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

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 7940H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940H across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 17,200).
❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 7940H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 7940H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.0% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Ryzen 9 7940H

2023

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 7940H.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.0% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940H across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 17,200).
❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 7940H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7940H better than Core i5-13400F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 7940H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.0% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data, 6.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 16.5% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 7940H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 34.0% more average FPS across 11 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 7940H is the better fit. You are getting 6.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 7940H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 7940H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.0% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 7940H is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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 9 7940H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	171 FPS	268 FPS
medium	158 FPS	241 FPS
high	132 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	234 FPS
medium	123 FPS	191 FPS
high	99 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	160 FPS
medium	74 FPS	132 FPS
high	59 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	545 FPS	502 FPS
medium	464 FPS	417 FPS
high	389 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	439 FPS
medium	403 FPS	385 FPS
high	345 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	282 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	291 FPS
medium	247 FPS	267 FPS
high	231 FPS	251 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	216 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	530 FPS	729 FPS
medium	449 FPS	729 FPS
high	415 FPS	729 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	650 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	729 FPS
medium	422 FPS	637 FPS
high	382 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	534 FPS
medium	331 FPS	460 FPS
high	296 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	344 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	626 FPS	729 FPS
medium	626 FPS	729 FPS
high	626 FPS	729 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	729 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	729 FPS
medium	626 FPS	729 FPS
high	598 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	619 FPS
medium	492 FPS	553 FPS
high	439 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Ryzen 9 7940H

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 9 7940H

The Ryzen 9 7940H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 29,151 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940H — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Ryzen 9 7940H's 29,151 — a 15.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 17,200 (5.9% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 2,646, a 9.5% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 13,495 (16.8% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940H.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+25%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.2 GHz+13%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	4 GHz+60%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	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	25,029	29,151+16%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	17,200+6%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	2,646+10%
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	13,495+18%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 7940H 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: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 7940H).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
Socket	LGA1700	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7940H has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 7940H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 7940H). The Ryzen 9 7940H includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Core i5-13400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 7940H targets High-performance Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Ryzen 9 7940H rivals Core i9-13900H.