Intel Core i5-13400E vs Intel Core i9-10940X Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13400E and Intel Core i9-10940X are separated by a consistent, narrow margin in every benchmark, with the older i9-10940X winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The data shows a 2.4% deficit for the i5-13400E across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests, a remarkably uniform pattern that points to a systematic advantage for the 14-core, 28-thread Cascade Lake-X part. The i9-10940X leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 23,520 points versus 22,950, and in single-core with 3,320 versus 3,240. While the i5-13400E holds a 62nd percentile ranking against all CPUs, the i9-10940X shares that exact percentile, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 6,638 for the i5 versus 6,605 for the i9. This is not a case of generational leap; it is a case of raw core count and thread count compensating for architectural age.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-10940X wins every single benchmark in the comparison, but the margins are small enough to be considered negligible in real-world terms. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-10940X scores 2,370 against the i5-13400E's 2,313, a 2.4% difference. The same 2.4% delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i9 posts 334 versus 326. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i9-10940X again takes multi-core with 9,878 points over the i5's 9,639, and single-core with 1,394 over 1,360. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23: multi-core goes to the i9 at 23,520 versus 22,950, and single-core at 3,320 versus 3,240.

The uniformity of the 2.4% delta across all six tests is the most telling detail. It suggests that the i9-10940X's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a consistent baseline offset. The i9 also has additional benchmark data not available for the i5: Geekbench multi-core at 10,464 and single-core at 1,556, which further cements its position. However, the i5-13400E's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i9-9940X (delta -0.3%), placing it in the same performance tier as much larger HEDT parts. The i9-10940X's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 (delta 0%) and the Intel Core i9-12900E (delta -0.1%), which is a curious grouping that underscores how average scores can obscure architectural differences.

Neither processor wins decisively in any test. The i9-10940X leads by 570 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, but that is only a 2.4% gap. In single-core, the i9's lead is 80 points in R23, also 2.4%. The head-to-head table lists six wins for the i9 and zero for the i5, but the practical takeaway is that these CPUs are statistically equivalent in the benchmark suite tested. The i5-13400E's 10 cores and 16 threads are sufficient to keep pace with the i9's 14 cores and 28 threads, at least within the scope of Cinebench.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400E has a marginally higher average benchmark score of 6,638, compared to the i9-10940X's 6,605. The difference is 33 points, or roughly 0.5%.

Q: Does the i9-10940X win all multi-core tests?

A: Yes, the i9-10940X wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 2,370 in R15, 9,878 in R20, and 23,520 in R23, each time beating the i5-13400E by 2.4%.

Q: How close are the two processors in single-core performance?

A: The i9-10940X leads by 2.4% in every single-core test. In Cinebench R23, the i9 scores 3,320 versus the i5's 3,240, a difference of 80 points.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for both CPUs?

A: Both the i5-13400E and the i9-10940X hold a 62nd percentile ranking against all CPUs, indicating they perform better than 62% of all processors in the database.

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The i9-10940X has 28 threads across 14 cores, while the i5-13400E has 16 threads across 10 cores. The i9 has 12 more threads, yet its multi-core benchmark lead is only 2.4%.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-13400E wins?

A: No, the head-to-head benchmark table shows the i9-10940X winning all six Cinebench tests. The i5-13400E does not win any of the compared benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-10940X wins in every measured performance category, but the wins are narrow enough that they may not translate to perceptible advantages in most applications. In multi-core workloads, the i9's 14 cores and 28 threads give it a theoretical edge, and the data confirms this with a 2.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. For heavily threaded rendering or encoding tasks, the i9-10940X is the safer choice based on this benchmark data. In single-core performance, the i9 also leads by 2.4%, which is surprising given the i5's newer architecture. The i9's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus the i5's 4.60 GHz likely contributes to this advantage.

The i5-13400E's wins are more subtle. It matches the i9's percentile ranking at 62 and has a slightly higher average benchmark score (6,638 versus 6,605). It also achieves this with a 65W TDP compared to the i9's 165W, making it the more efficient option on paper. The i5 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i9 only supports DDR4. For users on a modern platform with DDR5, the i5 is the only one of the two that can take advantage of it. The i5 also includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), which the i9 lacks entirely.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i5-13400E has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the i5 and 3.30 GHz for the i9, while boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 4.80 GHz, respectively. The i5 has a 65W TDP, the i9 has a 165W TDP. The i5 uses the Intel Socket 1700, the i9 uses Intel Socket 2066. Cache configurations also differ: the i5 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3; the i9 has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 19.25 MB shared L3.

Memory support is another major split. The i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and supports ECC memory. The i9 supports only DDR4, but with a quad-channel memory bus, and does not support ECC. PCIe support differs as well: the i5 has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i9 has Gen 3. The i5 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730); the i9 has none. The i5's multiplier is locked, while the i9's is unlocked. The i5 was released on 2023-01-03, the i9 on 2019-10-18.

Architecture Differences

The i5-13400E is built on Raptor Lake, a 13th-generation architecture, using a 10 nm process node from Intel. The i9-10940X is built on Cascade Lake, a 10th-generation X-Series architecture, using a 14 nm process node. This is a two-generation gap and a process node shrink, yet the benchmark results do not show a clear win for the newer part. The i5's die size is listed at 215 mm², while the i9's die size is not provided. The i5's codename is Raptor Lake-S, and its generation is listed as "Core i5 (Raptor Lake)." The i9's codename is Cascade Lake-X, and its generation is "Core i9 (X-Series 10th Gen)."

The i5's per-core L1 cache is larger at 80 KB versus 64 KB, and its L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 1 MB. The i5's total L3 cache is 20 MB, slightly larger than the i9's 19.25 MB. Despite having fewer cores, the i5's newer architecture and larger caches help it close the gap with the i9's higher core count. The i9's 14 nm process is older and less efficient, which is reflected in its 165W TDP versus the i5's 65W. The i5 also supports PCIe Gen 5, a significant upgrade over the i9's Gen 3, and includes integrated graphics, which the i9 does not offer.

The Verdict

Based strictly on benchmark data, the Intel Core i9-10940X is the faster processor, winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests by a uniform 2.4%. Users who prioritize raw multi-threaded performance, such as those running Cinebench R23 workloads, will find the i9's 23,520 points versus the i5's 22,950 points to be the deciding factor. The i9 also wins single-core tests, with 3,320 points in R23 versus 3,240. The i9's additional 12 threads and 4 more cores translate into a measurable, if modest, lead.

The Intel Core i5-13400E is the better choice for users who value efficiency and platform flexibility. It matches the i9 in percentile ranking (62) and has a slightly higher average benchmark score (6,638 versus 6,605). It does so with a 65W TDP versus 165W, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, includes ECC support, and has integrated graphics. The i5 also uses the modern Socket 1700 and PCIe Gen 5, making it the more future-proof option. For users building a new system, the i5's lower power draw and newer platform features outweigh the i9's 2.4% benchmark advantage. For users who already own a Socket 2066 board and need maximum thread count, the i9-10940X remains the stronger performer in the tested workloads.