PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-12400

2022

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Xeon Gold 6244 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon Gold 6244.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6244 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6244, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $209 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6244 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 6244

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,609 vs 18,794).
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400.

Core i5-12400

2022

Xeon Gold 6244

2019

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Xeon Gold 6244 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon Gold 6244.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6244 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6244, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $209 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6244 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,609 vs 18,794).
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400 better than Xeon Gold 6244?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6244 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400 is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-12400 is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400 is at an unclear MSRP at $209 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 1% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6244 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 10.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (89.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-12400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-12400 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6244 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
1080p
low	183 FPS	210 FPS
medium	168 FPS	167 FPS
high	139 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	103 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	172 FPS
medium	132 FPS	134 FPS
high	106 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	84 FPS
medium	81 FPS	71 FPS
high	64 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Xeon Gold 6244

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
1080p
low	470 FPS	465 FPS
medium	397 FPS	423 FPS
high	341 FPS	361 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	325 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	446 FPS
medium	351 FPS	384 FPS
high	309 FPS	331 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	286 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	290 FPS
medium	248 FPS	250 FPS
high	229 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	202 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Xeon Gold 6244

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
1080p
low	470 FPS	465 FPS
medium	470 FPS	465 FPS
high	470 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	465 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	465 FPS
medium	470 FPS	465 FPS
high	470 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	465 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	465 FPS
medium	389 FPS	431 FPS
high	337 FPS	380 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	307 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Xeon Gold 6244

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
1080p
low	470 FPS	465 FPS
medium	470 FPS	465 FPS
high	470 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	465 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	465 FPS
medium	470 FPS	465 FPS
high	470 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	465 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	465 FPS
medium	450 FPS	465 FPS
high	391 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Xeon Gold 6244

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400 and Xeon Gold 6244

Core i5-12400

The Core i5-12400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 18,794 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon Gold 6244

The Xeon Gold 6244 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 18,609 points. Launch price was $2,925.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6244 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 6244 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400 versus 4.4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6244 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6244 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400 scores 18,794 against the Xeon Gold 6244's 18,609 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-12400. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400 vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6244.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24.75 MB+38%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	8 MB+540%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	18,794	18,609
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,400	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,381	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,632	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6244 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400 versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6244 — the Xeon Gold 6244 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6244 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6244). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6244) — the Xeon Gold 6244 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6244).

Feature	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
Socket	LGA1700	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	2933+58560%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+13107100%	1024
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6244). The Core i5-12400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Xeon Gold 6244 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400 targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400 rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Xeon Gold 6244 rivals EPYC 7262.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Xeon Gold 6244
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 730	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—