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 $2,825 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $2,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 629.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 15.4 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $2,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 255W, a 190W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon W-3175X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-3175X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 31,350).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 39 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3175X, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon W-3175X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +28.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+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 15.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($2,999 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌292.3% higher power demand at 255W 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 W-3175X

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,825 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $2,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 629.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 15.4 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $2,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 255W, a 190W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon W-3175X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +28.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+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

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-3175X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 31,350).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 39 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-3175X, which brings 28 cores / 56 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($2,999 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌292.3% higher power demand at 255W 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 Xeon W-3175X better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-3175X 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-3175X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 28.1% 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, Xeon W-3175X is the better fit. You are getting 153.2% better Cinebench R23 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?

Xeon W-3175X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon W-3175X is 1623.6% more expensive on MSRP at $2,999 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 28.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 629.9% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 15.4 PassMark/$), 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 2018) 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 W-3175X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-3175X
1080p
low	183 FPS	195 FPS
medium	168 FPS	157 FPS
high	139 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	160 FPS
medium	132 FPS	125 FPS
high	106 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	73 FPS
medium	81 FPS	60 FPS
high	64 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-3175X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-3175X
1080p
low	471 FPS	443 FPS
medium	397 FPS	387 FPS
high	341 FPS	316 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	260 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	382 FPS
medium	351 FPS	336 FPS
high	309 FPS	278 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	221 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	238 FPS
medium	248 FPS	211 FPS
high	229 FPS	187 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	154 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-3175X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-3175X
1080p
low	488 FPS	1018 FPS
medium	488 FPS	908 FPS
high	488 FPS	877 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	790 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	734 FPS
medium	488 FPS	634 FPS
high	485 FPS	602 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	538 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	389 FPS	369 FPS
high	337 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	270 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-3175X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-3175X
1080p
low	488 FPS	938 FPS
medium	488 FPS	850 FPS
high	488 FPS	735 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	743 FPS
medium	488 FPS	650 FPS
high	488 FPS	559 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	479 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	536 FPS
medium	450 FPS	476 FPS
high	391 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	363 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-3175X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon W-3175X

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-3175X

The Xeon W-3175X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 28 cores and 56 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 38.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 255 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 46,125 points. Launch price was $2,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-3175X offers 28 cores / 56 threads — the Xeon W-3175X has 22 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon W-3175X — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon W-3175X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon W-3175X's 46,125 — a 81% lead for the Xeon W-3175X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 31,350 (86.8% advantage for the Xeon W-3175X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,467, a 14.7% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 17,358 (185.4% advantage for the Xeon W-3175X). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 38.5 MB (total) on the Xeon W-3175X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-3175X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	28 / 56+367%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+16%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.1 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	38.5 MB (total)+114%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	19,532	46,125+136%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	31,350+153%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+16%	1,467
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	17,358+2542%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-3175X 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 DDR4-2666 on the Xeon W-3175X — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-3175X supports up to 512 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 6 (Xeon W-3175X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 48 (Xeon W-3175X) — the Xeon W-3175X offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Intel C621 (Xeon W-3175X).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-3175X
Socket	LGA1700	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	512 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	6+200%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-3175X). 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-3175X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	Yes
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 W-3175X debuted at $2999. On MSRP ($174 vs $2999), the Core i5-12400F is $2825 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Xeon W-3175X — making the Core i5-12400F the 151.8% better value option.