Core i5-13400T vs Ryzen 9 5980HS

Intel

Core i5-13400T

10 Cores16 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 9 5980HS

8 Cores16 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2021

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 i5-13400T

2023

Why buy it

  • +0% higher PassMark.
  • +25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
  • 25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Ryzen 9 5980HS.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5980HS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Launch MSRP is still $221 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 5980HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Ryzen 9 5980HS

2021

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +19.3% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (20,257 vs 20,265).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
  • Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400T.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400T better than Ryzen 9 5980HS?
It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 9 5980HS is ahead with a 19.3% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13400T pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark. Core i5-13400T also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13400T is the better fit. You are getting 0% 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 i5-13400T is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400T is at an unclear MSRP at $221 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 0% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 9 5980HS is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 19.3% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (91.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-13400T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FP6, 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. 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 i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
1080p
low170 FPS277 FPS
medium157 FPS250 FPS
high129 FPS210 FPS
ultra112 FPS180 FPS
1440p
low142 FPS241 FPS
medium123 FPS195 FPS
high98 FPS159 FPS
ultra84 FPS140 FPS
4K
low80 FPS168 FPS
medium74 FPS138 FPS
high59 FPS106 FPS
ultra45 FPS93 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
1080p
low289 FPS506 FPS
medium246 FPS464 FPS
high209 FPS390 FPS
ultra191 FPS342 FPS
1440p
low247 FPS485 FPS
medium218 FPS407 FPS
high190 FPS349 FPS
ultra165 FPS294 FPS
4K
low158 FPS334 FPS
medium141 FPS288 FPS
high132 FPS263 FPS
ultra117 FPS227 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
1080p
low507 FPS506 FPS
medium449 FPS506 FPS
high414 FPS506 FPS
ultra374 FPS506 FPS
1440p
low489 FPS506 FPS
medium420 FPS506 FPS
high380 FPS506 FPS
ultra341 FPS463 FPS
4K
low386 FPS506 FPS
medium326 FPS469 FPS
high291 FPS413 FPS
ultra242 FPS348 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
1080p
low507 FPS506 FPS
medium507 FPS506 FPS
high507 FPS506 FPS
ultra507 FPS506 FPS
1440p
low507 FPS506 FPS
medium507 FPS506 FPS
high507 FPS506 FPS
ultra472 FPS477 FPS
4K
low491 FPS506 FPS
medium449 FPS463 FPS
high395 FPS410 FPS
ultra345 FPS346 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400T and Ryzen 9 5980HS

Intel

Core i5-13400T

The Core i5-13400T 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 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 20,265 points. Launch price was $221.

AMD

Ryzen 9 5980HS

The Ryzen 9 5980HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,257 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400T packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5980HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13400T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-13400T versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5980HS — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5980HS (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-13400T uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5980HS uses Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400T scores 20,265 against the Ryzen 9 5980HS's 20,257 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-13400T. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400T vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5980HS.

FeatureCore i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
Cores / Threads
10 / 16+25%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock
1.3 GHz
3 GHz+131%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)+25%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+150%
512K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark
20,265
20,257
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,094
Geekbench 6 Single
2,364
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,135
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5980HS uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-13400T versus LPDDR4-4266 on the Ryzen 9 5980HS — the Core i5-13400T supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13400T supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400T) vs 16 (Ryzen 9 5980HS) — the Core i5-13400T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureCore i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
Socket
LGA1700
FP6
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800+25%
LPDDR4-4266
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB+500%
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
No
PCIe Lanes
20+25%
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5980HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400T) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5980HS). Both include integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 730 (Core i5-13400T) and Radeon Graphics (8CU) (Ryzen 9 5980HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400T targets Energy Efficient Desktop, Ryzen 9 5980HS targets Mobile High-End. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400T rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

FeatureCore i5-13400TRyzen 9 5980HS
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 730
Radeon Graphics (8CU)
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Energy Efficient Desktop
Mobile High-End