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: +112.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 166.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
3.7% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$189 MSRP

Ryzen 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $7 less on MSRP ($189 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,641 vs 16,211).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Ryzen 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +112.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 166.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Costs $7 less on MSRP ($189 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
3.7% HIGHER MSRP
$196 MSRPvs$189 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,641 vs 16,211).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Ryzen 5 1500X?

Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 112.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 249.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 175.8% 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 112.6% 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 249.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 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 3.7% more expensive on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it gives you a 112.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 166.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 48.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 1500X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 AM4, 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 4/8. 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.

Core i5-13400F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 1500X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	171 FPS	182 FPS
medium	158 FPS	156 FPS
high	132 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	151 FPS
medium	123 FPS	125 FPS
high	99 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	67 FPS
medium	74 FPS	59 FPS
high	59 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	545 FPS	225 FPS
medium	464 FPS	194 FPS
high	389 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	138 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	197 FPS
medium	403 FPS	172 FPS
high	345 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	141 FPS
medium	247 FPS	125 FPS
high	231 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	76 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	530 FPS	227 FPS
medium	449 FPS	227 FPS
high	415 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	227 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	227 FPS
medium	422 FPS	227 FPS
high	382 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	227 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	227 FPS
medium	331 FPS	227 FPS
high	296 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	189 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	626 FPS	227 FPS
medium	626 FPS	227 FPS
high	626 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	227 FPS
1440p
low	626 FPS	227 FPS
medium	626 FPS	227 FPS
high	598 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	227 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	227 FPS
medium	492 FPS	227 FPS
high	439 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	227 FPS

Open Core i5-13400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Ryzen 5 1500X

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.

Ryzen 5 1500X

The Ryzen 5 1500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,074 points. Launch price was $189.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1500X offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X — a 21.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1500X uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Ryzen 5 1500X's 9,074 — a 93.6% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,211 vs 4,641 (111% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,407 vs 1,120, a 73% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,408 vs 3,700 (102% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+150%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+24%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	25,029+176%	9,074
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,211+249%	4,641
Geekbench 6 Single	2,407+115%	1,120
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,408+208%	3,700

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 1500X uses AM4 (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 Ryzen 5 1500X — 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 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. 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 A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 1500X).

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+200%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 1500X 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 (Ryzen 5 1500X). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600; Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.

Feature	Core i5-13400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 1500X debuted at $189. On MSRP ($196 vs $189), the Ryzen 5 1500X is $7 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 48.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1500X — making the Core i5-13400F the 90.7% better value option.