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 i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $235 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 31,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
135.1% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $235 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700K.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 31,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
135.1% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 23.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 150.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 134.4% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 23.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 150.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-13700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700K is 135.1% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 23.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 0.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 111.9 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	183 FPS	284 FPS
medium	168 FPS	268 FPS
high	139 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	238 FPS
medium	132 FPS	200 FPS
high	106 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	159 FPS
medium	81 FPS	134 FPS
high	64 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	471 FPS	689 FPS
medium	397 FPS	580 FPS
high	341 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	595 FPS
medium	351 FPS	525 FPS
high	309 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	348 FPS
medium	248 FPS	314 FPS
high	229 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	488 FPS	648 FPS
medium	488 FPS	530 FPS
high	488 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	591 FPS
medium	488 FPS	491 FPS
high	485 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	434 FPS
medium	389 FPS	374 FPS
high	337 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
1080p
low	488 FPS	970 FPS
medium	488 FPS	883 FPS
high	488 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	829 FPS
medium	488 FPS	740 FPS
high	488 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	567 FPS
medium	450 FPS	515 FPS
high	391 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-13700K

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 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: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-13700K offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K — a 20.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700K uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-13700K's 45,784 — a 80.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 31,000 (85.8% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,846, a 50.4% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 18,980 (186.6% advantage for the Core i7-13700K). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 24+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.4 GHz+36%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+67%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	19,532	45,784+134%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	31,000+150%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,846+67%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	18,980+2789%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i7-13700K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs true (Core i7-13700K). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	true
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($174 vs $409), the Core i5-12400F is $235 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 111.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700K — making the Core i5-12400F the 0.3% better value option.