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 $783 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Delivers 288.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 32.9 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-10980XE.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 24,309).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i9-10980XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+23.8% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.9 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($979 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i9-10980XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $783 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Delivers 288.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 32.9 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-10980XE.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+23.8% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 24,309).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.9 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($979 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10980XE better than Core i5-13400F?

Yes. Core i9-10980XE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 38.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 50% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 28.6% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10980XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 38.1% 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 i9-10980XE is the better fit. You are getting 50% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 23.8% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i9-10980XE is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-10980XE is 399.5% more expensive on MSRP at $979 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 38.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 288.4% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 32.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-13400F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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 i9-10980XE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	171 FPS	280 FPS
medium	158 FPS	249 FPS
high	132 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	234 FPS
medium	123 FPS	189 FPS
high	99 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	165 FPS
medium	74 FPS	134 FPS
high	59 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-10980XE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	545 FPS	550 FPS
medium	464 FPS	457 FPS
high	389 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	456 FPS
medium	403 FPS	394 FPS
high	345 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	290 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	285 FPS
medium	247 FPS	247 FPS
high	231 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	200 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-10980XE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	530 FPS	805 FPS
medium	449 FPS	805 FPS
high	415 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	805 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	805 FPS
medium	422 FPS	805 FPS
high	382 FPS	768 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	596 FPS
medium	331 FPS	501 FPS
high	296 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	374 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-10980XE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	626 FPS	805 FPS
medium	626 FPS	805 FPS
high	626 FPS	787 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	704 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	805 FPS
medium	626 FPS	722 FPS
high	598 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	552 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	574 FPS
medium	492 FPS	510 FPS
high	439 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-10980XE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i9-10980XE

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 i9-10980XE

The Core i9-10980XE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 32,187 points. Launch price was $979.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-10980XE offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Core i9-10980XE has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10980XE — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980XE (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-10980XE uses Cascade Lake-X (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i9-10980XE's 32,187 — a 25% lead for the Core i9-10980XE. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 24,309 (40% advantage for the Core i9-10980XE). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,242, a 63.9% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 16,275 (35.2% advantage for the Core i9-10980XE). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 24.75 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	18 / 36+80%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.8 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	24.75 MB (total)+24%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Cascade Lake-X (2019)
PassMark	25,029	32,187+29%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	24,309+50%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+94%	1,242
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	16,275+43%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-10980XE uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus DDR4-2933 on the Core i9-10980XE — the Core i5-13400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-10980XE supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 4 (Core i9-10980XE). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 48 (Core i9-10980XE) — the Core i9-10980XE offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and X299 (Core i9-10980XE).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-10980XE supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs Yes (Core i9-10980XE). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-10980XE
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Core i9-10980XE debuted at $979. On MSRP ($196 vs $979), the Core i5-13400F is $783 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 32.9 pts/$ for the Core i9-10980XE — making the Core i5-13400F the 118.1% better value option.