Core i5-13400F vs Pentium 997
Core i5-13400F
Pentium 997
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 i5-13400F
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 997
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-13400F | Pentium 997 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-13400F | Pentium 997 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+14%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 i5-13400F and Pentium 997
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.
Pentium 997
The Pentium 997 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,215 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
The Core i5-13400F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Pentium 997 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F versus 1.6 GHz on the Pentium 997 — a 96.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i5-13400F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Pentium 997 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400F scores 25,029 against the Pentium 997's 1,215 — a 181.5% lead for the Core i5-13400F. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 997.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Pentium 997 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 16+400% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+187% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+56% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+900% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 25,029+1960% | 1,215 |
| 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 Pentium 997 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Pentium 997 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 192 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F) / not specified (Pentium 997). Primary use case: Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Pentium 997 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pentium 997 debuted at $134. At current prices ($180 vs $10), the Pentium 997 is $170 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400F delivers 139.1 pts/$ vs 121.5 pts/$ for the Pentium 997 — making the Core i5-13400F the 13.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-13400F | Pentium 997 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $196 | $134-32% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180 | $10-94% |
| Performance per Dollar | 139.1+14% | 121.5 |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2012 |
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