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

✅+81.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+42.9% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 14 MB).
✅Costs $803 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 510.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 20.9 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i9-7900X

2017

Why buy it

✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,323 vs 2,407).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,536 vs 11,408).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (14 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.9 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($999 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core i9-7900X

2017

Why buy it

✅+81.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+42.9% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 14 MB).
✅Costs $803 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 510.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 20.9 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.

Why buy it

✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,323 vs 2,407).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,536 vs 11,408).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (14 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.9 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($999 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Core i9-7900X?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 33.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 19.7% 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 1.8% more average FPS across 50 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 33.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 42.9% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 14 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 $803 cheaper on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $999 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 510.2% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 20.9 PassMark/$), 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 2017), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011, 42.9% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 14 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/20. 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 i9-7900X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
1080p
low	171 FPS	178 FPS
medium	158 FPS	142 FPS
high	132 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	150 FPS
medium	123 FPS	117 FPS
high	99 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	82 FPS
medium	74 FPS	69 FPS
high	59 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-7900X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
1080p
low	545 FPS	332 FPS
medium	464 FPS	277 FPS
high	389 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	297 FPS
medium	403 FPS	253 FPS
high	345 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	200 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	234 FPS
medium	247 FPS	203 FPS
high	231 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-7900X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
1080p
low	530 FPS	523 FPS
medium	449 FPS	523 FPS
high	415 FPS	523 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	461 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	523 FPS
medium	422 FPS	478 FPS
high	382 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	372 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	429 FPS
medium	331 FPS	345 FPS
high	296 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	248 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-7900X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
1080p
low	626 FPS	523 FPS
medium	626 FPS	523 FPS
high	626 FPS	523 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	523 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	523 FPS
medium	626 FPS	523 FPS
high	598 FPS	523 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	523 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	523 FPS
medium	492 FPS	523 FPS
high	439 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	423 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core i9-7900X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core i9-7900X

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 i9-7900X

The Core i9-7900X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 14 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,907 points. Launch price was $999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, matching the Core i9-7900X's 10 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-7900X — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-7900X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core i9-7900X's 20,907 — a 17.9% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,323, a 58.1% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 8,536 (28.8% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 14 MB (total) on the Core i9-7900X.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	10 / 20
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+2%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+43%	14 MB (total)
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)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	25,029+20%	20,907
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+82%	1,323
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408+34%	8,536

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-7900X uses LGA2011 (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 i9-7900X — 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. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13400F) vs 4 (Core i9-7900X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 44 (Core i9-7900X) — the Core i9-7900X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and X299 (Core i9-7900X).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2011
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	4+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	44+120%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-7900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-7900X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Core i9-7900X targets High-End Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core i9-7900X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	High-End Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Core i9-7900X debuted at $999. On MSRP ($196 vs $999), the Core i5-13400F is $803 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 20.9 pts/$ for the Core i9-7900X — making the Core i5-13400F the 143.7% better value option.