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Intel Core i5-13400

Intel Core i5-13400: The Optimal Choice for Performance and Price Balance in 2025

March 2025

Key Features: Architecture, Manufacturing Process, and Main Characteristics

The Intel Core i5-13400 processor, released within the Raptor Lake series, maintains its status as one of the most popular solutions for the mid-range PC segment. Built on a hybrid architecture combining Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores), it offers 10 cores (6 P-cores + 4 E-cores) and 16 threads. The Intel 7 manufacturing process (previously known as 10nm Enhanced SuperFin) provides a balance between energy efficiency and performance.

Key Features:

- Support for PCIe 5.0 for fast NVMe drives and graphics cards.

- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730 — sufficient for office tasks and light gaming.

- Intel Thread Director technology for optimizing task distribution across cores.

- TDP of 65W: low energy consumption and minimal heat output.

Performance:

According to Geekbench 6 results, the i5-13400 scores 2284 in single-core and 10441 in multi-core tests. This is 12% higher than the previous generation (i5-12400), thanks to the additional E-cores and improved architecture.

Compatible Motherboards: Sockets, Chipsets, and Selection Nuances

The processor utilizes the LGA 1700 socket, allowing installation on boards with 600 and 700 series chipsets:

- H610 / B660 / B760: Budget and mid-range solutions. Suitable for office PCs and home systems without overclocking.

- H770 / Z690 / Z790: Enthusiast boards with support for memory overclocking, PCIe 5.0, and numerous ports.

Examples of Boards:

- ASUS TUF Gaming B760-PLUS (≈$160): Optimal choice for gaming builds with DDR5 support.

- MSI PRO H610M-E (≈$90): Budget option for office tasks.

Important: Some 600 series boards require a BIOS update to work with Raptor Lake. Verify compatibility before purchase.

Supported Memory Types: DDR4 vs DDR5

The i5-13400 supports both standards, but the choice depends on the motherboard:

- DDR4-3200: Budget option. 32GB (2x16GB) will cost approximately $80.

- DDR5-4800: Increases performance in gaming and applications by 8-15%. 32GB (2x16GB) costs approximately $120.

Recommendation: For gaming with a mid-range graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX 4060 or AMD RX 7600, the difference between DDR4 and DDR5 is minimal. DDR5 is relevant for professional tasks (video editing, 3D modeling).

Power Supplies: Power Calculation and Model Examples

With a TDP of 65W, the processor modestly impacts system energy consumption. However, considering the graphics card and other components:

- Integrated Graphics: A PSU rated at 400–450W is sufficient (e.g., be quiet! Pure Power 11 400W, ≈$60).

- Discrete Graphics Card (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 4070): A PSU rated at 650–750W is required. 80+ Gold certified models are recommended (Corsair RM750x, ≈$110).

Tip: Don’t skimp on the power supply. Cheap models may operate unstably under load.

Pros and Cons of Intel Core i5-13400

Pros:

- Ideal balance of price (≈$220) and performance.

- Low energy consumption and heat output.

- Integrated graphics for backup.

- Support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 (future-proofing).

Cons:

- No overclocking capability (no multiplier).

- In multi-threaded tasks, it lags behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (Geekbench Multi-Core: 11200).

Use Cases: Who is This Processor Made For?

1. Gaming: Paired with RTX 4060 Ti, provides 60+ FPS in games like Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings (1080p).

2. Office Tasks: Quick operation with browsers, office applications, and virtual machines.

3. Multimedia: Streaming and video editing in 1080p (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve).

4. Home Server: Low energy consumption and support for ECC memory (on some chipsets).

Limitations: For 4K rendering or deep learning tasks, it’s better to choose an i7 or Ryzen 7.

Comparison with Competitors: AMD, Intel, and Previous Generations

- AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (≈$250): Stronger in multi-threading (+7%), but more expensive. Requires DDR5 and AM5 boards (higher prices).

- Intel Core i5-12400 (≈$180): Lags in multi-threading (-18%), but is a good choice for upgrading old systems.

- Apple M2 (in mini-PCs): Alternative for the macOS ecosystem, but with limited compatibility with Windows software.

Conclusion: The i5-13400 is a sweet spot for those who don’t want to overpay for the Ryzen 5 7600 but need a modern platform.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Cooling: The stock cooler works fine, but for quieter operation, consider the DeepCool AK400 (≈$35).

2. Storage: Use PCIe 4.0 NVMe (e.g., Samsung 980 Pro 1TB, ≈$90).

3. Case: Choose models with ventilation (NZXT H5 Flow, ≈$80).

4. Upgrade: If opting for a DDR4 board, set aside budget for future transition to DDR5.

Final Conclusion: Who is the i5-13400 For?

This processor is the optimal choice for:

- Gamers building a PC for $800–1200.

- Office users who value reliability.

- Enthusiasts planning upgrades without changing platforms.

Why Choose It? The balance of price, performance, and energy efficiency makes the i5-13400 a versatile solution for 2025. If you’re not engaged in 8K editing or machine learning, this is your best option.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2023

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-13400

Code Name

Raptor Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.60 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom.

L3 Cache

20 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1700

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

Intel 7

TDP

65 W

Processor Base Power

The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.

65 W

Maximum Turbo Power

The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.

148 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

5.0 and 4.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16+4 | 2x8+4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

192 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

76.8 GB/s

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 730

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.55 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

20 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost)

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video