When selecting a CPU for gaming, the most important characteristics are the clock speed (or frequency), number of cores and threads, cache size, and type of memory it supports. Additional considerations like integrated graphics and overclocking needs may also influence your selection.
In addition to discussing how good the 13600 is for gaming, this article will discuss our recommended:
Is the 13600 Good for Gaming?
When using Intel's Core i5-13600 CPU for gaming, you can expect good game performance with either a high-performance CPU cooler or a stock CPU cooler.
Check out our Recommended LGA 1700 Coolers
below.
This performance assessment is based on the following characteristics of the CPU and their relevance to the latest graphics-intense games:
- 24 MB of L3 cache is good for performance
- 6 Performance cores allow for good performance
- 2.70 GHz base frequency
- 5.00 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency is excellent for performance (requires a high-end cooler)
- 5.00 GHz max turbo boost frequency of the Performance cores are excellent for performance (requires a high-end cooler)
- DDR5 support with a max stock speed of 4800 MHz can be excellent for performance
- Lack of overclocking support cannot benefit performance
- PCIe 5.0 support can be excellent for performance (with the fastest SSDs and GPUs)
- The 13600 has integrated graphics support, but this performance assessment assumes you will use a graphics card. Integrated graphics support is mediocre or worse with the latest graphics-intense games.
Is the Cache Size of the 13600 Good for Gaming?
A CPU's cache is a small amount of memory, close to the CPU cores, containing recently used data.
Games performance can improve as cache size increases, as it will reduce delays when retrieving commonly used game assets from memory.
An L3 cache capacity of at least 20 MB is ideal for game performance.
The Intel Core i5-13600 has an L3 cache capacity of 24 MB.
The 13600's 24 MB of L3 cache is good for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Is the Core Count of the 13600 Good for Gaming?
Increased core counts can improve the performance of games that use them, but most modern games don't benefit from having more than 6–8 cores. Remember that cache sizes often increase along with core counts, so if you want to increase your L3 cache, you may need to get a CPU with more cores.
Intel's Core i5-13600 CPUs have 6 Performance (P) cores and 8 Efficiency (E) cores for a total of 14 cores.
The P cores are comparable to previous generation cores. Running a game will primarily use P cores.
E cores are focused on adding additional threads in an energy-efficient manner. They take up much less room on the CPU and generate less heat. However, their smaller cache and minimal interconnect capabilities make them more appropriate for offloading background tasks.
The 13600's 6 Performance cores allow for good performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Is the Clock Speed of the 13600 Good for Gaming?
Single-core performance is essential for some games, as many don't take full advantage of multiple cores.
Turbo boost frequencies are only achieved under ideal circumstances. The safest strategy for consistent gaming performance with a basic cooler is to get a higher base clock speed processor. However, with adequate cooling, you may be able to maintain speeds near the max boost frequency.
The 13600 CPU's lack of support for overclocking cannot benefit performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
The 6 Performance cores have a 2.70 GHz base frequency and support a 5.00 GHz max turbo frequency.
The 13600 has a 2.70 GHz base frequency, which is the speed before boosting. You can reach these base frequencies even without a high-end cooler.
With a high-end cooler, the 13600's 5.00 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency is excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
With a high-end cooler, the 13600's 5.00 GHz max turbo boost frequency of the Performance cores are excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games. P core turbo boost frequencies can be maintained with a high-end cooler.
Check out my article, Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel's Core i5-13600, for recommended coolers that can maintain these boost frequencies.
Is the DDR Support of the 13600 Good for Gaming?
The 13600 CPU's support for DDR5 with a max stock speed of 4800 MHz can be excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Faster PC memory can improve game performance and frame rates, but using the fastest RAM may not have as much of an impact as upgrading your CPU and graphics card or adding more RAM.
Learn more about DDR in DDR4 vs. DDR5? Which You Should Buy.
Learn about our recommended RAM for the 13600 in Choosing the Best RAM for Intel's Core i5-13600 CPU.
What Does the Lack of a Suffix in the 13600 Name Mean?
| N | "N" means it's a bespoke CPU for a company such as Apple. |
The 13600 model name doesn't have an F suffix. Non-F CPUs contain integrated graphics, and a separate graphics card isn't required if your motherboard includes video-output connectors (e.g., HDMI).
The 13600 model name doesn't have a K suffix. Non-K CPUs can not be overclocked.
Cooling the 13600
A CPU cooler's TDP (Thermal Design Power) rating indicates how much heat it can dissipate in watts. If the cooler can't keep your CPU cool enough, your CPU may throttle (slow down), and your cooler will constantly run at full speed.
Intel CPU specifications indicate this power dissipation number as "Processor Base Power" and "Maximum Turbo Power."
The Core i5-13600 has a base TDP of 65 watts and a max turbo TDP of 154 watts.
A CPU cooler can still work with a lower TDP rating than the TDP of a CPU. However, the CPU will eventually throttle itself to a lower frequency to allow itself to cool.
The CPU may not achieve or maintain maximum turbo speeds without adequate cooling.
Learn more in Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel's Core i5-13600.
The distance between heatsink screw holes for the LGA 1700 socket increased to 78x78 mm from the 75x75 mm spacing typical of recent sockets. This new spacing means you'll need a new cooler/
Motherboard Requirements for Core i5-13600 Processors
For Intel's 13th generation Core i5 13600 processor, you'll need a motherboard with an LGA 1700 socket and a compatible 700-series or 600-series chipset. However, 600-series chipsets were designed for the 12th generations Core processors and may limit the capabilities of your system.
Motherboards for Intel processors are made with chipsets provided by Intel. Each chipset offers a unique set of capabilities. However, motherboards must explicitly support features and capabilities for you to use them. Verify that a motherboard supports the features and capabilities you desire.
The lack of a "K" suffix in the model name 13600 means it doesn't support overclocking. Because of this, you may not need to use the top of the line Z690-based or Z790-based motherboards that typically support overclocking. Instead, you can use a motherboard with Intel's other 700-series or 600-series desktop chipsets (e.g., H770, B760, H670, B660, H610).
The W680 and Q670 chipsets are intended for workstation and business use cases; their availability in stand-alone motherboards is limited.
To use 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs with the 600-series chipsets, you'll need an updated BIOS. You either need to purchase one with an updated BIOS, perform the update with a 12th Gen CPU installed, or use the USB BIOS Flashback feature (if available).
Products that ship with a compatible BIOS are typically marked as "Ready" for 13th Gen Intel processors.
For a detailed comparison of these chipsets, check out my article Which Chipsets Work With Intel's Core i5-13600 CPU?.
Find Z790 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Find H770 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Find B760 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Find Z690 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Find H670 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Find B660 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Find H610 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Recommended Motherboards for the 13th Gen 13600
Best Feature Motherboard
- Our recommended feature-rich motherboard to pair with the Core i5-13600:
MSI MEG Z790 ACE Gaming Motherboard Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
- PCIe 5.0 support
- It supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory (DDR5 provides the fastest memory speeds)!
- 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port is faster than any home Internet speed available with tons of room to spare for file transfers.
- Wi-Fi 6E makes it easy to reach the fastest speeds and future-proof your Wi-Fi system.
- Bluetooth 5.3 is great for streaming music to Bluetooth headphones.
- Five x4 NVMe M.2 slots, which is fantastic! One of these supports PCIe 5.0 speeds, and the rest run at PCIe 4.0 speeds.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 offers 20 Gbps USB speeds!
- Check the latest price of the MSI MEG Z790 ACE Gaming Motherboard on Amazon (affiliate link).
Runner-Up Motherboard
- Our recommended runner-up motherboard to pair with the Core i5-13600:
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi 6E Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
- PCIe 5.0 support
- It supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory (DDR5 provides the fastest memory speeds)!
- 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port is faster than any home Internet speed available with tons of room to spare for file transfers.
- Wi-Fi 6E makes it easy to reach the fastest speeds and future-proof your Wi-Fi system.
- Bluetooth 5.3 is great for streaming music to Bluetooth headphones.
- Five x4 NVMe M.2 slots, which is fantastic! One of these supports PCIe 5.0 speeds, and the rest run at PCIe 4.0 speeds.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 offers 20 Gbps USB speeds!
- Check the latest price of the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi 6E on Amazon (affiliate link).
Best Value Motherboard
- Our recommended Value motherboard to pair with the Core i5-13600:
MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 Gaming Motherboard Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
- PCIe 5.0 support
- It supports up to 128 GB of DDR4 memory.
- 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port is faster than any home Internet speed available with tons of room to spare for file transfers.
- Wi-Fi 6E makes it easy to reach the fastest speeds and future-proof your Wi-Fi system.
- Bluetooth 5.3 is great for streaming music to Bluetooth headphones.
- Three x4 NVMe M.2 slots, which is fantastic! These slots all support PCIe 4.0 speeds.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 offers 20 Gbps USB speeds!
- Check the latest price of the MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 on Amazon (affiliate link).
Recommended LGA 1700 Coolers
Check out my article, Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel's Core i5-13600, for more info about how to choose the best CPU cooler.
Locked Intel CPUs may come with a stock CPU cooler. These CPU models do not have a "K" in the name. While stock coolers will prevent your CPU from overheating, your CPU will throttle its performance during games and other intensive tasks. Higher TDP coolers will keep your CPU at turbo speeds for longer durations. Stock coolers are often quite loud at their maximum speed.
The LGA 1700 socket will require a CPU cooler that supports the new socket size. Some manufacturers are releasing upgrade kits for LGA 1200 heatsinks to support the new size.
Best AIO Liquid Cooler: Enermax Liqmax III 360
- This Enermax liquid cooler has an excellent cooling capability with a 360-watt TDP (Thermal Design Power).
- Supports a variety of CPU sockets, including Intel LGA 2066, 2011-3, 2011, 1700, 1200, 1366, 1156, 1155, 1151, 1150 and AMD AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1.
- Quiet operation at 14-27 dBA.
- You can get the LGA 1700 Enermax Mounting Kit for LIQMAX III on Amazon (affiliate link) or request a free LGA 1700 mounting kit via the LGA 1700 Mounting Kit Request Form.
- Make sure your computer case dimensions support this, as it will take up a decent amount of space!
Enermax Liqmax III 360 Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Best Dual-Fan Air CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15
- Dual 140 mm fans provide 220-watt TDP (183 NSPR) of cooling capability.
- Supports a variety of CPU sockets, including Intel LGA 1700, 1200, 1156, 1155, 1151, 1150, 2011, 2066 and AMD AM4, AM3, AM3+, AM2, AM2+, FM2, FM2+.
- Quiet operation at 24.6 dBA.
Noctua NH-D15, Premium CPU Cooler Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Runner-Up - Dual-Fan Air CPU Cooler: Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510
- This CPU cooler doesn't have any fancy LED lights, but the dual 120 mm fans do a great job of cooling LGA 1700 CPUs.
- Suppose you think this cooler will take up too much space. In that case, Thermaltake has a few single-fan TOUGHAIR variants which use different orientations.
- This CPU cooler has a 2000 RPM max speed for optimal cooling.
- 180-watt TDP (Thermal Design Power).
Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510 Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Our Recommended RAM
Before purchasing memory, review your motherboard specification to verify which speeds are supported. For example, if a DDR4 motherboard stated that it supports "DDR4 3400(O.C.) / 3333(O.C.) / 3300(O.C.) / 3200 / 3000," that would mean that it could support DDR4-3400, DDR4-3333, and DDR4-3300 with memory overclocking, and DDR4-3200 and DDR4-3000 at stock speeds. Motherboard specifications also indicate the maximum capacity per stick of RAM (DIMM) and across all slots.
Recommended Stock-Speed DDR5
- At an effective frequency of 4800 MHz, this memory hits the fastest DDR5 speed supported by Intel's Core i5 13600 CPU without overclocking.
Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5 4800 MHz Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
- Compact heat spreaders avoid conflicting with a CPU cooler.
- 32 GB provides ample memory for gaming and multitasking.
Recommended DDR5 for Overclockers
- This DDR5 memory is designed for overclocking to an effective frequency of 5200 MHz.
Kingston Fury Beast 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) 5200 MHz DDR5 Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
- Certified for XMP 3.0.
- Compact heat spreaders avoid conflicting with a CPU cooler.
Recommended Stock-Speed DDR4
- At an effective frequency of 3200 MHz, this memory hits the fastest DDR4 speed supported by Intel's Core i5 13600 CPU without overclocking.
- The low-profile form factor ensures that the heat spreaders don't get in the way of other devices, including your CPU heatsink.
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) 3200 MHz DDR4 Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Recommended DDR4 for Overclockers
- This DDR4 memory is designed for overclocking to an effective frequency of 3600 MHz.
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) 3600 MHz DDR4 Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
- Supports XMP 2.0.
- Compact heat spreaders avoid conflicting with a CPU cooler.
Learn More About the Intel Core i5-13600
- Which Chipsets Work With Intel's Core i5-13600 CPU?
- Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel's Core i5-13600
- Choosing the Best Power Supply for Intel's Core i5-13600
- Is the Core i5-13600 CPU Good for Gaming?
- Choosing the Best RAM for Intel's Core i5-13600 CPU
- Choosing the Best Motherboard for Intel's Core i5-13600
- How Many Cores Do Intel Core i5-13600 CPUs Have?
- What Is the TDP of the Core i5-13600 CPU?
You can find detailed 13600 specifications on Intel's site.
Other Considerations When Building a PC
Want to brush up on other new technologies to consider when building a computer? Check out these articles:
- Cases:
- CPUs:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 5.0?
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 4.0?
- LGA 1700 CPU List
- LGA 1200 CPU List
- Look up an Intel or AMD CPU on TechReviewer for related recommendations:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- CPU Coolers:
- Storage:
- Memory:
- PCI-Express:
- Motherboards:
- Graphics Cards:
- Power Supplies:
- Keyboards:
- Monitors: