Intel Core i5 13400F review

Whereas the Intel Core i5 13400F clearly has a ’13’ in its title, this price range gaming CPU has extra in widespread with Intel’s final gen Alder Lake CPUs than the present Raptor Lake chips. For a begin, this CPU hasn’t acquired the doubling of L2 cache present in another thirteenth gen CPUs, languishing on the similar 9.5MB because the Core i5 12600K.

The Intel Core i5 13400F additionally has the identical variety of P-Cores and E-Cores because the 12600K, sitting at six and 4 respectively, whereas the brand new Core i5 13600K has eight E-Cores. Specs apart, nonetheless, with a surprisingly low-cost worth on its facet, the Core i5 13400F is a chief contender for our greatest gaming CPU information.

Core i5 13400F specs

These are the Intel Core i5 13400F specs:

A very powerful determine within the Core i5 13400F specs is these new E-Cores. Comparatively, this CPU’s predecessor, the Core i5-12400F has no E-Cores in any respect, and this transfer brings the 13400F’s core rely in step with that of the Core i5-12600K.

In case you’re unfamiliar with all of Intel’s suffixes, the ‘F’ on the finish of the title means this CPU has no built-in graphics, which implies it’s a little bit cheaper than a non-F chip, nevertheless it lacks that backup facility within the occasion your graphics card is out of motion, or in case you simply don’t want a discrete GPU on your wants. For avid gamers, although, you’ll be utilizing among the finest graphics playing cards, so it can save you some cash by choosing the F model.

At a worth of $210, the Core i5 13400F doesn’t actually have a competitor within the present CPU lineup, with the Ryzen 5 7600X sitting at $249 and the Ryzen 5 5600X being priced at $159. Evidently, the Core i5 13400F must attempt to sustain with the previous and beat the latter in each check to be price contemplating.

Out of the field, the Core i5-13400F will hit an all-core enhance on its P-Cores of 4.1GHz, which is 1GHz under the Core i5 13600K’s figures, and it’s additionally slower than the Core i5 12600K, whereas its peak lightly-threaded enhance of 4.6GHz additionally trails each CPUs by a large margin. Nonetheless, it does have a decrease TDP than the Core i5 12600K, at 65W in comparison with 125W, with the height turbo energy being about the identical at 148W.

Core i5 13400F benchmarks

The Core i5 12600K definitely had the measure of the Core i5 13400F in our RealBench assessments, however not by the margin its worth suggests, with an total system rating of 288,414 in comparison with 271,519 for the brand new CPU.

In our GIMP picture enhancing benchmark, which stresses frivolously threaded efficiency, the Core i5 13400F sits close to the underside of the pack, because it solely has a 4.6GHz enhance clock. Nonetheless, that is nonetheless sufficient for the 13400F to have the sting over the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which additionally suffers from a scarcity of clock velocity.

The Core i5 13400F places in a extra compelling exhibiting in our closely multi-threaded Handbrake video encoding check, the place its 4 E-Cores enabled it to over take the six-core Ryzen 5 5600X, in addition to the eight-core Ryzen 7 5800X3D. As a degree of comparability, the Core i5 12400F solely scores 533,416 on this check, with no assist from E-Cores.

The Core i5 13400F additionally stayed in entrance of the Ryzen 5 5600X within the Cinebench single-threaded check, exhibiting the ability of Intel’s Raptor Lake P-Cores, even at low clock speeds. Nonetheless, the Cinebench multi-threaded check enabled this CPU’s 12 cores to actually shine, the place it overtook the Ryzen 5 7600X.

In terms of gaming efficiency, the Core i5-13400F lagged behind the opposite CPUs we’ve just lately examined in our Far Cry 6 benchmark, with a mean body fee of 125fps and a 99th percentile minimal body fee of 93fps. This latter determine was faster than the consequence from the Core i5-12600K, though the older CPU’s common of 134fps reveals faster efficiency total.

On the plus facet, the Core i5-13400F is faster than the growing old Ryzen 5 5600X in our recreation assessments, and it’s not far off the efficiency of the Ryzen 9 7900 both.

Core i5-13400F energy draw

In terms of energy draw, the Core i5 13400F is among the most power-frugal CPUs we’ve examined just lately. Our system drew simply 211 W from the mains with this CPU working at full load, in contrast with 233 W for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Nonetheless, AMD’s non-X CPUs are much more power-efficient right here, partly because of their smaller manufacturing course of.

Core i5-13400F worth

The 13400F is among the lowest-tier CPUs in Intel’s thirteenth vary, so it could actually readily be purchased for simply over $200. Though this isn’t anyplace close to as low-cost because the Core i5 12400F, the 13400F’s barely greater clock velocity offers it an edge over the cheaper CPU, and the addition of 4 E-Cores can be pretty mirrored within the premium.

There aren’t many contenders on this worth bracket that may actually get up in opposition to the 13400F, just because its worth is so low. The Ryzen 5 5600X has an identical worth, however is soundly crushed by the Core i5 12400F, whereas the Ryzen 5 7600X is dearer and isn’t at all times faster.

To compound the scenario, you’ll be able to save your self some cash by working the Core i5 13400F along with your current DDR4 reminiscence, and an inexpensive twelfth gen motherboard if in case you have one, whereas AMD’s newest CPUs all require a brand new motherboard, in addition to new DDR5 RAM.

Core i5-13400F conclusion

There are just a few factors to contemplate with the Core i5 13400F, with the primary being its efficiency. That is stable, sticking near the velocity of the Core i5 12600K and costing so much much less cash, whereas outpacing the cheaper Ryzen 5 5600X and even bettering the Ryzen 5 7600X in just a few assessments too.

Critically, Intel has less expensive motherboards accessible for its newest chips than AMD, with some B660 fashions retailing for underneath $120, and so they additionally assist low-cost DDR4 reminiscence, whereas with Socket AM5, you want DDR5 reminiscence that also calls for a worth premium.

For now, a minimum of, the Core i5 13400F provides glorious worth when paired with the fitting parts, and is a a lot better guess for a mid-range system than AMD’s most cost-effective Socket AM5 choices.

Options

Intel Core i5 12400F

In case your price range can’t fairly stretch to the Core i5 13400F, the Core i5 12400F will prevent a very good chunk of cash whereas nonetheless being a good gaming CPU. Its lack of E-Cores means it doesn’t have the multi-threaded clout of the 13400F, however its six P-Cores are loads highly effective sufficient for most individuals’s gaming wants.

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

For those who’re planning to construct an entire new system anyway, and don’t have any DDR4 RAM to transplant to a brand new rig, AMD’s newest Zen 4 structure is mighty in each video games and functions. The Ryzen 5 7600X solely has six cores, however they’re actually highly effective. You’ll want some new DDR5 reminiscence and a Socket AM5 motherboard to run this CPU, nonetheless.

This put up initially appeared on Customized PC, which has been reviewing PC {hardware} for over 20 years and is now a part of . Be a part of our 500k member Fb group to debate this evaluate.