Core i5-13400F vs N250

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: +136.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+233.3% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 6 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike N250.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while N250 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

N250

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,773 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Core i5-13400F

2023

N250

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +136.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+233.3% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 6 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike N250.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while N250 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,773 vs 25,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than N250?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 136.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 424.4% 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 136.3% 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 424.4% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 233.3% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 6 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 $196 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 136.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

N250 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023). 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

N250 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	N250
1080p
low	171 FPS	119 FPS
medium	158 FPS	119 FPS
high	132 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	119 FPS
medium	123 FPS	115 FPS
high	99 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	69 FPS
medium	74 FPS	58 FPS
high	59 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open N250

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	N250
1080p
low	545 FPS	119 FPS
medium	464 FPS	119 FPS
high	389 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	119 FPS
medium	403 FPS	119 FPS
high	345 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	119 FPS
medium	247 FPS	119 FPS
high	231 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	84 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open N250

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	N250
1080p
low	530 FPS	119 FPS
medium	449 FPS	119 FPS
high	415 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	119 FPS
medium	422 FPS	119 FPS
high	382 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	119 FPS
medium	331 FPS	119 FPS
high	296 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open N250

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	N250
1080p
low	626 FPS	119 FPS
medium	626 FPS	119 FPS
high	626 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	119 FPS
medium	626 FPS	119 FPS
high	598 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	119 FPS
medium	492 FPS	119 FPS
high	439 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open N250

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and N250

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.

N250

The N250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Memory support: DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 4,773 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the N250 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 3.8 GHz on the N250 — a 19% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F. The Core i5-13400F is built on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the N250's 4,773 — a 135.9% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the N250.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	N250
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+150%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+21%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	—
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+233%	6 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	—
PassMark	25,029+424%	4,773
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 N250 uses FCBGA1264 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	N250
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1264
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
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 (N250). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.