Intel Core i5-13400T vs Intel Core i5-13500TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data from the database shows a clear, consistent pattern across all six Cinebench comparisons: the Intel Core i5-13500TE wins every single test. There is no benchmark in the head-to-head set where the Intel Core i5-13400T comes out ahead. The margin is narrow but uniform, ranging from 1.5% to 1.6% in favor of the 13500TE depending on the workload.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the 13500TE scoring 1743 against 1716 for the 13400T, a delta of 1.5%. The R20 multicore test follows the same pattern: 7263 versus 7152, again a 1.5% advantage. In R23 multicore, the 13500TE records 17294 while the 13400T scores 17029, maintaining that identical 1.5% gap. These are small deltas, but they are consistent, which suggests the advantage is structural rather than a measurement artifact.

The single-core results mirror the multi-core findings. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 13500TE scores 246 versus 242 for the 13400T, a 1.6% difference. R20 single-core shows 1025 against 1009, also a 1.6% gap. R23 single-core gives 2441 versus 2404, dropping back to a 1.5% margin. The consistency of these deltas across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests indicates that the 13500TE has a slight edge in both per-core efficiency and overall throughput.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the 13400T actually holds a higher average benchmark score in the database at 5210, compared to 5002 for the 13500TE. This is an interesting inversion: the 13400T sits at the 60th percentile among all CPUs, while the 13500TE sits at the 59th percentile. The average score includes Geekbench results that are only recorded for the 13400T in this dataset, which explains the discrepancy. In Geekbench, the 13400T scores 10227 multi-core and 1899 single-core, numbers that are not available for the 13500TE in the recorded data.

The nearest rival comparisons put both chips in similar company. The 13400T is within 0.8% of the Intel Core i5-14401E, within 0.6% of the Intel Core i7-11700B and Intel Core i9-10850K, and within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon E-2378G. The 13500TE sits exactly level with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G at a 0% delta, is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-12300HE, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon W-2150B, and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1375PRE. Both chips are surrounded by similar performers, but the head-to-head data leaves no doubt about the direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to the same Core 13th Gen family, share the Raptor Lake architecture, and use the same Raptor Lake-S codename. They are manufactured on the same 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry, and both use the Intel Socket 1700. The die size is identical at 215 mm². The generation field for both reads "Core i5 (Raptor Lake)", confirming their shared lineage.

The core configuration is where the first significant divergence appears. The 13400T has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the 13500TE has 14 cores and 20 threads. That is four additional cores and four additional threads on the 13500TE. The base clock is the same for both at 1300 MHz, but the boost clock differs slightly: 4.40 GHz on the 13400T versus 4.50 GHz on the 13500TE. The 13500TE therefore has both more cores and a higher maximum boost clock, which explains its consistent benchmark advantage despite the modest margins.

The cache hierarchy shows a similar pattern of small but meaningful differences. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is larger on the 13500TE at 24 MB shared, compared to 20 MB shared on the 13400T. This 4 MB difference in shared L3 cache aligns with the additional cores present on the 13500TE.

Memory support is identical on paper: both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The ECC memory support differs, though. The 13400T does not support ECC memory, while the 13500TE does. This is a notable feature split that could matter for specific workstation or reliability-focused use cases.

The integrated graphics also differ. The 13400T carries UHD Graphics 730, while the 13500TE carries UHD Graphics 770. The PCIe configuration is another point of divergence: the 13400T offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, whereas the 13500TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The 13500TE trades four PCIe lanes for four additional cores, which is a meaningful trade-off for systems that need maximum expansion capability.

Both chips have a 35 W TDP, share the same release date, and are currently listed as Active in production status. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers differ (SRMBR for the 13400T, SRMFZ for the 13500TE), and the launch MSRP is $221 for the 13400T and $235 for the 13500TE.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data shows zero wins for the 13400T across the six Cinebench tests included in the comparison. The 13500TE wins all six. However, this does not tell the complete story, because the database records Geekbench results for the 13400T that are absent for the 13500TE. In Geekbench multi-core, the 13400T scores 10227, and in single-core it scores 1899. Without an equivalent Geekbench result for the 13500TE, that portion of the comparison cannot be directly resolved from the data.

For multi-threaded workloads, the 13500TE is the clear choice based on the Cinebench results. The four extra cores and four extra threads give it a measurable edge in R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. The margin is only 1.5% in each case, but it is consistent across all three Cinebench versions, which is a strong signal that the extra cores translate into real throughput gains.

For single-threaded workloads, the 13500TE also leads, with margins of 1.5% to 1.6% across the same three Cinebench versions. This advantage is likely attributable to the slightly higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, since the base clocks are identical and the architecture is the same.

The 13400T does have strengths that are not captured in the head-to-head benchmark table. Its average benchmark score of 5210 is higher than the 13500TE's 5002, and its 60th percentile ranking beats the 59th percentile of the 13500TE. The 13400T also offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), which matters for systems with multiple expansion cards or high-bandwidth storage devices.

For workloads that benefit from ECC memory, the 13500TE is the only option of the two, since it supports ECC while the 13400T does not. The 13500TE also has a newer integrated graphics unit, the UHD Graphics 770 versus the UHD Graphics 730 on the 13400T, which could be relevant for systems relying on the iGPU for display output or light media tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The 13500TE has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the 13400T has 10 cores and 16 threads. The boost clock is 4.50 GHz on the 13500TE versus 4.40 GHz on the 13400T; the base clock is 1300 MHz on both. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared on the 13500TE and 20 MB shared on the 13400T. L1 and L2 cache sizes are identical at 80 KB per core and 1.25 MB per core respectively.

ECC memory support is present on the 13500TE and absent on the 13400T. The PCIe configuration gives the 13400T Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the 13500TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 730 on the 13400T, UHD Graphics 770 on the 13500TE. The launch MSRP is $221 for the 13400T and $235 for the 13500TE. The part numbers are SRMBR for the 13400T and SRMFZ for the 13500TE.

Fields that are the same include the socket (Intel Socket 1700), architecture (Raptor Lake), codename (Raptor Lake-S), process node (10 nm), foundry (Intel), die size (215 mm²), memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), TDP (35 W), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), release date, and the unlocked multiplier status (false for both).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500TE wins all six Cinebench comparisons in the head-to-head data, with deltas of 1.5% or 1.6% in each test. The Intel Core i5-13400T records zero wins.

Q: How does the core count differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500TE has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-13400T has 10 cores and 16 threads, a difference of four cores and four threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-13500TE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-13400T does not.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500TE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-13400T has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500TE has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, which is 0.10 GHz higher than the 4.40 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core i5-13400T. Both have a base clock of 1300 MHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400T has an average benchmark score of 5210, which is higher than the 5002 average score of the Intel Core i5-13500TE. The 13400T also ranks at the 60th percentile versus the 59th percentile for the 13500TE.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data points to the Intel Core i5-13500TE as the stronger performer in direct competition. It wins all six Cinebench tests with margins between 1.5% and 1.6%, and it does so in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The combination of 14 cores, 20 threads, a 4.50 GHz boost clock, and 24 MB of L3 cache gives it a structural advantage that the 13400T cannot overcome in these tests.

The 13400T is not without its own merits. It holds a higher average benchmark score of 5210 versus 5002, ranks at the 60th percentile versus the 59th, and offers more PCIe lanes at 20 versus 16. Its Geekbench scores of 10227 multi-core and 1899 single-core are recorded in the database, though no equivalent Geekbench results exist for the 13500TE, so a direct Geekbench comparison is not possible from the available data.

Buyers who prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput in Cinebench-class workloads should select the 13500TE, as it wins every recorded multicore test. Buyers who need ECC memory support should also select the 13500TE, since the 13400T lacks that feature. The 13500TE additionally provides a newer integrated graphics unit with the UHD Graphics 770.

Buyers who need maximum PCIe expansion should consider the 13400T, which offers 20 lanes versus 16 lanes on the 13500TE. Buyers who weigh the average benchmark score or percentile ranking more heavily than the head-to-head results may also favor the 13400T, given its higher average of 5210 and its position at the 60th percentile. The launch MSRP difference is $221 for the 13400T and $235 for the 13500TE. For most compute-focused scenarios, the data supports the 13500TE as the better choice.