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: +9.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5500.

Trade-offs

❌
23.3% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$159 MSRP

Ryzen 5 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $37 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,311 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Ryzen 5 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5500.

Why buy it

✅Costs $37 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
23.3% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$159 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,311 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Ryzen 5 5500?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 29.6% 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 9.4% 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 i5-13400F is the better fit. You are getting 29.6% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 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 23.3% more expensive on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $159 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 5.1% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 121.5 PassMark/$), 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 AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5500 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), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. 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 5 5500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	171 FPS	181 FPS
medium	158 FPS	150 FPS
high	132 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	153 FPS
medium	123 FPS	124 FPS
high	99 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	70 FPS
medium	74 FPS	61 FPS
high	59 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 5500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	545 FPS	329 FPS
medium	464 FPS	285 FPS
high	389 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	221 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	291 FPS
medium	403 FPS	258 FPS
high	345 FPS	233 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	229 FPS
medium	247 FPS	206 FPS
high	231 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	162 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 5500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	530 FPS	483 FPS
medium	449 FPS	483 FPS
high	415 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	406 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	483 FPS
medium	422 FPS	411 FPS
high	382 FPS	361 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	300 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	340 FPS
medium	331 FPS	285 FPS
high	296 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	192 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 5500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	626 FPS	483 FPS
medium	626 FPS	483 FPS
high	626 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	483 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	483 FPS
medium	626 FPS	483 FPS
high	598 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	425 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	448 FPS
medium	492 FPS	404 FPS
high	439 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 5500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Ryzen 5 5500

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 5 5500

The Ryzen 5 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,311 points. Launch price was $159.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Ryzen 5 5500's 19,311 — a 25.8% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+10%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	25,029+30%	19,311
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 Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5500 — the Core i5-13400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13400F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5500) — the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 5500).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5500 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 5 5500). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 5500
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5500 debuted at $159. On MSRP ($196 vs $159), the Ryzen 5 5500 is $37 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 121.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5500 — making the Core i5-13400F the 5% better value option.