Core i5-13400F vs Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Intel

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

64 Cores128 Thrd350 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2023

Popular choices:

i5-13400F

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 i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

  • Costs $4,803 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $4,999 MSRP).
  • Delivers 369.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 27.2 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $4,999 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 7980X.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 7980X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 98,427).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 7980X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +37.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
  • 340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.2 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($4,999 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
  • 438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 7980X better than Core i5-13400F?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 7980X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 37.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 20 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the better fit. You are getting 507.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1180% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 20 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is 2450.5% more expensive on MSRP at $4,999 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 37.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 369.6% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 27.2 PassMark/$), 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 Threadripper 7980X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 20 MB, more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 10/16, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low171 FPS302 FPS
medium158 FPS279 FPS
high132 FPS230 FPS
ultra112 FPS195 FPS
1440p
low143 FPS268 FPS
medium123 FPS223 FPS
high99 FPS171 FPS
ultra84 FPS152 FPS
4K
low81 FPS185 FPS
medium74 FPS154 FPS
high59 FPS117 FPS
ultra46 FPS104 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low545 FPS787 FPS
medium464 FPS672 FPS
high389 FPS529 FPS
ultra356 FPS462 FPS
1440p
low458 FPS649 FPS
medium403 FPS577 FPS
high345 FPS469 FPS
ultra301 FPS380 FPS
4K
low280 FPS363 FPS
medium247 FPS327 FPS
high231 FPS302 FPS
ultra204 FPS265 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low530 FPS889 FPS
medium449 FPS728 FPS
high415 FPS654 FPS
ultra375 FPS556 FPS
1440p
low490 FPS693 FPS
medium422 FPS567 FPS
high382 FPS498 FPS
ultra343 FPS419 FPS
4K
low393 FPS490 FPS
medium331 FPS407 FPS
high296 FPS365 FPS
ultra246 FPS303 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
1080p
low626 FPS1131 FPS
medium626 FPS1014 FPS
high626 FPS889 FPS
ultra626 FPS802 FPS
1440p
low626 FPS890 FPS
medium626 FPS783 FPS
high598 FPS688 FPS
ultra521 FPS599 FPS
4K
low535 FPS649 FPS
medium492 FPS579 FPS
high439 FPS514 FPS
ultra382 FPS437 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 October 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Storm Peak (2023) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 135,949 points. Launch price was $4,999.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X has 54 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X uses Storm Peak (2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X's 135,949 — a 137.8% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 98,427 (143.4% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 3,050, a 23.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 26,000 (78% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 256 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores / Threads
10 / 16
64 / 128+540%
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
5.1 GHz+11%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)
256 MB (total)+1180%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
5 nm-29%
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Storm Peak (2023)
PassMark
25,029
135,949+443%
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,211
98,427+507%
Geekbench 6 Single
2,407
3,050+27%
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,408
26,000+128%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB 136.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X offers 68 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X).

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Socket
LGA1700
sTR5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB
1024 GB+433%
RAM Channels
2
4+100%
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
88+340%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 7980X). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Ryzen Threadripper 7980X targets High-end Desktop / Content Creation. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Ryzen Threadripper 7980X rivals Xeon w7-3465X.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
true
Target Use
Gaming
High-end Desktop / Content Creation
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X debuted at $4999. On MSRP ($196 vs $4999), the Core i5-13400F is $4803 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 27.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X — making the Core i5-13400F the 129.8% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
MSRP
$196-96%
$4999
Performance per Dollar
127.7+369%
27.2
Release Date
2023
2023