Intel Core i3-13100 vs Intel Core i5-12400F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record for this pairing is unusually one-sided. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i5-12400F claims 16 wins, while the Intel Core i3-13100 takes a single victory. The margin of that lone win, however, is razor-thin, and the overall pattern reveals a clear division between heavily threaded workloads and lightly threaded tasks.

Starting with the multi-threaded Cinebench results, the i5-12400F delivers a dominant showing. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 1759 against the i3's 1208, a 45.6% advantage. The R20 multicore test repeats the theme: 6980 versus 5034, a 38.7% gap. The R23 multicore result is closer, with the i5 at 12380 and the i3 at 11986, a 3.3% edge, but the i5 still wins. PassMark's multithread test reinforces the pattern, showing 19433 for the i5 against 13726 for the i3, a 41.6% lead.

The single-core picture is more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the i5 wins with 244 points versus 170, a 43.5% margin. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows the i5 at 985 against the i3's 710, another 38.7% gap. But in Cinebench R23 singlecore, the i3-13100 takes its only victory: 1692 versus 1680, a 0.7% margin. This is a meaningful result because it suggests that in the newest Cinebench iteration, the i3's higher boost clock can overcome the i5's extra cores in a strictly single-threaded scenario.

PassMark's single-thread tests are nearly identical between the two. The i5 records 3481 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, while the i3 records 3460 in both, giving the i5 a 0.6% edge. These scores are effectively tied, confirming that the two processors have similar per-core performance in most workloads, with the i3's slight clock advantage in R23 being the exception.

The remaining PassMark suite heavily favors the i5. Data compression shows 233327 against 161424, a 44.5% win. Data encryption shows 11679 versus 8049, a 45.1% margin. Extended instructions: 15834 versus 11053, a 43.3% lead. Prime number finding: 72 versus 52, a 38.5% gap. Floating point math: 46759 versus 32325, a 44.7% advantage. Integer math: 59995 versus 41313, a 45.2% margin. Physics: 1202 versus 870, a 38.2% lead. Random string sorting: 22975 versus 15925, a 44.3% gap. Every one of these tests lands in a narrow band between 38% and 46%, which indicates that the i5's advantage scales almost linearly with its additional cores and threads.

The database also records the average benchmark score for each part. The i5-12400F has an average score of 19039, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. The i3-13100 has an average score of 18380, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19047 (a 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982 (0.3% ahead). For the i3, the closest competitor is the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374 (0% delta), with the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18318 (0.3% behind). These percentile positions show that both chips sit in the same performance tier overall, but the i5's average sits roughly 3.6% higher in raw score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and microarchitectures. The i5-12400F is built on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-S die, and belongs to Intel's 12th generation Core lineup. The i3-13100 uses Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-S, and belongs to the 13th generation. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process and share the same die size of 163 mm². The foundry is Intel for both.

The core configuration is where the separation becomes obvious. The i5-12400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-13100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This two-core, four-thread difference is the primary driver of the multi-threaded benchmark gaps. The i5's base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i3 has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i3's 100 MHz boost advantage explains its narrow win in Cinebench R23 singlecore, though the i5 still edges it out in PassMark single-thread tests.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is 18 MB shared on the i5 versus 12 MB shared on the i3. That 6 MB difference in last-level cache can matter in workloads that repeatedly access a large working set. The memory support is identical: both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory.

The PCIe implementation differs. The i5-12400F offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the i3-13100 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The i3 compensates with integrated graphics: it includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-12400F has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the "F" suffix. This is a practical difference for system builders who want to avoid a discrete GPU. Both processors have a locked multiplier, so neither supports unlocked overclocking.

Thermal design power is close but not equal: the i5-12400F is rated at 65 watts, while the i3-13100 is rated at 60 watts. The i5's higher TDP reflects its additional cores. Both use the Intel Socket 1700, so they are drop-in compatible with the same motherboards, assuming BIOS support for the respective generation. The production status for both is listed as active. The i5 was released on 2022-01-03, while the i3 followed exactly one year later on 2023-01-03. The i5's part number is SRL4WSRL5Z, and the i3's part number is SRMBU.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is clean and predictable based on thread count. The i5-12400F wins every multi-threaded benchmark in the record, with margins ranging from 3.3% in Cinebench R23 multicore to 45.6% in Cinebench R15 multicore. The PassMark compute tests, which include data compression, encryption, floating point math, and integer math, all show the i5 ahead by roughly 38% to 45%. This makes the i5 the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, batch processing, and any workload that scales with more cores and threads. The 12-thread configuration versus the i3's 8 threads provides a substantial throughput advantage in these scenarios.

The i3-13100's lone win is in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it scores 1692 against the i5's 1680. This 0.7% margin is small but real, and it highlights the i3's 4.50 GHz boost clock versus the i5's 4.40 GHz. In strictly single-threaded applications that are sensitive to clock speed rather than core count, the i3 can match or slightly exceed the i5. However, the PassMark single-thread results show the opposite: the i5 wins by 0.6%, which indicates that the two are essentially tied in most single-threaded tasks. The R23 result may reflect a specific instruction mix or thermal behavior that favors the i3.

For workloads that are neither heavily multi-threaded nor purely single-threaded, such as light productivity or everyday desktop use, the benchmark data suggests both processors will feel similar. The i3 has a higher base clock, which can help in tasks that do not boost for long durations, but the i5's larger L3 cache and extra cores provide a buffer for background tasks. The i3-13100 also includes UHD Graphics 730, which makes it a better fit for systems without a discrete GPU, while the i5-12400F requires a separate graphics card.

The practical use-case split is therefore: the i5-12400F for threaded workloads and multitasking, the i3-13100 for budget single-threaded systems where integrated graphics are required. The i5's 73rd percentile ranking versus the i3's 72nd percentile confirms that both are mid-pack performers, but the i5's higher average score of 19039 against 18380 gives it a measurable overall edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F wins all multi-threaded benchmarks in the database. Its margins range from 3.3% in Cinebench R23 multicore to 45.6% in Cinebench R15 multicore, with PassMark multithread showing a 41.6% lead (19433 versus 13726).

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-13100 ever beat the i5-12400F?

A: Yes, in exactly one recorded test: Cinebench R23 singlecore, where the i3 scores 1692 against the i5's 1680, a 0.7% margin. The i3's 4.50 GHz boost clock versus the i5's 4.40 GHz is the likely factor.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. In PassMark single-thread tests, the i5 records 3481 and the i3 records 3460, a 0.6% edge for the i5. In Cinebench R15 and R20 singlecore, the i5 wins by 43.5% and 38.7% respectively, but those margins are unusually large and may reflect specific test conditions.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i5-12400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-13100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This two-core, four-thread difference drives the multi-threaded performance gap.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory. Both use the Intel Socket 1700.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i3-13100 includes UHD Graphics 730. The i5-12400F has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the "F" suffix, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors in the database record.

• Cores: 6 for the i5-12400F, 4 for the i3-13100.
• Threads: 12 for the i5-12400F, 8 for the i3-13100.
• Base Clock: 2.50 GHz for the i5-12400F, 3.40 GHz for the i3-13100.
• Boost Clock: 4.40 GHz for the i5-12400F, 4.50 GHz for the i3-13100.
• TDP: 65 watts for the i5-12400F, 60 watts for the i3-13100.
• Architecture: Alder Lake for the i5-12400F, Raptor Lake for the i3-13100.
• Codename: Alder Lake-S for the i5-12400F, Raptor Lake-S for the i3-13100.
• Generation: Core i5 (Alder Lake-S) for the i5-12400F, Core i3 (Raptor Lake) for the i3-13100.
• L3 Cache: 18 MB shared for the i5-12400F, 12 MB shared for the i3-13100.
• PCIe: Gen 5, 20 lanes (CPU only) for the i5-12400F, Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) for the i3-13100.
• Integrated Graphics: None for the i5-12400F, UHD Graphics 730 for the i3-13100.
• Release Date: 2022-01-03 for the i5-12400F, 2023-01-03 for the i3-13100.
• Launch MSRP: $174 for the i5-12400F, $134 for the i3-13100.
• Part Number: SRL4WSRL5Z for the i5-12400F, SRMBU for the i3-13100.
• Percentile vs All CPUs: 73 for the i5-12400F, 72 for the i3-13100.
• Average Benchmark Score: 19039 for the i5-12400F, 18380 for the i3-13100.

The two chips share the same L1 cache per core (80 KB), L2 cache per core (1.25 MB), process node (10 nm), foundry (Intel), die size (163 mm²), memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false), socket (Intel Socket 1700), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), and multiplier lock (false). The i5's larger L3 and extra cores are the defining differentiators, while the i3's higher clocks and integrated graphics are its compensating features.