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 $210 less on MSRP ($174 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 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 30,766).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.9% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
120.7% HIGHER MSRP
$384 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-13700KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $210 less on MSRP ($174 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: +19.9% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700KF across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 30,766).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
120.7% HIGHER MSRP
$384 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i7-13700KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.9% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 148.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 134.1% 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 19.9% more average FPS across 6 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 148.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 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 120.7% more expensive on MSRP at $384 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 19.9% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 6.1% better value on MSRP (119.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 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 i7-13700KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	183 FPS	284 FPS
medium	168 FPS	268 FPS
high	139 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	238 FPS
medium	132 FPS	200 FPS
high	106 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	159 FPS
medium	81 FPS	134 FPS
high	64 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	90 FPS

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

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	471 FPS	689 FPS
medium	397 FPS	580 FPS
high	341 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	595 FPS
medium	351 FPS	525 FPS
high	309 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	348 FPS
medium	248 FPS	314 FPS
high	229 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	261 FPS

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

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	488 FPS	648 FPS
medium	488 FPS	530 FPS
high	488 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	591 FPS
medium	488 FPS	491 FPS
high	485 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	434 FPS
medium	389 FPS	374 FPS
high	337 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	290 FPS

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

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	488 FPS	970 FPS
medium	488 FPS	883 FPS
high	488 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	829 FPS
medium	488 FPS	740 FPS
high	488 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	567 FPS
medium	450 FPS	515 FPS
high	391 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	404 FPS

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

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 i7-13700KF

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 i5-12400F 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 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700KF — a 20.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700KF (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700KF uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-13700KF's 45,730 — a 80.3% lead for the Core i7-13700KF. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 30,766 (85.2% advantage for the Core i7-13700KF). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,962, a 14.3% lead for the Core i7-13700KF that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 17,708 (185.7% advantage for the Core i7-13700KF). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700KF.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 24+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.4 GHz+36%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+67%
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, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	19,532	45,730+134%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	30,766+149%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,962+15%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	17,708+2595%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 5600 on the Core i7-13700KF — the Core i7-13700KF supports 199.6% 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Z790,B760 (Core i7-13700KF).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+69904967%	192
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 i7-13700KF). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-13700KF rivals Ryzen 7 7700X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13700KF
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
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 i7-13700KF debuted at $384. On MSRP ($174 vs $384), the Core i5-12400F is $210 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 119.1 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700KF — making the Core i7-13700KF the 5.9% better value option.