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Core i9-13900KS — 24C/32T · 6.0 GHz · 150 W · PassMark #170
Intel

Core i9-13900KS

24C/32T · 6.0 GHz · 150 W · PassMark #170

33
/ 100
From $521
VS
Ryzen 5 9600X wins by 55
Ryzen 5 9600X — Zen 5 · 6C/12T · 5.4 GHz · $279
AMD

Ryzen 5 9600X

Zen 5 · 6C/12T · 5.4 GHz · $279

88
/ 100
From $279
Specdex verdict

Ryzen 5 9600X takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Core i9-13900KS lands at 33 and Ryzen 5 9600X at 88. That puts Ryzen 5 9600X ahead by 55 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Core i9-13900KS if…

  • ✓PassMark #170 of 5,901 — capable workhorse
  • ✓Current PassMark-tracked street price around $521

Pick Ryzen 5 9600X if…

  • ✓Excellent gaming for the price
  • ✓Low 65W TDP
  • ✓AM5 upgrade path
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Value for money

Ryzen 5 9600X

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Ryzen 5 9600X more score per dollar ($279 vs $521).

Core i9-13900KS 33
vs
88 Ryzen 5 9600X

Score breakdown

Core i9-13900KS
33
cpu 33
passmark 60485
single 0
multi 0
gaming 0
efficiency 0
Ryzen 5 9600X
88
cpu 0
passmark 0
single 92
multi 80
gaming 92
efficiency 94

Specs side-by-side

Core i9-13900KS versus Ryzen 5 9600X — full spec comparison
Spec Core i9-13900KS Ryzen 5 9600X
Cores
▲ 24 (8P + 16E)
6
Threads
▲ 32
12
Base clock
3.2 GHz (P) / 2.4 GHz (E)
3.9 GHz
Boost clock
6.0 GHz
5.4 GHz
L3 cache
▲ 36 MB
32 MB
TDP
150 W base / 253 W max
65 W
Socket
LGA 1700
AM5
Class
Desktop
—
PassMark rank
#170 of 5,901
—
PassMark CPU Mark
60,485
—

Core i9-13900KS

Pros
  • +PassMark #170 of 5,901 — capable workhorse
  • +Current PassMark-tracked street price around $521
Cons
  • −Requires recent-generation motherboard and DDR5 memory
  • −Newer-generation parts pull ahead in current rankings

Ryzen 5 9600X

Pros
  • +Excellent gaming for the price
  • +Low 65W TDP
  • +AM5 upgrade path
Cons
  • −Only 6 cores for productivity
  • −X3D siblings stronger in gaming
  • −DDR5 required

FAQ: Core i9-13900KS vs Ryzen 5 9600X

Which is better, Core i9-13900KS or Ryzen 5 9600X? +

Ryzen 5 9600X scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 55. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Core i9-13900KS worth the price? +

At $521, Core i9-13900KS delivers a Specdex score of 33 — strongest in passmark.

Is Ryzen 5 9600X worth the price? +

At $279, Ryzen 5 9600X delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in efficiency.

Does Core i9-13900KS or Ryzen 5 9600X last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is the better value, Core i9-13900KS or Ryzen 5 9600X? +

Ryzen 5 9600X — more score per dollar ($279 vs $521). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.