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 i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $143 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $339 MSRP).
✅Delivers 104.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 62.5 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $339 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-12700T.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700T

2022

Why buy it

✅+33% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 62.5 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($339 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i7-12700T

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $143 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $339 MSRP).
✅Delivers 104.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 62.5 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $339 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-12700T.

Why buy it

✅+33% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 62.5 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($339 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

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

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-13400F is ahead with a 12.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700T pulls ahead with 33% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i7-12700T also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700T is the better fit. You are getting 33% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 i5-13400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400F is $143 cheaper on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $339 MSRP, and it gives you a 12.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-12700T is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 33% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 104.2% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 62.5 PassMark/$), 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 i5-13400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). 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 i5-13400F Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
1080p
low	171 FPS	177 FPS
medium	158 FPS	165 FPS
high	132 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	148 FPS
medium	123 FPS	128 FPS
high	99 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	87 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	84 FPS
medium	74 FPS	77 FPS
high	59 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	48 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
1080p
low	545 FPS	307 FPS
medium	464 FPS	261 FPS
high	389 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	200 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	257 FPS
medium	403 FPS	228 FPS
high	345 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	157 FPS
medium	247 FPS	141 FPS
high	231 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
1080p
low	530 FPS	530 FPS
medium	449 FPS	530 FPS
high	415 FPS	530 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	461 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	530 FPS
medium	422 FPS	530 FPS
high	382 FPS	481 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	413 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	496 FPS
medium	331 FPS	414 FPS
high	296 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	312 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
1080p
low	626 FPS	530 FPS
medium	626 FPS	530 FPS
high	626 FPS	530 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	530 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	530 FPS
medium	626 FPS	530 FPS
high	598 FPS	530 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	488 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	515 FPS
medium	492 FPS	469 FPS
high	439 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	361 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-12700T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-13400F

The Core i5-13400F 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, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 25,029 points. Launch price was $196.

Core i7-12700T

The Core i7-12700T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 25 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: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,195 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-12700T offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-12700T — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-12700T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i7-12700T's 21,195 — a 16.6% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 21,568 (28.4% advantage for the Core i7-12700T). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 2,256, a 6.5% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 9,560 (17.6% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700T.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	12 / 20+20%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.7 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+79%	1.4 GHz
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	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	25,029+18%	21,195
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	21,568+33%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+7%	2,256
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408+19%	9,560

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-13400F 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 i5-13400F) and LGA1700 (Core i7-12700T).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i7-12700T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-12700T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-13400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-12700T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700T debuted at $339. On MSRP ($196 vs $339), the Core i5-13400F is $143 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 62.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700T — making the Core i5-13400F the 68.5% better value option.