Core i5-13400F vs EPYC 73F3

Intel

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

EPYC 73F3

16 Cores32 Thrd240 WWMax: 4 GHz2021

Popular choices:

i5-13400F

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

  • Costs $3,325 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
  • Delivers 875.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 240W, a 175W reduction.
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 73F3.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 73F3 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (25,029 vs 46,103).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 73F3, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 73F3

2021

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +24.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
  • 540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($3,521 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
  • 269.2% higher power demand at 240W vs 65W.
  • Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 73F3 better than Core i5-13400F?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 73F3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 73F3 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 24.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 20 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 73F3 is the better fit. You are getting 84.2% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1180% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 20 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 73F3 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 73F3 is 1696.4% more expensive on MSRP at $3,521 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 24.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 875.3% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-13400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
1080p
low171 FPS200 FPS
medium158 FPS159 FPS
high132 FPS128 FPS
ultra112 FPS98 FPS
1440p
low143 FPS166 FPS
medium123 FPS128 FPS
high99 FPS99 FPS
ultra84 FPS78 FPS
4K
low81 FPS74 FPS
medium74 FPS61 FPS
high59 FPS48 FPS
ultra46 FPS39 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
1080p
low545 FPS510 FPS
medium464 FPS446 FPS
high389 FPS357 FPS
ultra356 FPS290 FPS
1440p
low458 FPS418 FPS
medium403 FPS375 FPS
high345 FPS309 FPS
ultra301 FPS244 FPS
4K
low280 FPS257 FPS
medium247 FPS235 FPS
high231 FPS206 FPS
ultra204 FPS171 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
1080p
low530 FPS979 FPS
medium449 FPS819 FPS
high415 FPS760 FPS
ultra375 FPS678 FPS
1440p
low490 FPS675 FPS
medium422 FPS564 FPS
high382 FPS515 FPS
ultra343 FPS453 FPS
4K
low393 FPS482 FPS
medium331 FPS382 FPS
high296 FPS338 FPS
ultra246 FPS274 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
1080p
low626 FPS1146 FPS
medium626 FPS1015 FPS
high626 FPS873 FPS
ultra626 FPS758 FPS
1440p
low626 FPS842 FPS
medium626 FPS733 FPS
high598 FPS620 FPS
ultra521 FPS539 FPS
4K
low535 FPS608 FPS
medium492 FPS542 FPS
high439 FPS471 FPS
ultra382 FPS407 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and EPYC 73F3

Intel

Core i5-13400F

The Core i5-13400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 25,029 points. Launch price was $196.

AMD

EPYC 73F3

The EPYC 73F3 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 46,103 points. Launch price was $3,521.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the EPYC 73F3 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 73F3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4 GHz on the EPYC 73F3 — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 73F3 uses Milan (2021−2023) (7 nm+). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the EPYC 73F3's 46,103 — a 59.3% lead for the EPYC 73F3. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 73F3.

FeatureCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
Cores / Threads
10 / 16
16 / 32+60%
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz+15%
4 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)
256 MB (total)+1180%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+150%
512 kB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm+
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Milan (2021−2023)
PassMark
25,029
46,103+84%
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,211
Geekbench 6 Single
2,407
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,408
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 73F3 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus 3200 on the EPYC 73F3 — the EPYC 73F3 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 73F3 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 GB 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 8 (EPYC 73F3). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 128 (EPYC 73F3) — the EPYC 73F3 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and SP3,C621A (EPYC 73F3).

FeatureCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
Socket
LGA1700
SP3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB+4915100%
4096
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
128+540%
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the EPYC 73F3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; EPYC 73F3 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362.

FeatureCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the EPYC 73F3 debuted at $3521. On MSRP ($196 vs $3521), the Core i5-13400F is $3325 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the EPYC 73F3 — making the Core i5-13400F the 162.8% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-13400FEPYC 73F3
MSRP
$196-94%
$3521
Performance per Dollar
127.7+875%
13.1
Release Date
2023
2021