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

✅Costs $328 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $502 MSRP).
✅Delivers 115.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 52.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $502 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700H across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 20,101).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.4% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (96EU), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 52.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($502 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-13700H

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $328 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $502 MSRP).
✅Delivers 115.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 52.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $502 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13700H.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.4% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (96EU), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700H across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 20,101).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 52.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($502 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700H better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i7-13700H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 25.4% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data, 62.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 33.8% 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 i7-13700H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 25.4% more average FPS across 38 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700H is the better fit. You are getting 62.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core i7-13700H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700H is 188.5% more expensive on MSRP at $502 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 25.4% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 115.6% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 52.1 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13700H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-13700H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
1080p
low	183 FPS	301 FPS
medium	168 FPS	277 FPS
high	139 FPS	233 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	243 FPS
medium	132 FPS	199 FPS
high	106 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	141 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	169 FPS
medium	81 FPS	138 FPS
high	64 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
1080p
low	471 FPS	654 FPS
medium	397 FPS	569 FPS
high	341 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	419 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	617 FPS
medium	351 FPS	520 FPS
high	309 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	363 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	366 FPS
medium	248 FPS	314 FPS
high	229 FPS	291 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	253 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
1080p
low	488 FPS	654 FPS
medium	488 FPS	654 FPS
high	488 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	613 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	654 FPS
medium	488 FPS	654 FPS
high	485 FPS	588 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	507 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	595 FPS
medium	389 FPS	494 FPS
high	337 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	374 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
1080p
low	488 FPS	654 FPS
medium	488 FPS	654 FPS
high	488 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	654 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	654 FPS
medium	488 FPS	654 FPS
high	488 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	597 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	628 FPS
medium	450 FPS	558 FPS
high	391 FPS	502 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	432 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13700H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-13700H

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 i7-13700H

The Core i7-13700H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 26,140 points. Launch price was $502.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-13700H offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-13700H has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-13700H — a 12.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700H uses Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-13700H's 26,140 — a 28.9% lead for the Core i7-13700H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 20,101 (47.5% advantage for the Core i7-13700H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,279, a 29.1% lead for the Core i7-13700H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 13,208 (181% advantage for the Core i7-13700H). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700H.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 20+133%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5 GHz+14%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+4%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,532	26,140+34%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	20,101+62%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,279+34%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	13,208+1910%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-13700H uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 96 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 28 (Core i7-13700H) — the Core i7-13700H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Mobile (Core i7-13700H).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+33%	96 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-13700H). The Core i7-13700H includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700H
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-13700H debuted at $502. On MSRP ($174 vs $502), the Core i5-12400F is $328 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 52.1 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700H — making the Core i5-12400F the 73.2% better value option.