Core i5-13400F vs Ryzen 7 250

Intel

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 250

8 Cores16 Thrd28 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2025
Similar parts
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Core i5-13400F vs Ryzen 7 250 Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i5-13400F vs Ryzen 7 250 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-13400F vs Ryzen 7 250: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

  • +25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 250.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 250 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (25,029 vs 25,677).
  • Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 250 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

Ryzen 7 250

2025

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +17.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 250 better than Core i5-13400F?
Yes. Ryzen 7 250 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 17.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 250 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 17.6% 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, Ryzen 7 250 is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 250 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 250 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it still gives you a 17.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 250 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-13400F vs Ryzen 7 250 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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

Ryzen 7 250

The Ryzen 7 250 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,677 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 7 250 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 250 — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 250 (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 Ryzen 7 250 uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Ryzen 7 250's 25,677 — a 2.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 250. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 250.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen 7 250
Cores / Threads
10 / 16+25%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
5.1 GHz+11%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)+25%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
4 nm-43%
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
Hawk Point (2024−2025)
PassMark
25,029
25,677+3%
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,211
Geekbench 6 Single
2,407
Geekbench 6 Multi
11,408
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 250 uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen 7 250
Socket
LGA1700
FP8
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
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) / not specified (Ryzen 7 250). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen 7 250
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-13400F was priced at $196, while the Ryzen 7 250 came in at $0. On launch pricing ($196 vs $0), Ryzen 7 250 was $196 cheaper.

FeatureCore i5-13400FRyzen 7 250
MSRP
$196
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
127.7
Release Date
2023
2025

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