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 i5-13400E

2023

Why buy it

✅+23.6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $78 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 67.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 122.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 730, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 27,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 122.2 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400E moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13400E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400E.

Core i5-13400E

2023

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+23.6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $78 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 67.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 122.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 730, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 27,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 122.2 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400E moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13400E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400E.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400E better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Core i5-13400E is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 23.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13400E is the better fit. You are getting 23.6% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i5-13400E is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400E is $78 cheaper on MSRP at $221 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 67.2% better value on MSRP (122.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), 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 5600X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-13400E is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 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 i5-13400E Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	167 FPS	203 FPS
medium	151 FPS	174 FPS
high	126 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	140 FPS	169 FPS
medium	120 FPS	141 FPS
high	97 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	76 FPS	85 FPS
medium	70 FPS	76 FPS
high	56 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-13400E Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	570 FPS	464 FPS
medium	487 FPS	387 FPS
high	408 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	369 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	487 FPS	397 FPS
medium	429 FPS	334 FPS
high	368 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	298 FPS	263 FPS
medium	264 FPS	226 FPS
high	246 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i5-13400E Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	675 FPS	546 FPS
medium	564 FPS	473 FPS
high	516 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	451 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	602 FPS	508 FPS
medium	508 FPS	413 FPS
high	455 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	398 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	464 FPS	348 FPS
medium	381 FPS	292 FPS
high	337 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	276 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i5-13400E Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	675 FPS	546 FPS
medium	675 FPS	546 FPS
high	675 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	648 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	675 FPS	546 FPS
medium	675 FPS	546 FPS
high	604 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	530 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	542 FPS	529 FPS
medium	497 FPS	484 FPS
high	444 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i5-13400E Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400E and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i5-13400E

The Core i5-13400E 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 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: 27,000 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13400E packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13400E has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400E versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-13400E uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400E scores 27,000 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 21.1% lead for the Core i5-13400E. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400E vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.7 GHz+54%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	32 MB+60%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	27,000+24%	21,845
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,953	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,375	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,977	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400E uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-13400E versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Core i5-13400E supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400E) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B760,H770,Z790,H610,Q670 (Core i5-13400E) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-13400E) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Core i5-13400E includes integrated graphics (UHD 730), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400E targets Productivity, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400E rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400E	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD 730	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Productivity	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400E launched at $221 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($221 vs $299), the Core i5-13400E is $78 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400E delivers 122.2 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Core i5-13400E the 50.3% better value option.