Core i5-13400F vs M2

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: +34.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌225% higher power demand at 65W vs 20W.

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 65W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 25,029).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2.

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 65W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌225% higher power demand at 65W vs 20W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 25,029).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than M2?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 67.6% 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 34.2% more average FPS across 2 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 67.6% 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 $196 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 34.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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, M2 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 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/8. 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

M2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M2
1080p
low	171 FPS	175 FPS
medium	158 FPS	140 FPS
high	132 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	141 FPS
medium	123 FPS	111 FPS
high	99 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	66 FPS
medium	74 FPS	55 FPS
high	59 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M2
1080p
low	545 FPS	288 FPS
medium	464 FPS	246 FPS
high	389 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	166 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	248 FPS
medium	403 FPS	220 FPS
high	345 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	150 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	174 FPS
medium	247 FPS	159 FPS
high	231 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	106 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M2
1080p
low	530 FPS	373 FPS
medium	449 FPS	373 FPS
high	415 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	373 FPS
medium	422 FPS	373 FPS
high	382 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	363 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	373 FPS
medium	331 FPS	314 FPS
high	296 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	M2
1080p
low	626 FPS	373 FPS
medium	626 FPS	373 FPS
high	626 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	373 FPS
medium	626 FPS	373 FPS
high	598 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	373 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	373 FPS
medium	492 FPS	373 FPS
high	439 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	328 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open M2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and M2

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.

M2

The M2 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 June 2022 (3 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.48 GHz. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 14,933 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the M2 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 3.48 GHz on the M2 — a 27.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.424 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 M2's 14,933 — a 50.5% lead for the Core i5-13400F.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	M2
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+25%	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+32%	3.48 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+3%	2.424 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	20 MB+1500%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	—
PassMark	25,029+68%	14,933
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M2 uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	M2
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) / not specified (M2). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.