Intel recently announced formal details surrounding their 13th generation Core processors, codenamed Raptor Lake. Launching later this year, these new CPUs aim to refine and optimize the performance of last year‘s Alder Lake rather than completely reinvent the wheel.
For most of us enthusiasts, the Raptor Lake lineup looks like a respectable boost – even if not quite revolutionary. The flagship processors garner the most attention, but today we’ll be focusing on the more mainstream i5-13490F and i7-13790F models. These tend to offer the best balance of price and performance for home power users and gamers.
After we dig into the specs and benchmarks, I’ll share my thoughts on whether upgrading makes sense depending on your current setup. Let’s dive in!
What is Raptor Lake and Where Does it Fit in Intel‘s Roadmap?
First, some quick background. Raptor Lake represents an "optimization" phase in Intel‘s annual CPU update cadence. This means new processors like the 13600K and 13700K are built on further refinements to Intel’s performance hybrid architecture, first introduced in Alder Lake last year.
Raptor Lake combines "Performance" cores (P-cores) focused on high clock speeds with "Efficiency" cores (E-cores) for increased multithreaded power. By pairing fast and slow cores on the same die, tasks can be dynamically shifted to run on whichever is optimal.
With Raptor Lake, Intel focused mainly on extracting more frequency potential from both types of cores. Their Efficient-cores also operate cooler now, which promotes sustained boost speeds.
Otherwise, Raptor Lake does not significantly deviate from its predecessor…
Table: Raptor Lake vs. Alder Lake Core Counts
| CPU | P-Cores | E-Cores | Total Cores/Threads |
|---|---|---|---|
| i9-13900K | 8 | 16 | 32/64 |
| i9-12900K | 8 | 8 | 16/24 |
| i7-13700K | 8 | 8 | 16/32 |
| i7-12700K | 8 | 4 | 12/20 |
| i5-13600K | 6 | 8 | 14/20 |
| i5-12600K | 6 | 4 | 10/16 |
This evolution continues Intel’s long-running “Tick-Tock” CPU development strategy. The “Tick” refers to optimizing architectures like Raptor Lake while the “Tock” will introduce major microarchitectural shifts down the road.
For now though, let’s see how these 13th Gen enhancements translate to real-world use…
Comparing Performance – Faster Than Alder Lake But Not a Revolution
Thanks to engineering samples seeded to press, we’re starting to get a sense of how much additional performance Raptor Lake will provide over 12th Gen Alder Lake. Initial results are promising if not quite as extraordinary as one might hope after a year‘s time.
In tests by Puget Systems, the new i9-13900K proves about 11% faster on average than their Core i9-12900K predecessor across a range of CPU-bound workloads. Comparisons of the i7-13700K vs. i7-12700 show similar gains.
Drilling down further, the majority of these performance improvements seem tied specifically to higher peak clock speeds rather than IPC (instructions per cycle) gains from a more efficient architecture.
Raptor Lake P-cores now boost up to a blistering 6.0 GHz while E-cores sit around 4.3 GHz. By contrast, Alder Lake tapped out at 5.2 GHz and 3.9 GHz respectively. This allows Raptor Lake to stretch its legs more, especially in single or lightly threaded tasks.
However, judging Intel’s generational progress only through their own products ignores the bigger industry picture.
How Does 13th Gen Raptor Lake Stack Up Against AMD‘s Ryzen 7000?
On the red team side, AMD made massive strides with their new Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 platform introduced this September. The flagship Ryzen 9 7950X in particular established new performance heights for desktop CPUs – outpacing even Intel’s best.
But when you compare the broader 13th Gen Intel lineup with competing Ryzen 7000 chips, the decision becomes far less one-sided…
Table: Intel 13th Gen vs AMD Ryzen 7000 Models
| CPU | Cores/Threads | Boost Clock | TDP | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7950X | 16/32 | 5.7 GHz | 170W | AM5 |
| Core i9-13900K | 24/32 | 6.0 GHz | 125W | LGA1700 |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 8/16 | 5.4 GHz | 105W | AM5 |
| Core i7-13700K | 16/32 | 5.4 GHz | 125W | LGA1700 |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | 6/12 | 5.3 GHz | 105W | AM5 |
| Core i5-13600K | 14/20 | 5.1 GHz | 125W | LGA1700 |
While AMD holds the multi-threaded crown with its 16-core Zen 4 beasts, Intel reclaims the gaming and single-threaded performance lead with Raptor Lake topping out at an incredible 6.0 GHz boost.
The 13700K looks notably enticing against the 7700X – delivering equal/higher clocks across its 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores for the same price. For more budget-focused builds, Intel also maintains an advantage in the mainstream i5 segment.
So all told, with Raptor Lake there are credible arguments for both sides…
AMD Zen 4 Pros:
- Faster multi-core rendering, code compiling, transcoding
- Cutting-edge AM5 platform with long term support
- Lower power consumption and heat output
Intel 13th Gen Pros:
- Record-setting gaming frame rates
- Superior single-thread speed for most tasks
- Competitive core counts on midrange SKUs
- Established LGA1700 platform with wide DDR4/DDR5 support
Obviously there are other factors around motherboard costs, upgradability timelines, and so forth. But in raw computing terms, this competitiveness bodes well for us customers! Having two CPU juggernauts battling for the performance crown will fuel further innovation on both sides.
Now how do these trade-offs specifically apply to our highlighted i5 and i7 models today? Let‘s find out…
Real-World Benchmarks – i5-13600K vs. i7-13700K
Puget Systems also shared performance data contrasting the i5-13600K and i7-13700K versus prior generations. Once again, solid generation-over-generation upticks are observed but nothing that blows the doors off.
The 14-core i5-13600K proves about 15% quicker on average than the 10-core 12600K. More modest 7-8% gains are seen moving from the i7-12700K to 13700K since the latter only benefits from higher clock speeds.
Here‘s a summary of their test findings:
Image Source: Puget Systems
These benchmarks focused mainly on simulation and modeling workloads leveraging all available processor cores. Gains will likely prove even greater in gaming and general desktop apps relying more on single thread performance.
Now before pulling the trigger on anything, let‘s discuss what requirements and compatibility considerations come with Raptor Lake for us upgraders…
What You Should Know Before Upgrading to Raptor Lake
Since Raptor Lake utilizes the same Intel 7 manufacturing process and architecture foundations as Alder Lake, upgrading existing systems proves straight-forward in most cases. However there are still a few key details to keep in mind:
Socket and Chipset – All 13th Gen CPUs use the LGA1700 socket so drop right into existing 600 series motherboards after a BIOS update. Both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM remain supported as well.
Power Consumption – The high clock speeds of Raptor Lake come with an appetite for power. Intel raised the processors‘ base TDP to 125W compared to 65W for non-K SKUs previously. Peak turbo power also jumps from 241W up to a staggering 253W on K-series chips!
Thermal Density – Accordingly, CPU cooling needs amplify too. The i9-13900K in particular packs nearly double the processing cores into the same physical footprint as its 12900K predecessor. Improved thermal interface material (TIM) helps but beefy cooling is a must!
DDR5 Overclocking – Where Alder Lake topped out around DDR5-4800 speeds, Raptor Lake can now support overclocked DDR5 RAM up to DDR5-8000! This requires both a capable memory kit and motherboard to realize of course.
In summary – existing LGA1700 users should enjoy drop-in compatibility with Raptor Lake, but should budget for more cooling overhead and power draw depending on their specific chip.
For those building new systems from scratch, some additional deliberation is required…
To Upgrade or Not Upgrade? – Depends on Your Current System
So with performance expectations now set and technical requirements understood, should you upgrade? Well that depends on your existing setup. Here is my personal advice:
Already Running 12th Gen Alder Lake? – Hold off for now. While faster, Raptor Lake offers single digit percentage gains for most real-world usage. I would wait another generation allowing Intel to shift to their 14th Gen Meteor Lake on a refined Intel 4 process node in 2023. You‘ll get more revolutionary speed-ups for the money.
Stuck on a Pre-Alder Lake Platform? – Here Raptor Lake delivers more substantial multi-generational performance uplifts on par with a classic CPU upgrade cycle. The i7-13700K or i5-13600K offer great balances of price/performance. Just be cognizant of the cooling and platform costs involved.
Building a New System from Scratch? – If assembling a wholly new PC, I still recommend weighing Intel 13th Gen vs. AMD Ryzen 7000 merits completely. There are solid cases to be made for either platform now with their respective strengths and weaknesses.
As always, factoring your primary computing workloads into the decision remains critical before committing one way or the other.
The Bottom Line – Raptor Lake Refines Alder Lake, As Expected
While leaks and enthusiast chatter build anticipation sky high, new CPU generations tend to stick to known engineering cycles. Raptor Lake is no exception in delivering measured improvements over Alder Lake rather than completely resetting expectations.
But that outcome still brings welcome – if not earth shattering – upgrades especially for those of us ready to upgrade aging systems. Despite rising costs from inflation and supply chain issues, Intel has kept pricing increases modest here as well.
For existing LGA1700 users that skipped 12th Gen, Raptor Lake checks all the boxes offering demonstrably faster speeds, more cores, and modern platform features like PCIe Gen 5.0 across both i5 and i7 model families.
Even relative to AMD‘s impressive Ryzen 7000 series, Intel reclaimed some momentum and competitive footing with this 13th Gen launch. Things stayed neck and neck here for a while, which is always good for us enthusiasts long term!
So while Meteor Lake promises an even greater leap down the road, Raptor Lake still succeeds in closing the generational gap. It remains a recommended path forward for certain Intel folks due a CPU upgrade. Just make sure your cooling can keep up!
Let me know what you think of Raptor Lake or if you have any other questions down below. I‘m happy to chat more!
