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 $1,159 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 382.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 23.2 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon W-2295.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-2295 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 12,863).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2295, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-2295

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.1% 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: 18 cores / 36 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 23.2 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,333 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 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-2295

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,159 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 382.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 23.2 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,333 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon W-2295.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.1% 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: 18 cores / 36 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 W-2295 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 12,863).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2295, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.2 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,333 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-2295 better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-2295 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 W-2295 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.1% 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 W-2295 is the better fit. You are getting 1857.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 37.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Xeon W-2295 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon W-2295 is 666.1% more expensive on MSRP at $1,333 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 382.9% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 23.2 PassMark/$), 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 2019) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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-2295 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	183 FPS	286 FPS
medium	168 FPS	254 FPS
high	139 FPS	211 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	234 FPS
medium	132 FPS	190 FPS
high	106 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	165 FPS
medium	81 FPS	134 FPS
high	64 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2295

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	471 FPS	551 FPS
medium	397 FPS	457 FPS
high	341 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	457 FPS
medium	351 FPS	395 FPS
high	309 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	291 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	286 FPS
medium	248 FPS	248 FPS
high	229 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	201 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2295

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	488 FPS	775 FPS
medium	488 FPS	775 FPS
high	488 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	775 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	775 FPS
medium	488 FPS	775 FPS
high	485 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	620 FPS
medium	389 FPS	522 FPS
high	337 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	389 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2295

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
1080p
low	488 FPS	775 FPS
medium	488 FPS	775 FPS
high	488 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	775 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	775 FPS
medium	488 FPS	775 FPS
high	488 FPS	742 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	704 FPS
medium	450 FPS	611 FPS
high	391 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2295

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon W-2295

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-2295

The Xeon W-2295 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,986 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-2295 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon W-2295 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Xeon W-2295 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2295 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon W-2295's 30,986 — a 45.3% lead for the Xeon W-2295. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,703, a 0.2% lead for the Xeon W-2295 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 12,863 (180.6% advantage for the Xeon W-2295). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon W-2295.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	18 / 36+200%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24.75 MB+38%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	19,532	30,986+59%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,703
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	12,863+1858%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-2295 uses LGA2066 (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 W-2295 — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-2295 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Xeon W-2295). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 48 (Xeon W-2295) — the Xeon W-2295 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and C422 (Xeon W-2295).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	1024 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-2295). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Xeon W-2295 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2295
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2295 debuted at $1333. On MSRP ($174 vs $1333), the Core i5-12400F is $1159 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 23.2 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2295 — making the Core i5-12400F the 131.4% better value option.