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 $1,103 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 435.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 23.8 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 29,045).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+220% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($1,299 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,103 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 435.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 23.8 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+220% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 29,045).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($1,299 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX better than Core i5-13400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.2% 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, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the better fit. You are getting 79.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 220% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is 562.8% more expensive on MSRP at $1,299 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 435.9% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 23.8 PassMark/$), 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 2018) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of TR4. 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	171 FPS	198 FPS
medium	158 FPS	177 FPS
high	132 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	160 FPS
medium	123 FPS	134 FPS
high	99 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	73 FPS
medium	74 FPS	64 FPS
high	59 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	41 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	545 FPS	536 FPS
medium	464 FPS	483 FPS
high	389 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	354 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	473 FPS
medium	403 FPS	424 FPS
high	345 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	299 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	295 FPS
medium	247 FPS	265 FPS
high	231 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	530 FPS	768 FPS
medium	449 FPS	640 FPS
high	415 FPS	577 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	640 FPS
medium	422 FPS	533 FPS
high	382 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	469 FPS
medium	331 FPS	377 FPS
high	296 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	280 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	626 FPS	774 FPS
medium	626 FPS	774 FPS
high	626 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	616 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	730 FPS
medium	626 FPS	644 FPS
high	598 FPS	549 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	523 FPS
medium	492 FPS	473 FPS
high	439 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	362 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,954 points. Launch price was $1,299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX's 30,954 — a 21.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 29,045 (56.7% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,240, a 64% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 7,241 (44.7% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	24 / 48+140%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+10%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	64 MB+220%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	25,029	30,954+24%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	29,045+79%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+94%	1,240
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408+58%	7,241

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — the Core i5-13400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 165.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Socket	LGA1700	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	2048 GB+967%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX targets Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX rivals Core i9-7940X.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX debuted at $1299. On MSRP ($196 vs $1299), the Core i5-13400F is $1103 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 23.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — making the Core i5-13400F the 137.1% better value option.