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 $54 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,407 vs 2,497).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅+3.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
27.6% HIGHER MSRP
$250 MSRPvs$196 MSRP

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $54 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+3.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,407 vs 2,497).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
27.6% HIGHER MSRP
$250 MSRPvs$196 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700 better than Core i5-13400F?

Yes. Core i7-12700 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 33% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 20.1% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% 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 i7-12700 is the better fit. You are getting 33% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i7-12700 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-12700 is 27.6% more expensive on MSRP at $250 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 6.2% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 120.2 PassMark/$), 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 2022). 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 i5-13400F Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	171 FPS	257 FPS
medium	158 FPS	248 FPS
high	132 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	226 FPS
medium	123 FPS	194 FPS
high	99 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	157 FPS
medium	74 FPS	134 FPS
high	59 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	545 FPS	312 FPS
medium	464 FPS	265 FPS
high	389 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	257 FPS
medium	403 FPS	228 FPS
high	345 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	157 FPS
medium	247 FPS	141 FPS
high	231 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	530 FPS	751 FPS
medium	449 FPS	610 FPS
high	415 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	458 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	683 FPS
medium	422 FPS	547 FPS
high	382 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	411 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	493 FPS
medium	331 FPS	412 FPS
high	296 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	311 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	626 FPS	751 FPS
medium	626 FPS	751 FPS
high	626 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	590 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	730 FPS
medium	626 FPS	651 FPS
high	598 FPS	560 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	487 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	513 FPS
medium	492 FPS	468 FPS
high	439 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i7-12700

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.

Core i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 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: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-12700 offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-12700 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i7-12700's 30,055 — a 18.2% lead for the Core i7-12700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 21,568 (28.4% advantage for the Core i7-12700). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 2,497, a 3.7% lead for the Core i7-12700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 12,448 (8.7% advantage for the Core i7-12700). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	12 / 20+20%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.9 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+19%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+25%
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)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	25,029	30,055+20%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	21,568+33%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	2,497+4%
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	12,448+9%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-13400F 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 i5-13400F) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700). The Core i7-12700 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-13400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Core i7-12700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x / VT-d / EPT
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700 debuted at $250. On MSRP ($196 vs $250), the Core i5-13400F is $54 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 120.2 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700 — making the Core i5-13400F the 6% better value option.