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 $403 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 32.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 96.4 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-13900KF.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KF across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 39,565).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 36 MB).

Core i9-13900KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.6% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+80% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 96.4 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i9-13900KF

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $403 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 32.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 96.4 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-13900KF.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.6% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+80% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900KF across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,211 vs 39,565).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 36 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 96.4 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900KF better than Core i5-13400F?

Yes. Core i9-13900KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 22.6% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 144.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 130.7% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13900KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 22.6% 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 i9-13900KF is the better fit. You are getting 144.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 80% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core i9-13900KF is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13900KF is 205.6% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 22.6% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 32.5% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 96.4 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13900KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
1080p
low	171 FPS	325 FPS
medium	158 FPS	314 FPS
high	132 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	281 FPS
medium	123 FPS	241 FPS
high	99 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	194 FPS
medium	74 FPS	165 FPS
high	59 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	112 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13900KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
1080p
low	545 FPS	756 FPS
medium	464 FPS	658 FPS
high	389 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	635 FPS
medium	403 FPS	573 FPS
high	345 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	390 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	355 FPS
medium	247 FPS	324 FPS
high	231 FPS	304 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	270 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13900KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
1080p
low	530 FPS	765 FPS
medium	449 FPS	628 FPS
high	415 FPS	545 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	468 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	683 FPS
medium	422 FPS	570 FPS
high	382 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	426 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	503 FPS
medium	331 FPS	441 FPS
high	296 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13900KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
1080p
low	626 FPS	1034 FPS
medium	626 FPS	926 FPS
high	626 FPS	812 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	722 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	859 FPS
medium	626 FPS	757 FPS
high	598 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	582 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	634 FPS
medium	492 FPS	568 FPS
high	439 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13900KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i9-13900KF

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 i9-13900KF

The Core i9-13900KF 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 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 36 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: 57,743 points. Launch price was $564.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-13900KF offers 24 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13900KF has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 5.7 GHz on the Core i9-13900KF — a 21.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900KF (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 i9-13900KF uses Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i9-13900KF's 57,743 — a 79% lead for the Core i9-13900KF. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 39,565 (83.7% advantage for the Core i9-13900KF). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 2,946, a 20.1% lead for the Core i9-13900KF that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 19,878 (54.1% advantage for the Core i9-13900KF). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900KF.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	24 / 32+140%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.7 GHz+24%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+80%
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	57,743+131%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	39,565+144%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	2,946+22%
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	19,878+74%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. 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 Intel Z790,Intel Z690 (Core i9-13900KF).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13900KF has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs true (Core i9-13900KF). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Core i9-13900KF targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13900KF
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true
Target Use	Gaming	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Core i9-13900KF debuted at $599. On MSRP ($196 vs $599), the Core i5-13400F is $403 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 96.4 pts/$ for the Core i9-13900KF — making the Core i5-13400F the 27.9% better value option.