Core i5-13450HX vs Core i9-11900KF

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 i5-13450HX

2023

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11900KF across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Core i9-11900KF

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,585 vs 24,869).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $513 MSRP, while Core i5-13450HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-13450HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Core i5-13450HX

2023

Core i9-11900KF

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11900KF across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,585 vs 24,869).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $513 MSRP, while Core i5-13450HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-13450HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900KF better than Core i5-13450HX?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i9-11900KF is ahead with a 20.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13450HX pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Core i5-13450HX also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13450HX is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, 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 i9-11900KF is the smarter buy today. Core i9-11900KF is at an unclear MSRP at $513 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 20.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-13450HX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.2% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (47.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i5-13450HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA1964 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. 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 i5-13450HX Benchmark Check

Core i9-11900KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13450HX	Core i9-11900KF
1080p
low	172 FPS	295 FPS
medium	159 FPS	261 FPS
high	132 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	242 FPS
medium	124 FPS	192 FPS
high	99 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	167 FPS
medium	74 FPS	135 FPS
high	59 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-13450HX Open Core i9-11900KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13450HX	Core i9-11900KF
1080p
low	544 FPS	615 FPS
medium	463 FPS	527 FPS
high	387 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	354 FPS	407 FPS
1440p
low	457 FPS	601 FPS
medium	402 FPS	490 FPS
high	345 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	300 FPS	362 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	401 FPS
medium	246 FPS	339 FPS
high	231 FPS	320 FPS
ultra	203 FPS	275 FPS

Open Core i5-13450HX Open Core i9-11900KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13450HX	Core i9-11900KF
1080p
low	530 FPS	615 FPS
medium	449 FPS	615 FPS
high	415 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	563 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	615 FPS
medium	422 FPS	615 FPS
high	382 FPS	543 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	577 FPS
medium	331 FPS	480 FPS
high	296 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	357 FPS

Open Core i5-13450HX Open Core i9-11900KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13450HX	Core i9-11900KF
1080p
low	622 FPS	615 FPS
medium	622 FPS	615 FPS
high	622 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	622 FPS	615 FPS
1440p
low	622 FPS	615 FPS
medium	622 FPS	615 FPS
high	592 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	517 FPS	615 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	615 FPS
medium	487 FPS	565 FPS
high	435 FPS	512 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-13450HX Open Core i9-11900KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13450HX and Core i9-11900KF

Core i5-13450HX

The Core i5-13450HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): + 20 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,869 points. Launch price was $326.

Core i9-11900KF

The Core i9-11900KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 24,585 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-13450HX packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-11900KF offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13450HX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13450HX versus 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900KF — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900KF (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13450HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-11900KF uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13450HX scores 24,869 against the Core i9-11900KF's 24,585 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i5-13450HX. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13450HX vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900KF.

Feature	Core i5-13450HX	Core i9-11900KF
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+25%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.2 GHz+13%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+46%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+700%	256K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Rocket Lake (2021)
PassMark	24,869+1%	24,585
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	15,500

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13450HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-11900KF uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13450HX	Core i9-11900KF
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	20