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 i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,941 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1769.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 6.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 145W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2699 v4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2699 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 24,711).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 55 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2699 v4, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2699 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+205.6% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($4,115 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌123.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2011 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Xeon E5-2699 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,941 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1769.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 6.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 145W, a 80W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2699 v4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+205.6% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2699 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 24,711).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 55 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2699 v4, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($4,115 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌123.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2011 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2699 v4 better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2699 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-2699 v4 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2699 v4 is the better fit. You are getting 26.5% better PassMark, backed by 22 cores and 44 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 205.6% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2699 v4 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon E5-2699 v4 is 2264.9% more expensive on MSRP at $4,115 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 1769.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 6.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2016) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011. 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 i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Xeon E5-2699 v4 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	183 FPS	187 FPS
medium	168 FPS	164 FPS
high	139 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	154 FPS
medium	132 FPS	130 FPS
high	106 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	70 FPS
medium	81 FPS	62 FPS
high	64 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	471 FPS	211 FPS
medium	397 FPS	192 FPS
high	341 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	132 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	182 FPS
medium	351 FPS	165 FPS
high	309 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	112 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	115 FPS
medium	248 FPS	105 FPS
high	229 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	74 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	488 FPS	618 FPS
medium	488 FPS	618 FPS
high	488 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	618 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	618 FPS
medium	488 FPS	618 FPS
high	485 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	532 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	389 FPS	382 FPS
high	337 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	289 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	488 FPS	618 FPS
medium	488 FPS	618 FPS
high	488 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	614 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	618 FPS
medium	488 FPS	618 FPS
high	488 FPS	572 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	484 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	551 FPS
medium	450 FPS	493 FPS
high	391 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon E5-2699 v4

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F 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: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

Xeon E5-2699 v4

The Xeon E5-2699 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 55 MB. L2 cache: 5.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 24,711 points. Launch price was $4,115.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon E5-2699 v4 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2699 v4 — a 20% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon E5-2699 v4's 24,711 — a 23.4% lead for the Xeon E5-2699 v4. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 55 MB on the Xeon E5-2699 v4.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	22 / 44+267%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+22%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+14%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	55 MB+206%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	5.5 MB+340%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	19,532	24,711+27%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 2400 on the Xeon E5-2699 v4 — the Xeon E5-2699 v4 supports 199.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2699 v4 supports up to 1536 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2699 v4). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2699 v4) — the Xeon E5-2699 v4 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and C612 (Xeon E5-2699 v4).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	2400+47900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+8738033%	1536
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	40+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2699 v4). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Xeon E5-2699 v4 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 debuted at $4115. On MSRP ($174 vs $4115), the Core i5-12400F is $3941 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 6.0 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2699 v4 — making the Core i5-12400F the 179.7% better value option.