Intel Core i5-13400 vs Intel Core i9-12900KS

Processor comparisons 08-10-2022

   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-13400 vs Intel Core i9-12900KS and decide which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, rendering, streaming, programming. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like PassMark, Blender, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, 7zip, Prime95, SuperPi, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, VeraCrypt, RealBench, Handbrake, PCMark 10.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
Red Dead Redemption 2
Apex Legends
Valorant
Valheim
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Overwatch
Fortnite
Fallout 76
Grand Theft Auto V
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
DOOM: Eternal
Watch Dogs Legion
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Borderlands 3
Last Man Standing
Rainbow Six Siege
Cyberpunk 2077

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900KS or Intel Core i5-13400.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-13400

59%

Core i9-12900KS

73%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 19% better than Core i5-13400. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-13400

56%

Core i9-12900KS

61%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.3	108.6
Valorant	114.0	123.4
Cyberpunk 2077	63.8	69.1
Apex Legends	107.1	116.0
Call of Duty Warzone	85.5	92.6
Overwatch	92.3	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.6	85.1
DOOM Eternal	57.0	61.7
Warzone	88.9	96.3
Assassin's Creed	95.7	103.7
Valheim	94.6	102.4

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-13400

91%

Core i9-12900KS

48%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-13400 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KS since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 150W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-13400	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Cinbench 15 Single-core	276	669
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2844	6984
Cinbench 20 Single-core	457	1113
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6319	15520
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1603	3930
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18171	44652

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-13400	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	1465	4211
Multi-Core	30969	76561

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-13400	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	1786	2187
Multi-Core	12045	20189

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-13400	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Announcement date	September 23, 2022	March 27, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	5.5 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	10	16
Threads	16	24
Bus rate	16 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	14200 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	150 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	4800	6400
Memory bandwidth	68 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	1 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	1 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	16 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	Yes
Part number		Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900KS is 37% better than Core i5-13400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS has 6 more core than Core i5-13400. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-13400 is better: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900KS is better: 31
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-13400 and Intel Core i9-12900KS before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-13400 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-13400 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900KS - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-12900KS specs and review.