports an L1 cache of 80KB per core, an L2 cache of 20MB, and an L3 cache of 24 MB. On the contrary, i7-13700k supports an L1 cache of 80KB per core, an L2 cache of 20MB, and an L3 cache of 30 MB. An increased amount of cache memory is a good sign for a CPU as it will allow it to use less RAM for temporary data storage, which can reduce the processing time as the time taken in data transfer will be decreased.
i5-13600k and i7-13700k don’t have many differences, but the cores and thread count gap affect their performances by some margin. When compared in terms of single-core performances, i7-13700k is better performing considering better stats for single-core. Looking at the overall performance, which involves all the cores, the i7-13700k still stands tall with robust support over a greater number of cores/threads. However, both CPUs are equally power efficient.
Here is a full comparison of i5-13600K vs i7-13700K
How We Selected These Motherboards
We considered various factors that can make or break a motherboard, and then we came up with our picks for the best Motherboard for Core i5-13600K in 2023. These factors will help you with your motherboard purchase.
VRM
Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) is a crucial component that can make or break a motherboard. To best understand how a VRM works and why it is necessary, let’s go over an example.
Suppose your PSU is providing power with 12 Volts. But your processor can only take in 1.5 Volts. So, how do you tone down the voltage? Because otherwise, your chipset will fry. Well, this is where the VRM comes in. It makes sure that each component of your PC, including the CPU and the GPU, is getting its power at the exact voltage it requires, not more, not less.
The VRM need to provide a stable and reliable flow of power to ensure that your components live up to their lifespan and don’t overheat. Nowadays, VRMs work in multiple phases, which is also known as multi-phase VRM.
In a multi-phase VRM, the voltage is regulated in smaller phases one at a time, and each phase handles a part of the current that the CPU needs. So, if the VRM has 4 phases, then each phase will deal with the 25% of the current required. This makes sure that no phase works too much and, in turn, gets overheated.
Overall, the greater the number of phases, the more reliable the VRM is. But that’s not it; a reliable VRM must be built with high-quality components, and it must have efficient circuit integration. If your Motherboard comes with a cheap multi-phase VRM, it is likely to give up a lot sooner than other motherboards that equip high-quality VRMs, especially if you’re overclocking.
Overclocking Potential
Many games resort to overclocking when they’re after the extra juice from their build. Whether you’re overclocking your CPU, GPU, memory, or all three, the fundamentals of overclocking remain the same.
Basically, overclocking results in higher clock speeds at the cost of more power and heat. Now, when we say higher, we mean clocking the component above its default speed.
Overclocking can reduce your PC’s lifespan as it can generate lots of heat. But, if done correctly and carefully, you can get a pretty good performance upgrade from it without affecting your rig’s health too much.
To correctly overclock any component, your Motherboard should have a good capability to handle the extra power delivery, and by that, we mean that the VRM should be good enough to manage the additional power.
If the Motherboard comes with a high-quality VRM, your CPU will get swift and stable power delivery regardless of the overclocking load, ensuring that the overall PC health remains good.
Cooling
Cooling is another crucial factor that determines the success of a motherboard. When selecting the best Motherboard for i5-13600K, we need to make sure that it comes with an adequate heatsink that can quickly and efficiently dissipate heat without causing any thermal issues.
For the most optimal cooling, the selected i5-13600K motherboard will have multiple heatsinks to ensure that the CPU, GPU, or any other component does not suffer from thermal throttling.
On top of that, the number of PCB layers also plays an important role in determining whether the Motherboard is good at cooling or not. As a general rule, more PCB layers sandwiched together means more copper cooling and less heating. So, any motherboard that is built from 6 to 8 PCB layers should provide sufficient cooling.
The Core i5-13600K is not a power-hungry chipset. Consequently, it won’t run extraordinarily hot either. But, if you want to overclock it, you will have to ensure that your rig is equipped with the best possible cooling to assist in dissipating the excess heat.
Similarly, if the Motherboard lacks cooling, then the VRM, M.2 slots, and other critical integrated components will also heat up, which will eventually result in significant performance degradation and can also reduce your PC’s lifespan.
Features
We also had to consider the expansion slots, connectivity, and other features while selecting these motherboards for Intel Core i5-13600K.
While both the Z790 and the Z690 motherboards have the same number of total PCI express lanes, the former has more PCIe 4.0 lanes while the latter has more PCIe 3.0 lanes. Similarly, the Z790 motherboards also have an extra USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20 GB/s port.
Some high-end Z790 motherboards can come with support for multiple PCI-e 5.0×16 slots, but that is probably not what you’re looking for since you’re going to pair it up with an i5-13600K. So, on budget, you will have to stick with the traditional PCIe Gen 4.0 most of the time.
Similarly, considering the connectivity options, the selected Motherboard should provide adequate USB ports to get you through the day. As you go through the lower-end motherboards, you will also notice that the number of faster USB connections is seeing a decline, which is done to keep such motherboards under a specific price range.
After that, there are other non-essential features as well that can be the cherry on top. Most notable are WiFi, RGB, and color scheme. While you can get away with an ethernet cable, it is nice to have WiFi 6E for additional functionalities.
Similarly, everybody loves RGB, and seeing those colors pop out of the chassis in sync with the fans is a sight. Many gamers aim to build a themed gaming rig. So, it’s always a plus point if the selected Motherboard has an aesthetically pleasing color scheme.
Price
Let’s face it; if you’re buying a $300 processor, you won’t go overboard with the Motherboard. The entire point of an i5-13600K is to provide good power at a relatively lower price range, so the top i5-13600K motherboards will also complement this philosophy.
For an i5-13600K, the selected Motherboard must be the best bang for the buck in its category. However, this does not mean that the Motherboard will be cheap because that will create lots of risks and issues.
While an overpriced motherboard will mark every box we have and become the best i5-13600K motherboard, it will not be a feasible purchase as it doesn’t make any sense to equip a $300 CPU with a motherboard that costs twice that.
In the end, when it comes to pricing, it all comes down to the user himself. The more features and options you’re after, the more you will have to pay. If your workload is not extreme enough that you need the best high-end Motherboard, then go with the one that provides the most value.
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FAQs
Definitely, in our i7-13700K vs. i5-13600K comparison, we saw that the Core i5-13600K stays very near to the i7-13700K. The Core i5-13600K is powerful enough to play all AAA games when paired with the right GPU.
Yes, with its 8 more cores, larger L3 cache size, and higher turbo boost frequency, the Core i5-13600K is better than the Ryzen 5 7600X.
Yes, the entire Raptor Lake line-up, like the Alder Lake CPUs, supports DDR5 memory and backward compatibility with DDR4.
The Intel 13th-gen CPUs use the same socket as their predecessors, LGA 1700. So, you can pair the i5-13600K with last-generation motherboards and coolers without any issues.
Yes, because the Core i5-13600K uses the LGA 1700 socket, it can also work with 600 series motherboards. They need a BIOS update from their manufacturer, and B660 motherboards should be good to go with the Raptor Lake CPUs.
- July 10, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.
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