Core i5-13400F vs FX-8320E

Intel

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

FX-8320E

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4 GHz2014

Popular choices:

i5-13400F

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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: +135.4% higher average FPS across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Delivers 278.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 33.7 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $147 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM3+ and older memory support.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • 33.3% HIGHER MSRP
    $196 MSRPvs$147 MSRP

FX-8320E

2014

Why buy it

  • Costs $49 less on MSRP ($147 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,734 vs 11,408).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.7 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($147 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
  • 46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.
  • Older platform position on AM3+, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than FX-8320E?
Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 135.4% average FPS lead across 8 shared CPU game tests in our data, 557.9% better Geekbench multi-core, 404.6% 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 135.4% more average FPS across 8 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 557.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i5-13400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400F is 33.3% more expensive on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $147 MSRP, and it gives you a 135.4% average FPS lead across 8 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 278.5% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 33.7 PassMark/$), 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 2014), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM3+, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/8. 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
1080p
low171 FPS124 FPS
medium158 FPS124 FPS
high132 FPS116 FPS
ultra112 FPS95 FPS
1440p
low143 FPS124 FPS
medium123 FPS117 FPS
high99 FPS93 FPS
ultra84 FPS76 FPS
4K
low81 FPS63 FPS
medium74 FPS57 FPS
high59 FPS45 FPS
ultra46 FPS35 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
1080p
low545 FPS124 FPS
medium464 FPS124 FPS
high389 FPS124 FPS
ultra356 FPS124 FPS
1440p
low458 FPS124 FPS
medium403 FPS124 FPS
high345 FPS124 FPS
ultra301 FPS124 FPS
4K
low280 FPS124 FPS
medium247 FPS124 FPS
high231 FPS124 FPS
ultra204 FPS120 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
1080p
low530 FPS124 FPS
medium449 FPS124 FPS
high415 FPS124 FPS
ultra375 FPS124 FPS
1440p
low490 FPS124 FPS
medium422 FPS124 FPS
high382 FPS124 FPS
ultra343 FPS124 FPS
4K
low393 FPS124 FPS
medium331 FPS124 FPS
high296 FPS124 FPS
ultra246 FPS124 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
1080p
low626 FPS124 FPS
medium626 FPS124 FPS
high626 FPS124 FPS
ultra626 FPS124 FPS
1440p
low626 FPS124 FPS
medium626 FPS124 FPS
high598 FPS124 FPS
ultra521 FPS124 FPS
4K
low535 FPS124 FPS
medium492 FPS124 FPS
high439 FPS124 FPS
ultra382 FPS124 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and FX-8320E

Intel

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.

AMD

FX-8320E

The FX-8320E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,960 points. Launch price was $147.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the FX-8320E offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4 GHz on the FX-8320E — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the FX-8320E uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the FX-8320E's 4,960 — a 133.8% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 439, a 138.3% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 1,734 (147.2% advantage for the Core i5-13400F).

FeatureCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
Cores / Threads
10 / 16+25%
8 / 8
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz+15%
4 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)
8192 kB+540%
Process
Intel 7 nm-78%
32 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Vishera (2012−2015)
PassMark
25,029+405%
4,960
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,211
Geekbench 6 Single
2,407+448%
439
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,408+558%
1,734
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the FX-8320E uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F versus DDR3-1866 on the FX-8320E — the Core i5-13400F supports 50% 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 32 GB 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13400F) vs 0 (FX-8320E) — the Core i5-13400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F) and AMD 990FX,AMD 970 (FX-8320E).

FeatureCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
Socket
LGA1700
AM3+
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+150%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67%
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
192 GB+500%
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
20
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the FX-8320E has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) vs AMD-V (FX-8320E). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

FeatureCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the FX-8320E debuted at $147. On MSRP ($196 vs $147), the FX-8320E is $49 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 33.7 pts/$ for the FX-8320E — making the Core i5-13400F the 116.4% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-13400FFX-8320E
MSRP
$196
$147-25%
Performance per Dollar
127.7+279%
33.7
Release Date
2023
2014