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

✅+6.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $210 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 72.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700T.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700T across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700T

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,611 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-13700T

2023

Why buy it

✅+6.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $210 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 54.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 72.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700T.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700T across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,611 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

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

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-13700T is ahead with a 5.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F pulls ahead with 6.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i7-13700T also has the bigger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 6.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i7-13700T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700T is 120.7% more expensive on MSRP at $384 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-12400F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 6.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-12400F is also 54.6% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 72.6 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13700T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i7-13700T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700T
1080p
low	183 FPS	264 FPS
medium	168 FPS	254 FPS
high	139 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	225 FPS
medium	132 FPS	193 FPS
high	106 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	154 FPS
medium	81 FPS	131 FPS
high	64 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	90 FPS

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

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700T
1080p
low	471 FPS	311 FPS
medium	397 FPS	266 FPS
high	341 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	205 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	258 FPS
medium	351 FPS	228 FPS
high	309 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	160 FPS
medium	248 FPS	143 FPS
high	229 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	119 FPS

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

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700T
1080p
low	488 FPS	647 FPS
medium	488 FPS	526 FPS
high	488 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	404 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	588 FPS
medium	488 FPS	484 FPS
high	485 FPS	423 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	431 FPS
medium	389 FPS	370 FPS
high	337 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	283 FPS

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

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700T
1080p
low	488 FPS	697 FPS
medium	488 FPS	697 FPS
high	488 FPS	697 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	629 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	697 FPS
medium	488 FPS	685 FPS
high	488 FPS	592 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	516 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	543 FPS
medium	450 FPS	492 FPS
high	391 FPS	438 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	382 FPS

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

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 i7-13700T

The Core i7-13700T 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 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 27,890 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-13700T offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700T has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-13700T — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700T uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-13700T's 27,890 — a 35.2% lead for the Core i7-13700T. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 11,611 (6.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,537, a 39.5% lead for the Core i7-13700T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 15,020 (183.2% advantage for the Core i7-13700T). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700T.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 24+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+79%	1.4 GHz
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-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,532	27,890+43%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+7%	11,611
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,537+49%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	15,020+2186%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i7-13700T 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 Z790,B760,H770,H710 (Core i7-13700T).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700T
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 VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-13700T). The Core i7-13700T includes integrated graphics (UHD 770), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i7-13700T targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-13700T rivals Ryzen 7 7700.

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

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700T debuted at $384. On MSRP ($174 vs $384), the Core i5-12400F is $210 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 72.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700T — making the Core i5-12400F the 42.9% better value option.