Intel Core i5-13400F vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this pairing into two very distinct personalities. The Intel Core i7-11700K, an 8-core Rocket Lake part, claims victory in 10 of the 25 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-13400F, a 10-core Raptor Lake chip, takes 15. The overall average benchmark scores are close, with the i7-11700K at 25812 and the i5-13400F at 25292, a difference of about 2%, but the distribution of wins reveals the story. The i5-13400F dominates in modern rendering workloads, physics simulation, and floating-point math, while the i7-11700K shows surprising strength in integer-heavy tasks, data compression, and extended instruction sets. Users who prioritize Cinebench-style multi-core rendering or physics-based calculations should choose the i5-13400F. Users who need strong integer math, compression, or sorting performance, and who prefer a CPU with an unlocked multiplier and integrated graphics, should look at the i7-11700K. The i5-13400F also carries a much lower launch MSRP of $196 versus $399 for the i7-11700K, though the i7-11700K is now end-of-life while the i5-13400F remains active.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations and design philosophies. The i7-11700K uses Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i5-13400F uses Raptor Lake on a 10 nm process. The i7-11700K has 8 cores and 16 threads, whereas the i5-13400F has 10 cores and also 16 threads, meaning the i5-13400F relies on a hybrid arrangement with fewer performance cores but more total cores. Base and boost clocks differ substantially: the i7-11700K runs at 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, while the i5-13400F runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The i7-11700K has a 125 W TDP, the i5-13400F has a 65 W TDP. Cache configurations also diverge: both share 80 KB L1 per core, but the i7-11700K has 512 KB L2 per core versus 1.25 MB L2 per core on the i5-13400F, and the shared L3 is 16 MB on the i7-11700K versus 20 MB on the i5-13400F. The i5-13400F has a larger die at 215 mm², while the i7-11700K has no recorded die size. Memory support differs: the i7-11700K supports only DDR4, while the i5-13400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe connectivity also differs, with the i7-11700K offering Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes and the i5-13400F offering Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The i7-11700K includes UHD Graphics 750, while the i5-13400F has no integrated graphics. The i7-11700K has an unlocked multiplier, the i5-13400F does not. Sockets are incompatible: the i7-11700K uses Intel Socket 1200, the i5-13400F uses Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-13400F wins decisively in Cinebench across all versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-13400F scores 2278 against 2082 for the i7-11700K, a delta of -8.6% (meaning the i7-11700K is 8.6% behind). The single-core R15 test shows 321 versus 294, again -8.6%. Cinebench R20 multicore is closer: 8892 versus 8679, a -2.4% delta, and single-core R20 also -2.4% with 1255 versus 1225. Cinebench R23 multicore returns to the larger gap: 22604 versus 20666, -8.6%, and single-core R23 is 3191 versus 2917, also -8.6%. Geekbench multicore favors the i5-13400F at 11068 versus 10521, a -4.9% delta, while single-core Geekbench is nearly tied at 1996 versus 1974, -1.1%.

The i7-11700K fights back in PassMark integer math, scoring 86390 versus 79942, an 8.1% advantage. It also wins extended instructions by a wide margin: 22964 versus 19847, a 15.7% lead. Random string sorting goes to the i7-11700K at 36755 versus 32076, a 14.6% edge. Data compression favors the i7-11700K at 322689 versus 311364, a 3.6% win. In 3DMark tests, the i7-11700K wins all five recorded variants: 16-threads 8095 versus 7314 (10.7%), 2-threads 1907 versus 1880 (1.4%), 4-threads 3653 versus 3459 (5.6%), 8-threads 6370 versus 5591 (13.9%), and max-threads 8080 versus 7307 (10.6%). Single-thread 3DMark also goes to the i7-11700K at 977 versus 960 (1.8%).

The largest single win for the i5-13400F comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 1437 against 1039, a massive -27.7% delta. Floating-point math is also strongly in favor of the i5-13400F at 60539 versus 51119, a -15.6% delta. Prime number finding shows the i5-13400F at 83 versus 66, a -20.5% delta. Data encryption goes to the i5-13400F at 16608 versus 15638, -5.8%. PassMark multi-thread is close at 25032 versus 24408, -2.5%. PassMark single-thread shows 3634 versus 3390, -6.7%.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has 10 cores, while the Intel Core i7-11700K has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: Does the i7-11700K have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i7-11700K includes UHD Graphics 750. The i5-13400F has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor is better for Cinebench R23 multi-core rendering?

A: The i5-13400F scores 22604 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 8.6% higher than the i7-11700K's 20666.

Q: Can I overclock either CPU?

A: The i7-11700K has an unlocked multiplier, so it supports overclocking. The i5-13400F has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR5 memory?

A: The i5-13400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i7-11700K supports only DDR4.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark gap between these two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark physics, where the i5-13400F scores 1437 versus 1039 for the i7-11700K, a 27.7% advantage for the i5-13400F.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-13400F is the clear choice for rendering workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 all show consistent wins for the i5-13400F, with multi-core deltas ranging from -2.4% to -8.6%. The physics test shows the most extreme difference, with the i5-13400F outperforming the i7-11700K by 27.7%. Floating-point math also strongly favors the i5-13400F, with a 15.6% edge. Prime number finding shows a 20.5% advantage for the i5-13400F. Data encryption and single-thread PassMark also go to the i5-13400F, making it the better choice for general productivity, scientific simulation, and any workload that relies on floating-point calculations or modern instruction efficiency.

The i7-11700K wins in 3DMark across all thread counts, with the largest margin at 8 threads (13.9% ahead). It also dominates extended instructions with a 15.7% lead and random string sorting with a 14.6% lead. Integer math favors the i7-11700K by 8.1%, and data compression by 3.6%. These results suggest the i7-11700K is better suited for integer-heavy workloads, compression tasks, sorting algorithms, and certain gaming or multi-threaded 3DMark scenarios. The i7-11700K also offers integrated graphics, which is useful for systems without a discrete GPU, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11700K | Intel Core i5-13400F |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 215 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB shared | 20 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | None |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2023-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $399 | $196 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRKNL | SRMBGSRMBN |

| Average Benchmark Score | 25812 | 25292 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 78 | 77 |