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The gap between Intel’s 12th and 13th Gen systems is pretty big. Team Blue took their time to work out what was missing on the 12th gen CPUs, and they’ve made some serious improvements. Although the 13th gen processors are not entirely everything Intel wanted to get right this time, they are still high-performing pieces of kit that now sit comfortably at the top of the podium.
In this article, we will compare the improvements of the 13th gen Intel Core i5-13400 over the previous model, the i5-12400. We will focus our comparison especially on specs and price points. We’ll also talk about overall performance, and how much we think the upgrade is worth.
Core i5-13400 vs Core i5-12400: Specs
The first point we would like to make is about Intel’s decision to provide the 13400 (alongside all the 13th gen pieces) with backward compatibility. Thanks to that decision, you won’t need to change the motherboard and memory to use any of the new technology. This is especially appreciated in this range, seeing as a lot of the builds that will include the 13400 will be budget ones.
| Specs | Core i5-13400 | Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 16 (6+4) | 6 / 12 |
| P-Core Base / boost clock speed | 2.5 GHz / 4.6 GHz | 2.5 GHz / 4.4 GHz |
| E-Core Base / boost clock speed | 1.80 GHz / 3.30 GHz | – |
| Total L2 Cache | 9.5 MB | 7.5 MB |
| TDP | 65W | 65W |
The Intel Core i5-13400 is a 6-core processor with an additional 4 energy-efficient cores. It has a base clock speed of 2.50 GHz, a boost clock speed of 4.60 GHz, and a 20MB L3 cache. Compared to its predecessor, the Core i5-12400, this new processor has four more cores, a boost clock speed that is 200 MHz higher, and an additional 2MB of L3 cache.
This is the main difference between these two CPUs. The new 13th gen has extra 4 E-cores in the i5 class processor, which will release from a load of background tasks to the stronger and faster cores.
All that has been developed without increasing the amount of power the processor draws. Both CPUs have a thermal design of 65W, which is a great advancement in power efficiency.
Core i5-13400 vs Core i5-12400: Price
Intel decided to cut prices with the new 13th Gen CPUs. This is a pattern that we’ve seen across all categories with the K versions. The same happened with the non-k family. However, in this case, the MSRP of both CPUs was about the same. The 13400 was launched at $221, while the 12400 was priced at $211.
Launching these two products at very similar prices whilst increasing the performance and features of the CPU is a win-win situation. Now, there’s the potential to build a low-budget PC that is much more strong and more capable without spending too much.
13400 vs 12400: Performance
Comparing the performance of the Intel Core i5-13400 and the i5-12400, it is clear that the i5-13400 is the more powerful processor. It has 4 more cores than the i5-12400, meaning it can handle more tasks and threads simultaneously. This means improved multitasking and multithreading performance.
Additionally, it also has a higher boost clock speed – 4.6 GHz, which is 200 MHz higher than the i5-12400’s 4.4 GHz. This means that the i5-13400 will perform better in tasks that require high-frequency processing. Furthermore, it has an additional 2MB of L2 cache which will also improve performance. So, overall, the i5-13400 will have a better performance when it comes to multitasking and high-frequency tasks.
The 13400 is able to deliver better performance in a gaming environment and productivity while consuming the same TDP as the previous iteration. This demonstrates how technology improvements eventually deliver stronger components at low-budget ranges. It’s all positive for the PC enthusiast!
Final thoughts
So, what do we think about the Intel Core i5-13400? This new processor is a great option for users looking for a powerful and efficient CPU for multitasking and high-frequency tasks. It also has a competitive TDP of 65W, making it a power-efficient choice for users looking to build a system without the need for a powerful cooling solution.
In conclusion, the Intel Core i5-13400 is a solid choice for users looking for a powerful and efficient processor that can handle multitasking and high-frequency tasks. It offers significant improvements over its predecessor and is a great choice for those looking to build a powerful system.
- Now read: is the Core i5 13400 good for gaming?
