Core Ultra 9 285K vs 13th Gen Core i5-13420H
Short answer: which is best?
Core Ultra 9 285K is 150.8 % stronger than 13th Gen Core i5-13420H. Core Ultra 9 285K ranks #2 of 70 measured processors at WhatFPS (15,519 CPU score over 1 verified runs). 13th Gen Core i5-13420H ranks #52 of 70 measured processors at WhatFPS (6,187 CPU score over 1 verified runs). The numbers are measured in 2 verified WhatFPS runs — not estimated, not self-reported.
Measured comparison
| Metric | Core Ultra 9 285K | 13th Gen Core i5-13420H |
|---|---|---|
| CPU score (the processor's own performance) | 15,519 | 6,187 |
| Best rig (GAMING — whole PC) | 11,994 | 4,372 |
| Integer (MT) | 12.7 Gop/s | 4.3 Gop/s |
| Single-thread (1T) | 0.95 Gop/s | 0.53 Gop/s |
| Draw calls/s (DX11) | 11,963,538 | 9,131,568 |
| Cores / threads | 24 / 24 | 8 / 12 |
| L3 cache | 36 MB | 12 MB |
Fragz' verdict
The Core Ultra 9 285K dominates this comparison, leading the 13th Gen Core i5-13420H by a massive 150.8% in CPU score. This substantial performance advantage comes from its superior 0.95 Gop/s single-thread performance, crucial for hitting high FPS ceilings in games, alongside a significantly higher 12.7 Gop/s in multi-threaded integer operations for heavy background loads. Backed by 24 cores and 36 MB of L3 cache, it also delivers more draw calls per second and a higher 99.8 FPS in our Supernova DX11 test compared to the i5's 76.2 FPS. It's worth noting that both processors currently have only one verified run, so these early results should be taken as an initial indicator. While the Core Ultra 9 285K is clearly the powerhouse, the 13th Gen Core i5-13420H, with its 8 cores and 12 threads, could still be a reasonable choice for more budget-conscious builds focused on lighter gaming.
Generated September 24, 2026 from the 2 verified runs available then. The verdict is never silently rewritten — new numbers get a new verdict.
What the numbers mean
The CPU score is the processor's own performance — that is what we rank on. GAMING is the whole rig's score in the best PC we measured the processor in, and leans heavily on the graphics card. A strong processor in a weak PC gets a low GAMING score without being worse. We show both and never mix them.
All numbers come from our benchmark suite: four hand-built 3D scenes written directly against the graphics APIs in Rust, the same load on every PC. The methodology is open at https://whatfps.com/metodik
All measurements for Core Ultra 9 285K · All measurements for 13th Gen Core i5-13420H