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 i3-13100F

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $87 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,577 vs 11,408).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +59.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
79.8% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$109 MSRP

Core i3-13100F

2023

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $87 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +59.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,577 vs 11,408).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
79.8% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$109 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Core i3-13100F?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 59.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 50.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 70.9% 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 i5-13400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 59.2% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13400F is the better fit. You are getting 50.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i5-13400F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i3-13100F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-13400F is 79.8% more expensive on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $109 MSRP, and it gives you a 59.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-13100F is also 5.2% better value on MSRP (134.4 vs 127.7 PassMark/$), 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 66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 4/8. 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 i3-13100F Benchmark Check

Core i5-13400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	171 FPS	171 FPS
medium	150 FPS	158 FPS
high	120 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	143 FPS
medium	123 FPS	123 FPS
high	97 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	73 FPS	74 FPS
high	57 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i3-13100F Open Core i5-13400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	291 FPS	545 FPS
medium	243 FPS	464 FPS
high	220 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	356 FPS
1440p
low	250 FPS	458 FPS
medium	210 FPS	403 FPS
high	196 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	185 FPS	280 FPS
medium	158 FPS	247 FPS
high	133 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	204 FPS

Open Core i3-13100F Open Core i5-13400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	366 FPS	530 FPS
medium	366 FPS	449 FPS
high	366 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	366 FPS	490 FPS
medium	366 FPS	422 FPS
high	342 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	309 FPS	343 FPS
4K
low	343 FPS	393 FPS
medium	297 FPS	331 FPS
high	257 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	246 FPS

Open Core i3-13100F Open Core i5-13400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	366 FPS	626 FPS
medium	366 FPS	626 FPS
high	366 FPS	626 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	626 FPS
1440p
low	366 FPS	626 FPS
medium	366 FPS	626 FPS
high	366 FPS	598 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	521 FPS
4K
low	366 FPS	535 FPS
medium	366 FPS	492 FPS
high	366 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	382 FPS

Open Core i3-13100F Open Core i5-13400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-13100F and Core i5-13400F

Core i3-13100F

The Core i3-13100F 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 14,649 points. Launch price was $109.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-13100F packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-13400F offers 10 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i3-13100F versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). Both are built on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture using a Intel 7 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i3-13100F scores 14,649 against the Core i5-13400F's 25,029 — a 52.3% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,272 vs 2,407, a 5.8% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,577 vs 11,408 (40.4% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-13100F vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F.

Feature	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	10 / 16+150%
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.6 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+36%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+67%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	14,649	25,029+71%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	16,211
Geekbench 6 Single	2,272	2,407+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,577	11,408+51%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i3-13100F) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F).

Feature	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i3-13100F 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.

Feature	Core i3-13100F	Core i5-13400F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-13100F launched at $109 MSRP, while the Core i5-13400F debuted at $196. On MSRP ($109 vs $196), the Core i3-13100F is $87 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-13100F delivers 134.4 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-13400F — making the Core i3-13100F the 5.1% better value option.