Core i5-13400F vs Core Ultra 5 125U

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: +36.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 125U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 125U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core Ultra 5 125U

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,152 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Core Ultra 5 125U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +36.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 125U.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 125U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,152 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Core Ultra 5 125U?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 36.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 45.9% better PassMark, 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 36.4% 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 i5-13400F is the better fit. You are getting 45.9% better PassMark, 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 $196 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 36.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 5 125U is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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 Ultra 5 125U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core Ultra 5 125U
1080p
low	171 FPS	181 FPS
medium	158 FPS	145 FPS
high	132 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	147 FPS
medium	123 FPS	116 FPS
high	99 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	79 FPS
medium	74 FPS	67 FPS
high	59 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	42 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core Ultra 5 125U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core Ultra 5 125U
1080p
low	545 FPS	181 FPS
medium	464 FPS	153 FPS
high	389 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	123 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	160 FPS
medium	403 FPS	139 FPS
high	345 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	111 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	131 FPS
medium	247 FPS	117 FPS
high	231 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	95 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core Ultra 5 125U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core Ultra 5 125U
1080p
low	530 FPS	429 FPS
medium	449 FPS	429 FPS
high	415 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	429 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	429 FPS
medium	422 FPS	429 FPS
high	382 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	413 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	429 FPS
medium	331 FPS	380 FPS
high	296 FPS	331 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	265 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core Ultra 5 125U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Core Ultra 5 125U
1080p
low	626 FPS	429 FPS
medium	626 FPS	429 FPS
high	626 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	429 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	429 FPS
medium	626 FPS	429 FPS
high	598 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	429 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	429 FPS
medium	492 FPS	429 FPS
high	439 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	364 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Core Ultra 5 125U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Core Ultra 5 125U

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 Ultra 5 125U

The Core Ultra 5 125U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,152 points. Launch price was $363.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 125U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Core Ultra 5 125U's 17,152 — a 37.3% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core Ultra 5 125U
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	12 / 14+20%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+7%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+92%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+67%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Meteor Lake-P (2023)
PassMark	25,029+46%	17,152
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Core Ultra 5 125U
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 125U). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.