Core i5-13400 vs Core i5-13400F

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 i5-13400

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (23,769 vs 25,029).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 107.6 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

✅+5.3% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $25 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 107.6 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13400.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i5-13400

2023

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

✅+5.3% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $25 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 107.6 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13400.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (23,769 vs 25,029).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 107.6 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 5.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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 5.3% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i5-13400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400F is $25 cheaper on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $221 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 18.7% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 107.6 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/16. 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 i5-13400 Benchmark Check

Core i5-13400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	171 FPS	171 FPS
medium	158 FPS	158 FPS
high	132 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	143 FPS
medium	123 FPS	123 FPS
high	99 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	81 FPS
medium	74 FPS	74 FPS
high	59 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i5-13400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	545 FPS	545 FPS
medium	464 FPS	464 FPS
high	389 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	356 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	458 FPS
medium	403 FPS	403 FPS
high	345 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	280 FPS
medium	247 FPS	247 FPS
high	231 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	204 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i5-13400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	530 FPS	530 FPS
medium	449 FPS	449 FPS
high	415 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	490 FPS
medium	422 FPS	422 FPS
high	382 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	343 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	393 FPS
medium	331 FPS	331 FPS
high	296 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	246 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i5-13400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i5-13400F
1080p
low	594 FPS	626 FPS
medium	594 FPS	626 FPS
high	594 FPS	626 FPS
ultra	594 FPS	626 FPS
1440p
low	594 FPS	626 FPS
medium	594 FPS	626 FPS
high	594 FPS	598 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	521 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	535 FPS
medium	492 FPS	492 FPS
high	439 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	382 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i5-13400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-13400

The Core i5-13400 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: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 23,769 points. Launch price was $221.

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.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-13400 and Core i5-13400F share an identical 10-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400 versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 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 i5-13400 scores 23,769 against the Core i5-13400F's 25,029 — a 5.2% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Both processors carry 20 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Core i5-13400F
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	10 / 16
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	20 MB (total)
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	23,769	25,029+5%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	16,211
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,407
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,408

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0.

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

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-13400) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

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

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Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400 launched at $221 MSRP, while the Core i5-13400F debuted at $196. On MSRP ($221 vs $196), the Core i5-13400F is $25 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400 delivers 107.6 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-13400F — making the Core i5-13400F the 17.1% better value option.