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 i5-13400

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $188 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (23,769 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13400 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 107.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core i5-13400

2023

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $188 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13400 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (23,769 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 107.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core i5-13400?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 18.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 44.5% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 44.5% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i7-12700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-12700K is 85.1% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $221 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400 is also 28.1% better value on MSRP (107.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021). 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 i5-13400 Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	171 FPS	314 FPS
medium	158 FPS	295 FPS
high	132 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	269 FPS
medium	123 FPS	225 FPS
high	99 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	170 FPS
medium	74 FPS	142 FPS
high	59 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i7-12700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	545 FPS	630 FPS
medium	464 FPS	533 FPS
high	389 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	536 FPS
medium	403 FPS	475 FPS
high	345 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	349 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	312 FPS
medium	247 FPS	280 FPS
high	231 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i7-12700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	530 FPS	797 FPS
medium	449 FPS	633 FPS
high	415 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	704 FPS
medium	422 FPS	565 FPS
high	382 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	510 FPS
medium	331 FPS	425 FPS
high	296 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i7-12700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	594 FPS	859 FPS
medium	594 FPS	802 FPS
high	594 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	594 FPS	628 FPS
1440p
low	594 FPS	760 FPS
medium	594 FPS	678 FPS
high	594 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	535 FPS
medium	492 FPS	488 FPS
high	439 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Core i7-12700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400 and Core i7-12700K

Core i5-13400

The Core i5-13400 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 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 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: 23,769 points. Launch price was $221.

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400 packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400 versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-13400 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400 scores 23,769 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 36.4% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400 vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	12 / 20+20%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	23,769	34,347+45%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	—	4800
Max RAM Capacity	—	128
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-13400) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-13400 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Core i7-12700K
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400 launched at $221 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($221 vs $409), the Core i5-13400 is $188 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400 delivers 107.6 pts/$ vs 84.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i5-13400 the 24.6% better value option.