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

✅Draws 65W instead of 175W, a 110W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon w5-2445.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-2445 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 15,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 26 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-2445, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Xeon w5-2445 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon w5-2445

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+45.8% larger total L3 cache (26 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌169.2% higher power demand at 175W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Xeon w5-2445

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 175W, a 110W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon w5-2445.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+45.8% larger total L3 cache (26 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-2445 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 15,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 26 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-2445, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Xeon w5-2445 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌169.2% higher power demand at 175W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon w5-2445 better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w5-2445 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 w5-2445 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.2% 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 w5-2445 is the better fit. You are getting 25.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 45.8% larger total L3 cache (26 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Xeon w5-2445 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon w5-2445 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon w5-2445 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 45.8% larger total L3 cache (26 MB vs 18 MB), more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 w5-2445 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	183 FPS	186 FPS
medium	168 FPS	155 FPS
high	139 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	151 FPS
medium	132 FPS	121 FPS
high	106 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	83 FPS
medium	81 FPS	71 FPS
high	64 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon w5-2445

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	471 FPS	585 FPS
medium	397 FPS	487 FPS
high	341 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	361 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	496 FPS
medium	351 FPS	430 FPS
high	309 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	307 FPS
medium	248 FPS	269 FPS
high	229 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	219 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon w5-2445

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	488 FPS	805 FPS
medium	488 FPS	805 FPS
high	488 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	805 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	805 FPS
medium	488 FPS	765 FPS
high	485 FPS	725 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	650 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	560 FPS
medium	389 FPS	458 FPS
high	337 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	338 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon w5-2445

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	488 FPS	805 FPS
medium	488 FPS	805 FPS
high	488 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	787 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	805 FPS
medium	488 FPS	805 FPS
high	488 FPS	726 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	621 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	681 FPS
medium	450 FPS	594 FPS
high	391 FPS	524 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon w5-2445

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon w5-2445

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 w5-2445

The Xeon w5-2445 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 26.25 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 175 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 32,213 points. Launch price was $839.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon w5-2445 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon w5-2445 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.6 GHz on the Xeon w5-2445 — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Xeon w5-2445 (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 w5-2445 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon w5-2445's 32,213 — a 49% lead for the Xeon w5-2445. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 15,500 (22.4% advantage for the Xeon w5-2445). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,822, a 6.9% lead for the Xeon w5-2445 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 10,719 (176.9% advantage for the Xeon w5-2445). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 26.25 MB on the Xeon w5-2445.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon w5-2445
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 20+67%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.6 GHz+5%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.1 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	26.25 MB+46%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,532	32,213+65%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	15,500+25%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,822+7%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	10,719+1532%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon w5-2445 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Xeon w5-2445 supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Xeon w5-2445). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 64 (Xeon w5-2445) — the Xeon w5-2445 offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and W790 (Xeon w5-2445).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon w5-2445
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Xeon w5-2445 targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Xeon w5-2445 rivals Threadripper 7945WX.