Core i5-13400F vs Xeon W-2255

Intel

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon W-2255

10 Cores20 Thrd165 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2019

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

  • +11.2% higher PassMark.
  • Costs $582 less on MSRP ($196 MSRP vs $778 MSRP).
  • Delivers 341.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 28.9 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $778 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2255 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2255, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Xeon W-2255

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +10.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (22,504 vs 25,029).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.9 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($778 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
  • 153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
  • Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Xeon W-2255?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-2255 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
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 11.2% better PassMark, 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 $582 cheaper on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $778 MSRP, and it gives you 11.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Xeon W-2255 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 10.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 341.5% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 28.9 PassMark/$), 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 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/20. 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 i5-13400FXeon W-2255
1080p
low171 FPS184 FPS
medium158 FPS147 FPS
high132 FPS122 FPS
ultra112 FPS100 FPS
1440p
low143 FPS151 FPS
medium123 FPS118 FPS
high99 FPS97 FPS
ultra84 FPS80 FPS
4K
low81 FPS82 FPS
medium74 FPS69 FPS
high59 FPS56 FPS
ultra46 FPS44 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
1080p
low545 FPS529 FPS
medium464 FPS443 FPS
high389 FPS369 FPS
ultra356 FPS332 FPS
1440p
low458 FPS459 FPS
medium403 FPS395 FPS
high345 FPS333 FPS
ultra301 FPS287 FPS
4K
low280 FPS285 FPS
medium247 FPS246 FPS
high231 FPS226 FPS
ultra204 FPS198 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
1080p
low530 FPS563 FPS
medium449 FPS563 FPS
high415 FPS563 FPS
ultra375 FPS563 FPS
1440p
low490 FPS563 FPS
medium422 FPS563 FPS
high382 FPS563 FPS
ultra343 FPS563 FPS
4K
low393 FPS563 FPS
medium331 FPS530 FPS
high296 FPS470 FPS
ultra246 FPS394 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
1080p
low626 FPS563 FPS
medium626 FPS563 FPS
high626 FPS563 FPS
ultra626 FPS563 FPS
1440p
low626 FPS563 FPS
medium626 FPS563 FPS
high598 FPS563 FPS
ultra521 FPS563 FPS
4K
low535 FPS563 FPS
medium492 FPS563 FPS
high439 FPS559 FPS
ultra382 FPS437 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400F and Xeon W-2255

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.

Intel

Xeon W-2255

The Xeon W-2255 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,504 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, matching the Xeon W-2255's 10 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 4.7 GHz on the Xeon W-2255 — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2255 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). 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 Xeon W-2255's 22,504 — a 10.6% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon W-2255.

FeatureCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
Cores / Threads
10 / 16
10 / 20
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
4.7 GHz+2%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.7 GHz+48%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)+4%
19.25 MB
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark
25,029+11%
22,504
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 Xeon W-2255 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
Socket
LGA1700
LGA2066
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
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 (Xeon W-2255). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

FeatureCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400F launched at $196 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2255 debuted at $778. On MSRP ($196 vs $778), the Core i5-13400F is $582 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 127.7 pts/$ vs 28.9 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2255 — making the Core i5-13400F the 126.1% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-13400FXeon W-2255
MSRP
$196-75%
$778
Performance per Dollar
127.7+342%
28.9
Release Date
2023
2019