Core i5-13400F vs M1 Max

CPU

GPU

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

M1 Max

10 Cores10 Thrd28 WWMax: 3.22 GHz2021

Popular choices:

••••i5-13400F•••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-13400F

10 / 16

25,029

+13.0%

22,146

0.0%

About PassMark

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

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M1 Max.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while M1 Max can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅+140% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,146 vs 25,029).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M1 Max.

Why buy it

✅+140% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while M1 Max can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,146 vs 25,029).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than M1 Max?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.2% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data, 13% better 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 7.2% more average FPS across 11 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 13% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $196 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M1 Max can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 2021) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/10. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M1 Max
1080p
low	171 FPS	183 FPS
medium	158 FPS	146 FPS
high	132 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	152 FPS
medium	123 FPS	118 FPS
high	99 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	71 FPS
medium	74 FPS	59 FPS
high	59 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M1 Max

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M1 Max
1080p
low	545 FPS	236 FPS
medium	464 FPS	211 FPS
high	389 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	137 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	200 FPS
medium	403 FPS	182 FPS
high	345 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	117 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	122 FPS
medium	247 FPS	113 FPS
high	231 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	81 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M1 Max

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M1 Max
1080p
low	530 FPS	554 FPS
medium	449 FPS	554 FPS
high	415 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	510 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	554 FPS
medium	422 FPS	473 FPS
high	382 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	417 FPS
medium	331 FPS	323 FPS
high	296 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M1 Max

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M1 Max
1080p
low	626 FPS	554 FPS
medium	626 FPS	554 FPS
high	626 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	554 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	554 FPS
medium	626 FPS	554 FPS
high	598 FPS	532 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	453 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	509 FPS
medium	492 FPS	451 FPS
high	439 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	341 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M1 Max

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and M1 Max

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.

M1 Max

The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, matching the M1 Max's 10 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.06 GHz). The Core i5-13400F is built on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the M1 Max's 22,146 — a 12.2% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 48 MB on the M1 Max.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	M1 Max
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+43%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+21%	2.06 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	48 MB+140%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	28 MB+2140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	—
PassMark	25,029+13%	22,146
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M1 Max uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-13400F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 8 (M1 Max). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 0 (M1 Max) — the Core i5-13400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	M1 Max
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+200%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs ARM-V (M1 Max). The M1 Max includes integrated graphics (M1 Max GPU), while the Core i5-13400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.