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 i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $224 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700KF.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700KF across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 30,766).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 119.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700KF moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-13700KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +58.4% higher average FPS across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 46.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 119.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
140% HIGHER MSRP
$384 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i7-13700KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $224 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700KF.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +58.4% higher average FPS across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 46.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 119.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700KF across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 30,766).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 119.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i7-13700KF moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
140% HIGHER MSRP
$384 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700KF better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Core i7-13700KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 58.4% average FPS lead across 8 shared CPU game tests in our data, 275.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 251.0% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 58.4% more average FPS across 8 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700KF is the better fit. You are getting 275.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-13700KF is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700KF is 140.0% more expensive on MSRP at $384 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 58.4% average FPS lead across 8 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 46.2% better value on MSRP (119.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10400F 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?

Core i7-13700KF is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 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 i5-10400F Benchmark Check

Core i7-13700KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	192 FPS	284 FPS
medium	152 FPS	268 FPS
high	123 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	238 FPS
medium	119 FPS	200 FPS
high	97 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	159 FPS
medium	70 FPS	134 FPS
high	55 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i7-13700KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	326 FPS	689 FPS
medium	318 FPS	580 FPS
high	290 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	595 FPS
medium	292 FPS	525 FPS
high	267 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	348 FPS
medium	258 FPS	314 FPS
high	235 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i7-13700KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	326 FPS	648 FPS
medium	326 FPS	530 FPS
high	326 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	591 FPS
medium	326 FPS	491 FPS
high	326 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	434 FPS
medium	326 FPS	374 FPS
high	289 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i7-13700KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	326 FPS	970 FPS
medium	326 FPS	883 FPS
high	326 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	829 FPS
medium	326 FPS	740 FPS
high	326 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	567 FPS
medium	326 FPS	515 FPS
high	326 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i7-13700KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i7-13700KF

Core i5-10400F

The Core i5-10400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,029 points. Launch price was $155.

Core i7-13700KF

The Core i7-13700KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 W, 253 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 45,730 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-13700KF offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700KF has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700KF — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700KF (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-13700KF uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i7-13700KF's 45,730 — a 111.3% lead for the Core i7-13700KF. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 30,766 (115.9% advantage for the Core i7-13700KF). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,962, a 29.7% lead for the Core i7-13700KF that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 17,708 (101.5% advantage for the Core i7-13700KF). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700KF.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 24+167%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.4 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+700%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	13,029	45,730+251%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	30,766+276%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	1,962+35%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	17,708+206%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-13700KF uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 5600 on the Core i7-13700KF — the Core i7-13700KF supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-13700KF supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Core i7-13700KF) — the Core i7-13700KF offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and Z790,B760 (Core i7-13700KF).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	5600+139900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+69904967%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700KF has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Core i7-13700KF rivals Ryzen 7 7700X.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i7-13700KF
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700KF debuted at $384. On MSRP ($160 vs $384), the Core i5-10400F is $224 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 119.1 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700KF — making the Core i7-13700KF the 37.6% better value option.