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 i5-13490F

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $174 less on MSRP ($235 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 35.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 113.5 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($235 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Stock), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (26,670 vs 34,347).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 113.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $235 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13490F.

Core i5-13490F

2023

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $174 less on MSRP ($235 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 35.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 113.5 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($235 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Stock), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (26,670 vs 34,347).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 113.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $235 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core i5-13490F?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 13.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 28.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 13.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 28.8% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13490F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-12700K is 74.0% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $235 MSRP, and it gives you a 13.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13490F is also 35.1% better value on MSRP (113.5 vs 84.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13490F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021). 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 i5-13490F Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	246 FPS	314 FPS
medium	231 FPS	295 FPS
high	196 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	215 FPS	269 FPS
medium	183 FPS	225 FPS
high	151 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	149 FPS	170 FPS
medium	127 FPS	142 FPS
high	98 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i7-12700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	590 FPS	630 FPS
medium	501 FPS	533 FPS
high	422 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	485 FPS	536 FPS
medium	427 FPS	475 FPS
high	370 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	349 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	312 FPS
medium	263 FPS	280 FPS
high	248 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i7-12700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	667 FPS	797 FPS
medium	667 FPS	633 FPS
high	667 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	704 FPS
medium	667 FPS	565 FPS
high	667 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	596 FPS	510 FPS
medium	502 FPS	425 FPS
high	447 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i7-12700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	667 FPS	859 FPS
medium	667 FPS	802 FPS
high	667 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	628 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	760 FPS
medium	667 FPS	678 FPS
high	667 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	592 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	661 FPS	535 FPS
medium	585 FPS	488 FPS
high	514 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	436 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core i7-12700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13490F and Core i7-12700K

Core i5-13490F

The Core i5-13490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 February 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 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 26,670 points. Launch price was $235.

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13490F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-13490F versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-13490F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13490F scores 26,670 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 25.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13490F vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	12 / 20+20%
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+4%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	26,670	34,347+29%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,844	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,200	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-13490F versus 4800 on the Core i7-12700K — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13490F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B660,B760,H610,H670,Z690,Z790 (Core i5-13490F) and Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K).

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+157286300%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-13490F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-13490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13490F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core i7-12700K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13490F launched at $235 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($235 vs $409), the Core i5-13490F is $174 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13490F delivers 113.5 pts/$ vs 84.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i5-13490F the 29.9% better value option.