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 $2,438 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Delivers 743.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 13.3 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon Gold 6238R.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 21,433).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 39 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6238R, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6238R

2020

Why buy it

✅+3162.3% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+113.9% larger total L3 cache (39 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 28 cores / 56 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($2,612 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Xeon Gold 6238R

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,438 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Delivers 743.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 13.3 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $2,612 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon Gold 6238R.

Why buy it

✅+3162.3% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+113.9% larger total L3 cache (39 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 28 cores / 56 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 21,433).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 39 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6238R, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($2,612 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Xeon Gold 6238R?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6238R 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Gold 6238R is the better fit. You are getting 3162.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 28 cores and 56 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 113.9% larger total L3 cache (39 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is $2,438 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $2,612 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6238R is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 3162.3% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 743.7% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 13.3 PassMark/$), 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 i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647. 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 Gold 6238R Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
1080p
low	183 FPS	196 FPS
medium	168 FPS	158 FPS
high	139 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	157 FPS
medium	132 FPS	123 FPS
high	106 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	72 FPS
medium	81 FPS	60 FPS
high	64 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon Gold 6238R

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
1080p
low	471 FPS	233 FPS
medium	397 FPS	207 FPS
high	341 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	145 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	200 FPS
medium	351 FPS	180 FPS
high	309 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	123 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	125 FPS
medium	248 FPS	114 FPS
high	229 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon Gold 6238R

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
1080p
low	488 FPS	869 FPS
medium	488 FPS	869 FPS
high	488 FPS	833 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	753 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	761 FPS
medium	488 FPS	676 FPS
high	485 FPS	635 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	569 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	389 FPS	406 FPS
high	337 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	292 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon Gold 6238R

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
1080p
low	488 FPS	869 FPS
medium	488 FPS	816 FPS
high	488 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	613 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	716 FPS
medium	488 FPS	628 FPS
high	488 FPS	539 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	466 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	521 FPS
medium	450 FPS	465 FPS
high	391 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	351 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon Gold 6238R

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon Gold 6238R

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 Gold 6238R

The Xeon Gold 6238R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 38.5 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 34,751 points. Launch price was $2,612.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6238R offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238R has 22 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238R — a 9.5% 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 Gold 6238R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon Gold 6238R's 34,751 — a 56.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 6238R. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 21,433 (188.1% advantage for the Xeon Gold 6238R). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 38.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238R.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	28 / 56+367%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+10%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+14%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	38.5 MB+114%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	28 MB+2140%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	19,532	34,751+78%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	21,433+3162%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6238R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238R — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 1 TB — 196.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6238R). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6238R) — the Xeon Gold 6238R offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and C621,C622,C624,C627,C628 (Xeon Gold 6238R).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
Socket	LGA1700	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1 TB+700%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Xeon Gold 6238R targets Server. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Xeon Gold 6238R rivals Xeon Gold 6248R.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon Gold 6238R
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6238R debuted at $2612. On MSRP ($174 vs $2612), the Core i5-12400F is $2438 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 13.3 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6238R — making the Core i5-12400F the 157.6% better value option.