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 $218 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $392 MSRP).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13790F.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13790F across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 26,247).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 33 MB).

Core i7-13790F

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.2% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+83.3% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 18 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
125.3% HIGHER MSRP
$392 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-13790F

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $218 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $392 MSRP).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-13790F.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.2% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+83.3% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 18 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13790F across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 26,247).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 33 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
125.3% HIGHER MSRP
$392 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13790F better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i7-13790F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 39.2% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 112% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 123.0% 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 i7-13790F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 39.2% 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 i7-13790F is the better fit. You are getting 112% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 83.3% larger total L3 cache (33 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core i7-13790F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13790F is 125.3% more expensive on MSRP at $392 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 39.2% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 1.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 111.1 PassMark/$), 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 i7-13790F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 83.3% larger total L3 cache (33 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 i7-13790F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
1080p
low	183 FPS	276 FPS
medium	168 FPS	258 FPS
high	139 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	183 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	256 FPS
medium	132 FPS	215 FPS
high	106 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	148 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	173 FPS
medium	81 FPS	145 FPS
high	64 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	97 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13790F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
1080p
low	471 FPS	361 FPS
medium	397 FPS	309 FPS
high	341 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	233 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	314 FPS
medium	351 FPS	278 FPS
high	309 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	199 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	186 FPS
medium	248 FPS	168 FPS
high	229 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	138 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13790F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
1080p
low	488 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	488 FPS	1011 FPS
high	488 FPS	933 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	803 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	969 FPS
medium	488 FPS	858 FPS
high	485 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	588 FPS
medium	389 FPS	506 FPS
high	337 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	387 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13790F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
1080p
low	488 FPS	1089 FPS
medium	488 FPS	1015 FPS
high	488 FPS	876 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	767 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	960 FPS
medium	488 FPS	844 FPS
high	488 FPS	722 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	620 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	684 FPS
medium	450 FPS	605 FPS
high	391 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-13790F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-13790F

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 i7-13790F

The Core i7-13790F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 43,549 points. Launch price was $441.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-13790F offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13790F has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-13790F — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13790F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13790F uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-13790F's 43,549 — a 76.1% lead for the Core i7-13790F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 26,247 (71.8% advantage for the Core i7-13790F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,815, a 49.4% lead for the Core i7-13790F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 13,673 (181.7% advantage for the Core i7-13790F). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 33 MB (total) on the Core i7-13790F.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 24+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.2 GHz+18%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+19%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	33 MB (total)+83%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,532	43,549+123%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	26,247+112%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,815+66%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	13,673+1981%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i7-13790F 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Core i7-13790F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Z790,B760 (Core i7-13790F).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-13790F). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-13790F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
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 i7-13790F debuted at $392. On MSRP ($174 vs $392), the Core i5-12400F is $218 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 111.1 pts/$ for the Core i7-13790F — making the Core i5-12400F the 1% better value option.