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

✅Costs $188 less on MSRP ($196 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 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 30,766).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.6% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
95.9% HIGHER MSRP
$384 MSRPvs$196 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i7-13700KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $188 less on MSRP ($196 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: +19.6% higher average FPS across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700KF across 11 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 30,766).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌
95.9% HIGHER MSRP
$384 MSRPvs$196 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700KF better than Core i5-13400F?

Yes. Core i7-13700KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.6% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data, 89.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 82.7% higher PassMark, 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 19.6% more average FPS across 11 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 89.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i7-13700KF is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700KF is 95.9% more expensive on MSRP at $384 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 19.6% average FPS lead across 11 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 7.2% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 119.1 PassMark/$), 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 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 i7-13700KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	171 FPS	284 FPS
medium	158 FPS	268 FPS
high	132 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	238 FPS
medium	123 FPS	200 FPS
high	99 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	159 FPS
medium	74 FPS	134 FPS
high	59 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-13700KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	545 FPS	689 FPS
medium	464 FPS	580 FPS
high	389 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	595 FPS
medium	403 FPS	525 FPS
high	345 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	348 FPS
medium	247 FPS	314 FPS
high	231 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	261 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-13700KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	530 FPS	648 FPS
medium	449 FPS	530 FPS
high	415 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	591 FPS
medium	422 FPS	491 FPS
high	382 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	434 FPS
medium	331 FPS	374 FPS
high	296 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-13700KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
1080p
low	626 FPS	970 FPS
medium	626 FPS	883 FPS
high	626 FPS	766 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	689 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	829 FPS
medium	626 FPS	740 FPS
high	598 FPS	642 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	567 FPS
medium	492 FPS	515 FPS
high	439 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	404 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-13700KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i7-13700KF

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 i7-13700KF

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 i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-13700KF offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i7-13700KF has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700KF — a 16% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700KF (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-13700KF uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i7-13700KF's 45,730 — a 58.5% lead for the Core i7-13700KF. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 30,766 (62% advantage for the Core i7-13700KF). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,962, a 20.4% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 17,708 (43.3% advantage for the Core i7-13700KF). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700KF.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	16 / 24+60%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.4 GHz+17%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.4 GHz+36%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)
PassMark	25,029	45,730+83%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	30,766+90%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+23%	1,962
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	17,708+55%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F 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. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. 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 Z790,B760 (Core i7-13700KF).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+104857500%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700KF has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Core i7-13700KF rivals Ryzen 7 7700X.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-13700KF
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
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 i7-13700KF debuted at $384. On MSRP ($196 vs $384), the Core i5-13400F is $188 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 119.1 pts/$ for the Core i7-13700KF — making the Core i5-13400F the 7% better value option.