The Intel Core i3-13100F is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in nine out of fourteen measured specifications. Its most significant technical advantage is its L2 cache, which performs 233% better than that of the Intel Core i5-10400F. This substantial lead in cache capacity provides the primary edge for the newer architecture, establishing it as the superior choice across the majority of the evaluated hardware metrics.

Users prioritizing modern architecture and the efficiency of a larger L2 cache should select the Intel Core i3-13100F for their build. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-10400F remains a viable option for those who specifically require a higher total core count, as it maintains a 50% advantage in that category. Your final decision should depend on whether your specific workload benefits more from the increased cache capacity or the additional physical cores.