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 $394 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $590 MSRP).
✅Delivers 83.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 69.5 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $590 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-13950HX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13950HX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,029 vs 41,012).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 36 MB).
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13950HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-13950HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+80% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 69.5 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($590 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i9-13950HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $394 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $590 MSRP).
✅Delivers 83.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 69.5 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $590 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-13950HX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+80% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Core i5-13400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13950HX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,029 vs 41,012).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 36 MB).
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-13950HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 69.5 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($590 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13950HX better than Core i5-13400F?

Yes. Core i9-13950HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 15.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 63.9% better 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 i9-13950HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 15.2% 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 i9-13950HX is the better fit. You are getting 63.9% better PassMark, 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 i9-13950HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13950HX is 201.0% more expensive on MSRP at $590 MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it gives you a 15.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 83.7% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 69.5 PassMark/$), 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 i9-13950HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 80% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 20 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 10/16. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i9-13950HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
1080p
low	171 FPS	321 FPS
medium	158 FPS	311 FPS
high	132 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	209 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	278 FPS
medium	123 FPS	240 FPS
high	99 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	192 FPS
medium	74 FPS	164 FPS
high	59 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	112 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13950HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
1080p
low	545 FPS	497 FPS
medium	464 FPS	434 FPS
high	389 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	313 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	422 FPS
medium	403 FPS	380 FPS
high	345 FPS	316 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	257 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	236 FPS
medium	247 FPS	216 FPS
high	231 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	179 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13950HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
1080p
low	530 FPS	762 FPS
medium	449 FPS	626 FPS
high	415 FPS	543 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	467 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	680 FPS
medium	422 FPS	567 FPS
high	382 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	423 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	497 FPS
medium	331 FPS	430 FPS
high	296 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13950HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
1080p
low	626 FPS	1010 FPS
medium	626 FPS	905 FPS
high	626 FPS	792 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	704 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	838 FPS
medium	626 FPS	739 FPS
high	598 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	568 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	619 FPS
medium	492 FPS	555 FPS
high	439 FPS	491 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	430 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-13950HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i9-13950HX

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 i9-13950HX

The Core i9-13950HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 41,012 points. Launch price was $590.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-13950HX offers 24 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-13950HX has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13950HX — a 17.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-13950HX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-13950HX uses Raptor Lake-HX (2023) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i9-13950HX's 41,012 — a 48.4% lead for the Core i9-13950HX. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13950HX.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	24 / 32+140%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.5 GHz+20%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+14%	2.2 GHz
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-HX (2023)
PassMark	25,029	41,012+64%
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-13950HX uses FCBGA1964 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus 5600 on the Core i9-13950HX — the Core i9-13950HX 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 Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13950HX).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1964
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 i9-13950HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-13950HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i9-13950HX includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics), 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; Core i9-13950HX rivals M3 Max 16-Core.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-13950HX
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics
Unlocked	No	Yes
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 i9-13950HX debuted at $590. On MSRP ($196 vs $590), the Core i5-13400F is $394 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 69.5 pts/$ for the Core i9-13950HX — making the Core i5-13400F the 59% better value option.