Core i5-13500 vs Ryzen 7 8700F

Intel

Core i5-13500

14 Cores20 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 8700F

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 5 GHz2024

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 i5-13500

2023

Why buy it

  • +16% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
  • +50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Costs $28 less on MSRP ($242 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
  • Delivers 11.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 128.5 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($242 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 7 8700F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Ryzen 7 8700F

2024

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +24.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (18,040 vs 20,924).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 115.7 vs 128.5 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $242 MSRP).
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8700F better than Core i5-13500?
It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 8700F is ahead with a 24.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13500 pulls ahead with 16% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-13500 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13500 is the better fit. You are getting 16% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 8700F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13500 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 8700F is 11.6% more expensive on MSRP at $270 MSRP versus $242 MSRP, and it gives you a 24.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-13500 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 16% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-13500 is also 11.1% better value on MSRP (128.5 vs 115.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-13500 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?
Ryzen 7 8700F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023). 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low260 FPS266 FPS
medium250 FPS240 FPS
high208 FPS206 FPS
ultra179 FPS176 FPS
1440p
low222 FPS233 FPS
medium191 FPS190 FPS
high153 FPS158 FPS
ultra135 FPS138 FPS
4K
low154 FPS158 FPS
medium131 FPS131 FPS
high101 FPS102 FPS
ultra89 FPS88 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low556 FPS483 FPS
medium471 FPS403 FPS
high400 FPS347 FPS
ultra368 FPS308 FPS
1440p
low458 FPS423 FPS
medium403 FPS374 FPS
high350 FPS322 FPS
ultra306 FPS273 FPS
4K
low281 FPS283 FPS
medium248 FPS259 FPS
high234 FPS244 FPS
ultra208 FPS209 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low648 FPS781 FPS
medium527 FPS781 FPS
high467 FPS767 FPS
ultra405 FPS649 FPS
1440p
low590 FPS766 FPS
medium486 FPS629 FPS
high425 FPS544 FPS
ultra370 FPS463 FPS
4K
low433 FPS530 FPS
medium372 FPS457 FPS
high333 FPS402 FPS
ultra285 FPS338 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low778 FPS781 FPS
medium778 FPS781 FPS
high726 FPS781 FPS
ultra644 FPS781 FPS
1440p
low778 FPS781 FPS
medium702 FPS781 FPS
high608 FPS692 FPS
ultra528 FPS602 FPS
4K
low555 FPS615 FPS
medium504 FPS553 FPS
high449 FPS495 FPS
ultra390 FPS431 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13500 and Ryzen 7 8700F

Intel

Core i5-13500

The Core i5-13500 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 14 cores and 20 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 Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,109 points. Launch price was $242.

AMD

Ryzen 7 8700F

The Ryzen 7 8700F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,240 points. Launch price was $270.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13500 packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8700F offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13500 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-13500 versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8700F — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core i5-13500 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8700F uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13500 scores 31,109 against the Ryzen 7 8700F's 31,240 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 20,924 vs 18,040 (14.8% advantage for the Core i5-13500). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,419 vs 2,649, a 9.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,160 vs 13,500 (10.4% advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13500 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700F.

FeatureCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
Cores / Threads
14 / 20+75%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz
5 GHz+4%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
4.1 GHz+64%
L3 Cache
24 MB (total)+50%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
4 nm-43%
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark
31,109
31,240
Cinebench R23 Multi
20,924+16%
18,040
Geekbench 6 Single
2,419
2,649+10%
Geekbench 6 Multi
12,160
13,500+11%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13500 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8700F uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 8700F supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760,Z690,B660 (Core i5-13500) and XB650,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700F).

FeatureCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
Socket
LGA1700
AM5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB
256 GB+33%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
No
PCIe Lanes
20
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 8700F has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 8700F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-13500) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8700F). The Core i5-13500 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 7 8700F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13500 targets High-end Productivity / Gaming, Ryzen 7 8700F targets High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-13500 rivals Ryzen 7 7700; Ryzen 7 8700F rivals Core i7-14700F.

FeatureCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V
Target Use
High-end Productivity / Gaming
High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13500 launched at $242 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 8700F debuted at $270. On MSRP ($242 vs $270), the Core i5-13500 is $28 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13500 delivers 128.5 pts/$ vs 115.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 8700F — making the Core i5-13500 the 10.5% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-13500Ryzen 7 8700F
MSRP
$242-10%
$270
Performance per Dollar
128.5+11%
115.7
Release Date
2023
2024