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: +124.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 177.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 46.1 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Processor U300.

Trade-offs

❌
1.6% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$193 MSRP
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $3 less on MSRP ($193 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,897 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.1 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($193 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +124.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 177.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 46.1 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Processor U300.

Why buy it

✅Costs $3 less on MSRP ($193 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
1.6% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$193 MSRP
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,897 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.1 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($193 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Processor U300?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 124.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 181.3% 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 124.6% 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 i5-13400F is the better fit. You are getting 181.3% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-13400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400F is 1.6% more expensive on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $193 MSRP, and it gives you a 124.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 177.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 46.1 PassMark/$), 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 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 5/6. 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 i5-13400F Benchmark Check

Processor U300 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
1080p
low	171 FPS	183 FPS
medium	158 FPS	150 FPS
high	132 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	150 FPS
medium	123 FPS	118 FPS
high	99 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	84 FPS
medium	74 FPS	72 FPS
high	59 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Processor U300

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
1080p
low	545 FPS	166 FPS
medium	464 FPS	137 FPS
high	389 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	146 FPS
medium	403 FPS	123 FPS
high	345 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	99 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	113 FPS
medium	247 FPS	98 FPS
high	231 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	72 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Processor U300

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
1080p
low	530 FPS	222 FPS
medium	449 FPS	222 FPS
high	415 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	222 FPS
medium	422 FPS	222 FPS
high	382 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	222 FPS
medium	331 FPS	222 FPS
high	296 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Processor U300

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
1080p
low	626 FPS	222 FPS
medium	626 FPS	222 FPS
high	626 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	222 FPS
medium	626 FPS	222 FPS
high	598 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	222 FPS
medium	492 FPS	222 FPS
high	439 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	222 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Processor U300

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Processor U300

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.

Processor U300

The Processor U300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 8,897 points. Launch price was $193.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Processor U300 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.4 GHz on the Processor U300 — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Processor U300 uses Raptor Lake-U (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Processor U300's 8,897 — a 95.1% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 8 MB (total) on the Processor U300.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+100%	5 / 6
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+5%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+108%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+150%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Raptor Lake-U (2023)
PassMark	25,029+181%	8,897
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 Processor U300 uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1744
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	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) / not specified (Processor U300). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Processor U300
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Processor U300 debuted at $193. On MSRP ($196 vs $193), the Processor U300 is $3 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 46.1 pts/$ for the Processor U300 — making the Core i5-13400F the 93.9% better value option.