Core i9-12900H vs Core i5-13400E
Core i9-12900H
Core i5-13400E
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900H
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-13400E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-12900H | Core i5-13400E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($221) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-H (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-12900H | Core i5-13400E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($221) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900H and Core i5-13400E
Core i9-12900H
The Core i9-12900H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,079 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i5-13400E
The Core i5-13400E 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 27,000 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i9-12900H packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i5-13400E offers 10 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-12900H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900H versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400E — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-12900H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-13400E uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900H scores 27,079 against the Core i5-13400E's 27,000 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i9-12900H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,500 vs 15,953 (3.4% advantage for the Core i9-12900H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,400 vs 2,375, a 1% lead for the Core i9-12900H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,900 vs 9,977 (25.6% advantage for the Core i9-12900H). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900H vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400E.
| Feature | Core i9-12900H | Core i5-13400E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 20+40% | 10 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+9% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+4% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+20% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-30% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-H (2022) | Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 27,079 | 27,000 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 16,500+3% | 15,953 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,400+1% | 2,375 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 12,900+29% | 9,977 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-12900H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-13400E uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Core i5-13400E supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 Series (Mobile) (Core i9-12900H) and B760,H770,Z790,H610,Q670 (Core i5-13400E).
| Feature | Core i9-12900H | Core i5-13400E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i9-12900H has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i9-12900H) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-13400E). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Xe Graphics 96EU (Core i9-12900H) and UHD 730 (Core i5-13400E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900H targets Mobile, Core i5-13400E targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400E rivals Ryzen 5 7600.
| Feature | Core i9-12900H | Core i5-13400E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | UHD 730 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Mobile | Productivity |
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