The Intel Core i5 13400F is the prince of gaming CPUs, boasting a scorching 92% (open in new tab) and frame rate. However, one question remains, albeit slight. That is that Intel is selling a 13400F processor based on both the Alder Lake and Raptor Lake CPU dies. The specs are ostensibly the same. The clocks, the number of cores, and even the cache size are the same. But are there hidden differences?

Hwcooling.net (opens in new tab) dives deep into the subject, comparing the two 13400F variants in forensic detail. The results show that the chips are almost identical. However, they are slightly different.

It is worth recalling that Intel has been transparent about this: it is no secret that there are 13400Fs based on both Alder Lake and Raptor Lake dies. However, Intel did not elaborate on the substantive differences either.

It is also worth noting that the majority of 13400F chips are actually based on the older Alder Lake die. This includes all the review samples Intel sent back at launch, including the one Jacob tried (opens in new tab).

Slightly different than expected, the Alder Lake variant is C0 stepping, while Raptor Lake is B0 stepping; Raptor Lake chips are only available as bare OEM CPUs without coolers.

On the chip itself, Alder Lake CPUs have the "SRMBN" code stenciled on the heatspreader, while Raptor Lake chips are "SRMBG."

The Alder Lake version is available in this format or in a clean retail box bundled with a cooler. In other words, the 13400F in the box is definitely Alder Lake. Bare chips would be either. [Hwcooling has compiled a fairly comprehensive set of results. However, the cliff notes are as follows.

In most cases, the performance difference between the two chips is inconsequential: take a look at Cinebench R23: 16,038 points for the Alder Lake versus 16,131 for the Raptor Lake version. Basically, there is no difference.

On the other hand, in F1 2021, the average frame rate of Raptor Lake at 1080p is 326 fps, while Alder Lake is only 311 fps. This is a 5% improvement. Also, in Total War Saga: Troy, the Alder Lake CPU was slightly faster.

In general, Raptor Lake has the advantage in games, but usually only by about one percentage point. More importantly, this new chip, due to its architecture, consumes considerably more power and tends to run hotter.

In Cinebench, Raptor Lake consumed 112W, 14W more than Alder Lake, and F1 2020 consumed 59W, 7W more than Alder Lake. Under heavy load, Raptor Lake recorded 59°C compared to 53°C for Alder Lake.

Overall, these differences are not perceptible. In general, we conclude that for the majority of gamers, it does not matter which chip they end up using.

That has been our expectation from day one. However, we are happy to be able to demonstrate that hunch with objective numbers.