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 i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅+12.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $168 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $342 MSRP).
✅Delivers 69.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 66.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $342 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13500T.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,700 vs 2,278).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13500T

2023

Why buy it

✅+34% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,028 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($342 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i5-13500T

2023

Why buy it

✅+12.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $168 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $342 MSRP).
✅Delivers 69.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 66.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $342 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-13500T.

Why buy it

✅+34% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,700 vs 2,278).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,028 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($342 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13500T better than Core i5-12400F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-13500T is ahead with a 2.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F pulls ahead with 12.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-13500T also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 12.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-13500T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-13500T is 96.6% more expensive on MSRP at $342 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-12400F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 12.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-12400F is also 69.7% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 66.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-13500T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Core i5-13500T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
1080p
low	183 FPS	172 FPS
medium	168 FPS	160 FPS
high	139 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	143 FPS
medium	132 FPS	124 FPS
high	106 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	75 FPS
high	64 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-13500T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
1080p
low	471 FPS	305 FPS
medium	397 FPS	260 FPS
high	341 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	201 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	257 FPS
medium	351 FPS	227 FPS
high	309 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	159 FPS
medium	248 FPS	142 FPS
high	229 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-13500T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
1080p
low	488 FPS	530 FPS
medium	488 FPS	450 FPS
high	488 FPS	416 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	492 FPS
medium	488 FPS	423 FPS
high	485 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	344 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	393 FPS
medium	389 FPS	331 FPS
high	337 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	246 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-13500T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
1080p
low	488 FPS	566 FPS
medium	488 FPS	566 FPS
high	488 FPS	566 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	566 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	566 FPS
medium	488 FPS	566 FPS
high	488 FPS	566 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	507 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	528 FPS
medium	450 FPS	481 FPS
high	391 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-13500T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i5-13500T

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 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: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

Core i5-13500T

The Core i5-13500T 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 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,622 points. Launch price was $232.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-13500T offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i5-13500T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13500T — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13500T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-13500T uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i5-13500T's 22,622 — a 14.7% lead for the Core i5-13500T. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 11,028 (11.6% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,278, a 29.1% lead for the Core i5-13500T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 9,900 (175.1% advantage for the Core i5-13500T). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13500T.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 20+133%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.6 GHz+5%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+56%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,532	22,622+16%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+12%	11,028
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,278+34%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	9,900+1407%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-13500T supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% 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 i5-12400F) and 600-series,700-series (Core i5-13500T).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13500T). The Core i5-13500T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i5-13500T targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i5-13500T rivals Ryzen 7 5700X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-13500T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i5-13500T debuted at $342. On MSRP ($174 vs $342), the Core i5-12400F is $168 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 66.1 pts/$ for the Core i5-13500T — making the Core i5-12400F the 51.7% better value option.