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: +66.9% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-9850H.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Core i7-9850H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9850H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9850H

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,000 vs 11,408).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i7-9850H

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +66.9% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-9850H.

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Core i7-9850H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9850H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,000 vs 11,408).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Core i7-9850H?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 66.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 128.2% better Geekbench multi-core, 130.4% 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 i5-13400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 66.9% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13400F is the better fit. You are getting 128.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 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 at an unclear MSRP at $196 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 66.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440, 66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 i7-9850H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
1080p
low	171 FPS	180 FPS
medium	158 FPS	149 FPS
high	132 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	152 FPS
medium	123 FPS	124 FPS
high	99 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	86 FPS
medium	74 FPS	76 FPS
high	59 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-9850H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
1080p
low	545 FPS	272 FPS
medium	464 FPS	272 FPS
high	389 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	269 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	272 FPS
medium	403 FPS	272 FPS
high	345 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	244 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	272 FPS
medium	247 FPS	262 FPS
high	231 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-9850H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
1080p
low	530 FPS	272 FPS
medium	449 FPS	272 FPS
high	415 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	272 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	272 FPS
medium	422 FPS	272 FPS
high	382 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	272 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	272 FPS
medium	331 FPS	272 FPS
high	296 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	239 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-9850H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
1080p
low	626 FPS	272 FPS
medium	626 FPS	272 FPS
high	626 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	272 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	272 FPS
medium	626 FPS	272 FPS
high	598 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	272 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	272 FPS
medium	492 FPS	272 FPS
high	439 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	272 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i7-9850H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i7-9850H

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 i7-9850H

The Core i7-9850H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,862 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-9850H offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-9850H — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-9850H uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i7-9850H's 10,862 — a 78.9% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,250, a 63.3% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 5,000 (78.1% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9850H.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.6 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+67%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark	25,029+130%	10,862
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+93%	1,250
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408+128%	5,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-9850H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9850H — the Core i5-13400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 16 (Core i7-9850H) — the Core i5-13400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and HM370,CM246 (Core i7-9850H).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
Socket	LGA1700	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-9850H includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i5-13400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Core i7-9850H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i7-9850H
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	High Performance Laptop