3D Rendering is a hardware-intensive task, and which hardware you need depends on the scope of your work. 3D rendering relies heavily on the processor, and it will take hours, if not weeks if your hardware is not correct or mismatched. So, today, we will discuss if the Intel Core i5 is enough or good for rendering.
The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, is the most important component for 3D rendering. CPU consists of multiple processors inside which are called cores, and it depends on the cores and how fast you can render.
Although using Intel Core i5 for rendering is a fairly reasonable choice, it is not the best processor performance-wise or price-wise. However, it will do the job just fine.
The Intel Core i5 processor is available in various versions consisting of different numbers of cores running at different speeds. Mostly, you will find 4 cores which are ideal for everyday tasks. However, 3D rendering is not an everyday task. So, next, we will discuss which generation or model of the Intel Core i5 should you go for.
Which Generation and Model of Intel Core i5 Should You Go For?
For rendering, today’s pick is the 13th generation Intel Core i5 13600K. It consists of a 24 M Cache and a turbo boost up to 5.10 GHz frequency. Furthermore, here are the complete specifications of the processor.
Family Name: Raptor Lake
Semiconductor Technology: Intel 7
Number of Cores: 14 cores
Performance Cores: 6 cores
Efficient cores: 8 cores
Maximum Turbo Frequency (MTF): 5.1 GHz
Performance Core MTF: 5.1 GHz
Efficient core MTF: 3.9 GHz
Performance core base clock speed: 3.5 GHz
Efficient core base clock speed: 2.6 GHz
Processor Base Power Requirement: 125 Watts
Maximum Turbo Power Requirement: 181 Watts
Market Status: Launched Q4 2022
Max Supported Memory: 192 GB
Memory Types Supported: Up to DDR4 3200 MHz and Up to DDR5 5600 MHz
Maximum number of memory channels: 2 or dual-channel
Maximum Memory Bandwidth supported: 89.6 GB/s
ECC Memory Support: Yes, supported
Graphics Name: Intel Ultra HD Graphics 770
Graphics Base Frequency: 300 MHz
Graphics Maximum Dynamic Frequency: 1.5 GHz
Maximum Resolution (HDMI): 4096 x 2160 at 60 Hz
Max Resolution (DP): 7680 x 4320 at 60 Hz
Maximum Resolution (eDP – Integrated Flat Panel): 5120 x 3200 at 120 Hz
Direct X version support: 12
OpenGL version support: 4.5
OpenCL version support: 3.0
Multi-Format Codec Engines: 2
Intel Quick Sync Video: Yes, supported
Intel Clear Video HD Technology: Yes, supported
Number of displays supported: 4 displays
Sockets Supported: FCLGA1700
Thermal Solution Requirement: PCG 2020A
Junction Temperature: 100 degrees Celsius
Package Size: 45 mm x 37.5 mm
Intel Gaussian and Neural Accelerator: 3.0
Intel Deep Learning Boost: Yes, supported
Intel Turbo Boost Technology: 2.0
Thermal Monitoring Technologies: Yes, supported
Secure Key: Yes, supported
Intel OS Guard: Yes, supported
Intel Boot Guard: Yes, supported
Intel Virtualization Technology: Yes, supported
Overview of Intel Core i5 13600K
| ✔ Pros | ❌Cons |
| Robust performance for a midrange budget processor. Good competitive pricing. Plenty of cores for the money The heat remained in check even under stress | The price is expensive as compared to the last gen equivalent chip Draws more power than before Runs hotter than the Intel Core i5 12600K |
Overall, the Intel Core i5 processors are never the fastest processors on the market. However, they are one of the best choices if you want a smart, budget-friendly, and value-minded PC build. These chips aim to provide solid performance but at lower costs than more expensive Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processors.
The new 13th Generation of Intel Core i5 13600K comes at $294.99 and holds true to its promises. It is not only great for workstation builds for 3D rendering but also great for gaming and general usage.
Benchmarking Results
The UserBenchmark report of Intel Core i5 13600k gives out the following results:
Effective Speed: +14%
Average Score: +16%
Overclocked Score: +15%
Value and Sentiment: -18%
Good to Have: +19%
Average Bench: 122% (14th of 1440)
Fantastic Average Bench: The Intel Core i5 13600K scored an average of 21.7% higher than the maximum scores of the group leaders.
Optimum Consistency: The Intel Core i5 range of score is just 11.5% which is a narrow range indicating that the Intel Core i5 13600K dishes out good consistent performance.
What Supporting Hardware Will You Need?
With the Intel Core i5 13600K, you get plenty of options for the supporting hardware. We have mentioned some common combinations below.
CPU: Intel Core i5 13600K 14 cores processor running at 3.5 GHz frequency
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX Motherboard
GPU Options:
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 ti with 12 GB of graphics memory
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 with 24 GB of graphics memory
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 with 16 GB of graphics memory
SSD Options:
- 980 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD with 2 TB of storage space
- 980 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD with 1 TB of storage space
- 990 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD with 2 TB of storage space
RAM Options: Corsair Vengeance LPX 5600 C36 32 GB memory (2 x 16 GB)
G-Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 6000 32 GB memory (2 x 16 GB)
G-Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 6400 32 GB memory (2 x 16 GB)
Benchmark Results
Intel Core i5 13600K is a powerful mid-range processor that can easily breeze through rendering and editing work. We took some time to benchmark the CPU and test the results against other processors and the following are the results we got.
| Processor | Average CPU Mark | CPU Value (Mark-Price) |
| Intel Core i5 13600K | 38157 | 123.9 |
| Processor | Cinebench 2024 (single core) |
| Intel Core i7 13700 F (5.2 GHz – 16 cores) | 118 |
| Intel Core i9 13980 HX (5.1 GHz – 14 cores) | 117 |
| Intel Core i5 13600K (5.1 GHz – 14 cores) | 116 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (5.4 GHz – 12 cores) | 116 |
| Intel Core i5 13600 KF (5.1 GHz – 14 cores) | 116 |
| Processor | Cinebench 2024 (multi core) |
| Intel Core i7 13700 HX (5 GHZ – 16 cores) | 1371 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 3950 X (4.7 GHz – 16 cores) | 1325 |
| Intel Core i5 13600K (5.1 GHz – 14 cores) | 1282 |
| Intel Core i5 13600 KF (51. GHz – 14 cores) | 1282 |
| Intel COre i7 13850 HX (5.3 GHz – 20 cores) | 1265 |
| Processor | V-RAY CPU Render Benchmark |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5900 X (3.7 GHz – 12 cores) | 16240 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950 X (3.5 GHz – 16 cores) | 16035 |
| Intel Core i5 13600K (3.5 GHz – 14 cores) | 15769 |
| Intel Core i5 13600 KF (3.5 GHz – 14 cores) | 15769 |
| Intel Core i9 7980 XE (2.6 GHz – 18 cores) | 15470 |
| Processor | Blender 3.1 Benchmarks |
| Intel Core i9 12900 KF (5 GHz – 16 cores) | 364 |
| Intel Xeon W-3275 M (3.4 GHz – 28 cores) | 350 |
| Intel Core i5 13600K (5.1 GHz – 14 cores) | 348 |
| Intel Core i5 13600 KF (5.1 GHz – 14 cores) | 347 |
| Intel Xeon W-2191B (3.4 GHz – 18 cores) | 334 |
Final Takeaway
This brings out today’s blog to a close. We discussed the 13th Gen Intel Core i5 13600K processor for rendering purposes. Based on the specifications and benchmark results, it is safe to say that it is a powerful enough processor to handle the rendering software with ease.
Of course, that also depends on your rendering needs, as higher and more complex projects may require you to upgrade to a better, more powerful CPU. Still, for the most part, the i5 13600K will not disappoint you.
Liam Carter is a lifelong tech enthusiast and PC aficionado with over 8 years of experience exploring the ever-evolving world of technology. From building custom rigs to reviewing the latest laptops and gaming peripherals, Liam brings a hands-on, practical approach to his content.