We gave this CPU an ‘excellent’ 4.5 out of 5 marks and now it’s available at a record-low price this Christmas
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It seems Amazon is going all out with discounts this year, as we just spotted an incredible deal on the Core i5-13600K. This processor is an excellent pick for anyone looking for a reliable mid-range gaming CPU that can handle just about anything. It not only packs a solid punch in terms of performance, but you can also reduce your overall platform cost by going with it, as it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM.
Intel Core i5-13600K Desktop Processor
The i5-13600K is currently on Amazon with a massive 41% discount, dropping its price to just $195.56. That’s a $135 price cut off the MSRP. According to Camelcamelcamel, this 41% discount is actually the biggest the i5-13600K has ever seen since its release. It’s no surprise Amazon dropped the price so low, given that the processor is now two generations old (i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K have since launched). Despite this, it still packs enough power to handle most tasks smoothly.
Features and highlights of the i5-13600K
- Hybrid core architecture: The i5-13600k uses a hybrid core architecture, that is, it has two types of cores. There are 6-P (Performance) and 8-E (Efficiency) cores. Therefore, the i5-13600k can offer high-end performance when needed through its P cores and save energy by utilizing the E cores in day-to-day tasks.
- Unlocked multiplier: The processor has an unlocked multiplier, so if the stock performance is not enough for you, you can always overclock it to squeeze even more numbers out of it.
- Good power efficiency: With a 125W TDP, you can easily cool the i5-13600K with a durable air cooler, but if you plan to overclock, you may want to consider pairing it with an AIO cooler. In any case, the power efficiency is quite good, especially if you factor in the multi-core performance you’re getting from it.
- Memory support: You can use either DDR4 or DDR5 RAM with your i5-13600K. There’s no denying that DDR5 is better if you want performance, but you can save your build cost by a significant margin if you go for DDR4.
- Motherboard support: Just like with memory, the i5-13600K also works with two generations of motherboard chipsets, i.e., Intel 600 and 700, so you have more options to pick from, and you can go with a 600 series motherboard to lower your PC’s overall cost.
What we think of the i5-13600k deal
All things considered, if you have been planning to get a solid mid-range processor that offers great performance for both games and CPU-intensive workloads, I highly suggest you look into the i5-13600K. We have tested and reviewed this processor ourselves, and in all of our tests, it showed very impressive numbers. For example, the CPU scored 24,024 and 16,989 scores in Cinebench and Geekbench multi-core benchmarks, respectively, and ran Cyberpunk 2077 at 179 average FPS. Of course, for gaming, your GPU matters significantly more, so I also recommend you go over our guide on the best GPU for i5-13600K. Furthermore, apart from performance, the i5-13600K is also a good choice for a value-packed build, as you can pair it with decent yet affordable components to get the most out of your money.
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