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

✅Better for gaming: +8.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $276 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 189.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 38.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Xeon W-11855M

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,462 vs 19,532).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 38.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Xeon W-11855M

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $276 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 189.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 38.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,462 vs 19,532).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 38.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 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 W-11855M?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-11855M 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, Core i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 11.9% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is $276 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $450 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 189.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 38.8 PassMark/$), 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 2021), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. 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 W-11855M Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	183 FPS	249 FPS
medium	168 FPS	230 FPS
high	139 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	222 FPS
medium	132 FPS	186 FPS
high	106 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	154 FPS
medium	81 FPS	131 FPS
high	64 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-11855M

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	471 FPS	437 FPS
medium	397 FPS	403 FPS
high	341 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	302 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	407 FPS
medium	351 FPS	344 FPS
high	309 FPS	297 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	259 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	269 FPS
medium	248 FPS	233 FPS
high	229 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	181 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-11855M

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	488 FPS	437 FPS
medium	488 FPS	437 FPS
high	488 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	383 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	437 FPS
medium	488 FPS	437 FPS
high	485 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	333 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	393 FPS
medium	389 FPS	341 FPS
high	337 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-11855M

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	488 FPS	437 FPS
medium	488 FPS	437 FPS
high	488 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	437 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	437 FPS
medium	488 FPS	437 FPS
high	488 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	437 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	437 FPS
medium	450 FPS	437 FPS
high	391 FPS	410 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-11855M

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon W-11855M

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 W-11855M

The Xeon W-11855M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,462 points. Launch price was $450.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Xeon W-11855M share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.9 GHz on the Xeon W-11855M — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Xeon W-11855M (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon W-11855M uses Tiger Lake-H (2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon W-11855M's 17,462 — a 11.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Both processors carry 18 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm SuperFin
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Tiger Lake-H (2021)
PassMark	19,532+12%	17,462
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 W-11855M uses FCBGA1787 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1787
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (Xeon W-11855M). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-11855M
Integrated GPU	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Xeon W-11855M debuted at $450. On MSRP ($174 vs $450), the Core i5-12400F is $276 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 38.8 pts/$ for the Xeon W-11855M — making the Core i5-12400F the 97.2% better value option.